Mark 6 Verses 30 to 44 More Than Enough June 15, 2025

Mark 6 Verses 30 to 44 More Than Enough June 15, 2025 Lesson 11

The Remarkable Journey Continues Class Presentation Notes AAAA

Background Scriptures:

· John 6:14–15 (NASB95)  Jesus Fed the 5000 in verses 1-13

14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

· John 12:1–8 (NASB95)

1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.

3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, *said,

5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?”

6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

7 Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.

8 “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

· John 16:33 (NASB95)

          33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

· Romans 8:18 (NASB95)

          18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

· Romans 8:27–28 (NASB95)

     27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

     28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Main Idea:

· Never measure a problem considering your own resources, because a little can become much in the hands of Jesus.

Study Aim:

· To understand that God will create a need in your life to demonstrate that He can meet it.

Create Interest:

· Like the disciples, we live and make decisions in a realm governed by two opposing points of view; the human viewpoint or the divine viewpoint. Every day, as you observe life and interpret what you see, you perceive circumstances from either the horizontal plane or from the vertical.

· What do I mean by the human, horizontal viewpoint? That is our own limited perspective and plan. It revolves around ourselves—how we feel, what we expect, the things we think, our assumptions. The human, egocentric, people-power viewpoint dominates every news broadcast, every news article, every self-help book, and every get-rich-quick scheme. This perspective seeps from every part of Hollywood’s elite and drives the rich and famous to want more, more, always more.

· The divine viewpoint is the exact opposite. The one who operates his or her life in this way views the world from a vertical, unlimited perspective and plan. This divine orientation observes life in terms of how God operates, what He has in mind, and what He has planned on our behalf. If I operate my life from the divine viewpoint, I interpret every circumstance as God’s opportunity to accomplish His agenda.

· As we begin our examination of this pivotal event in the disciples’ education, bear in mind that we are like they were. Jesus used this incident to teach His followers something that would impact their understanding of ministry for the rest of their lives.[1]

Lesson in Historical Context:

· The setting of the miracles, the participants, and the manner in which the miracles were performed consistently pointed to a greater spiritual revelation than is apparent at first sight.

· This is certainly true in the case of the feeding of the 5,000. It teaches far more than Jesus’ power, for it presents him as a second Moses who brings salvation to his people. We see this for several reasons.

o The location of the miracles before a great crowd in a “solitary place” (literally, “a desert place”) was parallel to the wilderness in which Moses performed his miracles.

o Jesus’ proclaiming himself the Bread of Heaven corresponded to the manna.

o The orderliness of the people in seated regimentation before receiving the bread was reminiscent of the Mosaic camp in the wilderness.3

o The provision of food by Jesus symbolized what it symbolized with Moses—God’s saving grace in rescuing his people from bondage.

· This great miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 teaches us how the second Moses, being far greater than Moses, meets the needs of his people and indeed the whole world.[2]

· From early times the feeding accounts have understandably attracted great attention, and continuing scholarly effort is made to try to understand them more fully. There are two feeding accounts in Mark—here, and at 8:1–10, where four thousand are fed—and also two accounts in Matthew (14:13–21; 15:32–39). Luke (9:10–17) and John (6:1–15) each report only the feeding of the five thousand. Much modern scholarly study has been devoted to the sources of the feeding accounts and other complex historical questions, but our interest here is mainly to try to understand the accounts as Mark intended his readers to understand them. (This will be work enough for us!)[3] 

· I think it would be worthy of our time to study the account in three parts.

o Finding rest from ministry……………...

o Having compassion on others……………

o Seeking to meet the needs of others……….

Bible Study:

Like Jesus we should find rest from our ministry…………………………….

Mark 6:30 (NASB95)

30 The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.

· Mark returns to the evangelistic mission of the Twelve (6:7–13), which had been interrupted by his account of the execution of John the Baptist (6:14–29). The “apostles,” the word here meaning sent out “missionaries,” returned and rehearsed “all that they had done and taught” (v. 30).

o Jesus had sent them out, as He sends us out, with a job to do. They had experienced great success. When Jesus authorizes us and empowers us, we can anticipate God’s blessings in what we do. We must simply believe and go.

· They the apostles return to evaluate their successes as well as their failures. This was how our Lord mentored His men:

•   Teach them.

