Mark 6_30-56 Notes

Jesus feeds 5,000 people

(6:30–44)

When the Twelve return, Mark calls them ‘the apostles’—a Greek term for people who have been on an official mission. Jesus tries to make space for them to rest and share their news, but they are besieged by crowds of people.

Clean and unclean

The debate about clean and unclean food is an important issue for the Christians reading this Gospel. Jewish Christians have been brought up with the laws of Moses, which list some foods as ‘clean’ and some as ‘unclean’. The best-known ‘unclean’ meat is pork. Gentile Christians—those from non-Jewish backgrounds—do not share these scruples. Here Mark says that Jesus declares all foods ‘clean’. In other words, Jesus discards some of the fussy detail from the law of Moses, and lifts the burden of guilt from those who are anxious about their diet.

Jesus aches with pity for the crowd. He sees them as leaderless and helpless—like lost sheep. First he feeds their hearts and minds with his teaching; then he feeds their bodies by miraculously creating bread and fish. Although there are only five loaves and two fish to begin with, there is enough for everyone—and twelve baskets of scraps left over.

Jesus walks on water

(6:45–56)

Jesus sends the disciples off in their boat, in the direction of Bethsaida. It is hard work rowing, as the wind is against them. In the early hours of the morning, Jesus follows them—walking across the water to join them in the boat. The moment he arrives, the wind drops!

Feeding and walking

Mark describes Jesus walking on water straight after the feeding of the 5,000. He wants us to read the two stories together. Jesus is able to feed his people and rescue them in times of trouble.

How does Jesus do such things? Some people think that Jesus was never really a human being. If he was God in human disguise, then walking on water would be simple. Others have said that Jesus was walking in the shallows, or wading along a hidden sandbank. But that would never impress the disciples who know every part of the lake.

The Jews know that God can do the impossible. For example, he can make a path through the sea—as he did at the exodus:

Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen (Psalm 77:19).

Mark is telling us that Jesus is God. As he approaches the boat Jesus says, ‘It is I.’ But the disciples cannot grasp the truth. They don’t understand that this is God providing bread for his people and coming to help them in their distress. Like the Pharisees, they simply don’t believe.

Christians will treasure this story. Jesus knows our troubles and comes to help. The episode ends with many ordinary people recognizing Jesus and receiving his healing.

The difference between dirt and sin