Feeding of the 5000, Part 1
Today is the first part of the story known as the “Feeding of the 5000″, taken from Mark 6:30-33.
Mark 6:30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
1. The apostles’ work. (Mark 6:30-31) We see here that the apostles’ work that they were commissioned in Mark 6:7-13 to do is a very important one. We see them report back to Jesus everything they had done and taught. Earlier in chapter 6, we see that things they did were healing, casting out demons, and preaching repentance. They were truly tired. Are we about the work of Jesus? Are we doing what Jesus command US to do?
2. The apostles’ rest. (Mark 6:31-32) Here we see that there is a God-ordained rest. In certain seasons of our lives, God will give us rest to recuperate spiritually. They needed it. We need it as well. When pastors desire to “get away for a week or so”, we need to let them do it. We need to let them get alone with Jesus. Even in so doing, they will be feeding the flock (what we will see in the next installment).
3. The apostles’ fame. (Mark 6:33) Here we see something interesting: the word phrase “and recognized them”. Note that it doesn’t say, “and recognized Jesus”. This indicates that the work the apostles performed actually carried far and wide – and their fame increased. People clamored to see them. There is a warning in this, however. Many who would take God’s glory actually start out humble – but when crowds give accolades – then they turn from their first love.
Meditation: Where am I at in this season of my life? Am about my Father’s business? How am I guarding myself from the temptation of stealing His glory if I am working for Him? How do I point others to Him?
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at 7:43 am and is filed under Devotional. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