•   Send them out.

•   Have them return.

•   Report and evaluate.

· They shared with the Lord “all that they had done and taught.” They had cast out many demons, healed many who were sick, and preached the gospel of repentance (6:12–13) just like John the Baptist (1:4) and Jesus (1:15).

o One can imagine their excitement as they shared what they had been able to do in His name and with His delegated authority (6:7). They had worked hard, putting in many long hours.

§ Still the blessings and joys of ministry were evident.[4]

They rejoiced in God’s blessings on their ministry.

Thoughts to Soak on:

· Believers are accountable both for how they live and for what they teach. They are to be obedient to Christ—living exactly as He has said and teaching exactly what He has said to teach. Every disciple is held accountable to God (2 Co. 5:10; He. 13:17).  P.S. That is you and me!

· A disciple should live and teach so that he can share anything with the Lord. He should have nothing to hide or of which to be ashamed.

Mark 6:31–32 (NASB95)

31 And He *said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many peoplecoming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

· Here we see what might be called the rhythm of the Christian life. The Christian life is a continuous going into the presence of God from the presence of men and coming out into the presence of men from the presence of God. It is like the rhythm of sleep and work.

o We cannot work unless we have our time of rest; and sleep will not come unless we have worked until we are tired.

· But the rest which Jesus sought for himself and for his disciples was not to be. The crowds saw Jesus and his men going away. At this place it was four miles across the lake by boat and ten miles round the top of the lake on foot. On a windless day, or with a contrary wind, a boat might take some time to make the passage, and an energetic person could walk round the top of the lake and be there before the boat arrived. That is exactly what happened; and when Jesus and his men stepped out of the boat the very crowd from which they had sought some little peace was there waiting for them.[5]

Thoughts to Soak on:

· We can glean several practical insights.

o There is a time to work (cf. John 9:4). Laziness has no place in the Christian life.

o We should have periods of rest because Jesus tells us to. Being a workaholic is not spiritual and can be sinful.

§ Some make ministry an idol.

o Rest is best when accompanied both by solitude and companionship.

o Rest is for a specific period of time. It is not permanent.

o Even while resting, be prepared for ministry if necessary.

§ A devoted follower of Jesus is neveroff duty.

Like Jesus we should have compassion for others…………………...

Mark 6:33–37 (NASB95) Five Thousand Fed

33     The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.

34     When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

35     When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late;

36     send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37     But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they *said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?”

· Vs. 33-34:  When Jesus, coming out of the boat, saw many people (34) gathered together to hear him, “he was gripped with compassion toward them” (Earle). Compassion is a term used only of Jesus or by Him of characters in His parables and “denotes a pity which expresses itself in … assistance.” The helplessness and confusion of sheep not having a shepherd is proverbial in all lands (cf. Num. 27:15–17; Ezek. 34:1–6). And he began to teach them many things (”at length,” Moffatt).

o  Matthew (14:13) and Luke (9:11) add that He healed the sick as well, “but a vigorous crowd of runners would not have many sick.”

§ Presently, He was to feed them all.

· Vs. 35-36: In sharp contrast to the attitude of Jesus, the disciples knowing that the day was now far spent (35) and that they were indeed in a desert place apart, approached Jesus with the suggestion that He dismiss the people. Surely somewhere in the country round about (36), or in the villages, they could buy themselves bread.[6]

· Vs. 37: The disciples had two suggestions for solving the problem: either send the people away to find their own food or raise enough money to buy a bit of bread for everybody. As far as the disciples were concerned, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and nothing could be done!

o With that kind of approach, they would have made ideal committee members!

o Someone has defined a committee as a group of people who individually can do nothing and collectively decide that nothing can be done.

· Jesus looked at the situation, not as a problem, but as an opportunity to trust the Father and glorify His name.

o An effective leader is someone who sees potential in problems and is willing to act by faith.

o Acting on the basis of human wisdom, His disciples saw the problem but not the potential.

o How many times God’s people have complained, “If we only had enough money, we could do something!” Two hundred pence (denarii) would be the equivalent of a year’s wages for the average laborer!

