The previous article looked at Mark 6:30-34, when Jesus’ disciples returned and shared what they had accomplished in response to His commission for them to preach and to heal. Jesus took them away to get some rest, but the people followed. And, Jesus – because of His compassion – took the time to teach them.
Let’s pick up in verse 35 of Mark 6.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Mark 6:35-38 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.6.35-38.NIV
You may have heard this account before. It happens to be an event that is recorded in all four gospels (see also Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-15), so you might even be aware of details that aren’t in Mark’s account. Let’s recap what happened, though: When it grew late, the disciples pointed out that it was dinnertime. Since Jesus and the disciples were trying to get away from the crowds (so the disciples could get some rest), it makes sense that they’d be in a remote location, without a lot of restaurants or grocery stores nearby.
The disciples suggested sending the people to get their own dinner, and I wonder if they wanted Jesus to send them away so that they could get that break they were looking for (i.e., when they had set out for this remote location in the first place). Jesus, though, tells them to feed the crowd!
The disciples, still thinking pretty materialistically (like I probably would have done), protest that this would take a huge amount of money. It seems to me like Jesus backs up a little bit. Perhaps the disciples – in faith – could have multiplied the bread and fish that they had, without Jesus’ involvement, through the power of God the Father. After all, they had recently returned from ministering in the power that Jesus gave them. If that’s the case, then Jesus is starting back at the beginning, having them identify what they do have. After all, five loaves and two fish is what God had provided for them to start with.
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Mark 6:39-44 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.6.39-44.NIV
Here’s the miracle for which this passage is known. Jesus looked up to heaven, which I interpret as acknowledging God the Father’s role in what was about to happen. Then, as he handed out the food to his disciples and they gave it to the people, not only did everyone get enough to eat, but there was a lot left over.
There’s no shortage of power when it comes to living in God’s Kingdom. He can provide whatever is necessary, even when we don’t see how our current resources are enough. So, rather than fretting about what we don’t have, let’s consider what Jesus asked His disciples in verse 38, and ask ourselves: “What do you have?” I don’t think that Jesus is necessarily asking you to go out and get more, before returning to Him for instructions. Instead, we are to follow Him and obey Him with what we have, along with what God has, and trust God to take care of the math.
After all, God might have us – like Jesus had the disciples – be the messengers of His miraculous provisions, rather than the primary source of them.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for October 5, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
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