§ The first step is not to measure our resources, but to determine God’s will and trust Him to meet the need.[7]

Thought to Soak On:

· Jesus cares for our souls and our spiritual needs. He said, “For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life?” (8:36).

o However, He also cares for our body and our physical needs. In Matthew 25:31–46 He tells us to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, give rest to the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit prisoners.

o There is no social gospel, but there are social ministries that are the natural outgrowth of the gospel. As Jesus had compassion for spiritual and physical needs, so should we.[8]

· Note from history:  When D.L. Moody was building his great Sunday School in Chicago, children came to him from everywhere. They often passed by other churches and Sunday Schools to be with Mr. Moody. When asked why he walked so far to attend Moody’s Sunday School, one boy replied, “Because they love a fella over there!” The children could tell the difference.

· The disciples forgot that they did have something. The need of the crowd in this instance was for food, and the disciples had food for themselves (or at least enough money to buy food for themselves). Yet, they did not think to mention this fact.

o They were thinking only of what excess, what above their own needs they had to give.

· They also forgot the power of God. They forgot that God loved and cared for these people as well as for them. They forgot that God would meet the needs of all, if only they would put what they had at His disposal.

o They forgot that God’s power could take little and multiply it.[9]

Like Jesus we should see to meet the needs of others………………………….

Mark 6:38–44 (NASB95)

38 And He *said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they *said, “Five, and two fish.”

39 And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass.

40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties.

41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.

42 They all ate and were satisfied,

43 and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish.

44 There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

· Vs. 38:  Jesus knows from the beginning what he will do and the exchange with the Twelve moves toward a well-defined end. His instructions to the disciples, which perplex and baffle them, are intended to lead them to understanding.

· The total available supply was one little lad’s lunch—five small “loaves” (pieces of pocket bread, perhaps) and a couple of little fishes—what the young boy’s mother had thoughtfully provided for him.

· From looking at the demand, which the disciples considered to be outrageous, the disciples looked at the supply, which they decided was equally ridiculous. The hungry boy would have polished off the whole meal in a matter of minutes. The Lord, however, was not thinking in terms of the law of supply and demand. It was not mathematics that He had in mind but a miracle![10]

· The Twelve, however, display an increasing lack of understanding; their attitude of disrespect and incredulity declares that the conduct of Jesus is beyond their comprehension. This dialogical structure of the Marcan account gives to it a particular tone and provides the basis for the criticism that the disciples did not understand because their hearts were hardened (Ch. 6:52)[11]

· Vs. 39:  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass: Jesus did this because these people were like sheep without a shepherd, and Jesus acted like their shepherd. The Good Shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures. (Psalm 23:2)

· Vs. 40:  So they sat down in groups, in hundreds and in fifties: Jesus organized the multitude. He didn’t want a mob scene; He wanted to have a nice dinner with these people. God likes organization, especially when it comes to managing what He provides for us.

· Vs. 41: He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves: When Jesus blessed before the meal, He didn’t bless the food; He blessed God for supplying it. The idea of praying before a meal isn’t to bless the food; it is to bless God in the sense of thanking and honoring Him for blessing us with the food.    Discuss class’ view on how they pray…What do they think?

o “Jesus faithfully followed the accepted form: he took the bread in his hands, pronounced the blessing, broke the bread into pieces and distributed it. The only deviation from normal practice was that while praying Jesus looked toward heaven rather than downward, as prescribed.” (Lane)

· Vs. 42-44: So they all ate and were filled: Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes, until far more than 5,000 were fed. Seemingly, the miracle happened in the hands of Jesus.

· And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish: Jesus could have just left this behind, but He didn’t. Jesus generously provides, but He doesn’t want things wasted.

· It isn’t because Jesus is cheap or doesn’t trust for future provision; He simply knew that wastefulness didn’t glorify the God of all provision.[12]

Grace and peace as you go your way….and consider taking time to soak on each of the following counseling vignettes to help you draw closer to Christ.

Taking what you have learned from our lesson……Read the following and find application for yourself and benefit of others…………………………Feel free to approach these like “eating and elephant”…a bite at a time.

Our main idea for our lesson was:  Never measure a problem considering your own resources, because a little can become much in the hands of Jesus.  

· In the Gospel of John, we see a boy offering his lunch of five loaves and two fish to Jesus. It was a meager meal, yet, with the Lord's touch, it fed them all (thousands), and there were leftovers.

o This story reminds us that our resources may seem small and insignificant, but placed in Jesus’ hands, they can become more than enough.

o We must never measure a problem by our limited means; instead, we should have faith in His power to multiply what we have.

· A few years ago, I wounded my pride while trying to fix a leaky sink. I had only a modest toolbox, but I learned quickly that sometimes the smallest tools can make significant repairs. Similarly, in our lives, we might feel ill-equipped to handle challenges.

o But when we trust in Christ, even the smallest abilities, when directed by Him, can accomplish mighty things.

o Remember, it's not about what we start with, but how we yield it to Jesus.

· Consider a small mustard seed, which grows into a large tree when planted. This parable from Scripture illustrates how faith, no matter how tiny, can engage God's enormous power.

o You might feel like you don’t have what it takes to face a problem, but remember, with just a little faith and resource in Christ’s hands, the impossible can become reality.

o  Don't measure your challenges against your strengths—measure them against God's infinite capacity.

· A missionary shared about a church in a small village that had little to give but made a profound impact. They began with just a few dollars, dedicated to helping their neighbors, and that small beginning turned into a significant outreach, transforming lives over time.

o This demonstrates that when we act in faith, bringing our little offerings to Christ, He can multiply our efforts far beyond what we imagined.

o It’s not about the size of the offering but the size of our trust in God.

· In Exodus, we find Moses doubting his abilities to lead the Israelites, feeling he was inadequate. Yet God instructed him to use what he had—a simple staff. That staff became a tool of miracles.

o  Moses learned that with God's empowerment, even the ordinary can achieve the extraordinary. Like Moses, we may underestimate our resources, but we must remember that, with God, ‘little’ can become ‘much.

o ’ Let’s place our problems before Him, recognizing His ability to turn our little into His great.

Our study aim was:  To understand that God will create a need in your life to demonstrate that He can meet it. 

· If you’re feeling financially stressed at home, consider this as an opportunity to lean into God's provision. Create a budget together with your family that reflects both your needs and your trust in God.

o Set aside a small amount of money each week for charity or helping others—this will not only meet a need in your life, but also show your family how God fulfills our needs when we seek Him first.

o Pray together about your financial situation, asking how He might provide, and keep a journal of how needs are met when you trust Him.

· At work, you might be facing an increased workload that feels overwhelming. Instead of solely focusing on the problem, take a step back and recognize this challenge as an opportunity for God to demonstrate His strength.

o Set aside time during your lunch break to pray for guidance and peace. Reach out to a colleague for support or brainstorm ways to collaborate more effectively.

o Remember that by working in reliance on God, you open the door for His provision—perhaps in unexpected ways, such as gaining new insights or finding a mentor who can help lighten your load.

· In your church community, you may notice some unmet needs among the congregation like loneliness or spiritual apathy. This could be your calling to step up and meet these needs!

o Organize a small group dedicated to prayer and outreach where you can identify specific needs, both personally and within the church. Encourage members to share their struggles openly and be transparent about themselves.

o  Pray together about how God can fill those gaps, assuring members that He often uses our weaknesses as a platform for His strength. This way, you’re actively participating in God’s provision for your community.

· Are you experiencing conflict at home that disrupts peace? Rather than allowing tension to escalate, this can be a pivotal opportunity to demonstrate God’s peace through forgiveness and understanding.

o Schedule a family meeting where everyone can express their feelings. Share stories about how God has resolved conflict in your life. Emphasize the value of seeking God in prayer for guidance on how to move forward.

o By choosing to respond with grace, you model reliance on God who meets the relational needs of your household, fostering a deeper bond inspired by faith.

· Do you often find yourself feeling undervalued or overlooked at work? This feeling can lead to dissatisfaction and disengagement. Instead of focusing on these negative emotions, see this as a chance to trust God in your professional life.

o Take the initiative by asking your manager for a meeting to discuss your role and contributions. Approach this with a servant's heart, seeking ways to better serve your team.

o Pray for wisdom as you communicate your ideas, showing faith, that God can open doors for your growth and value to be recognized. This active engagement fosters a workplace atmosphere that reflects Christ’s love.

[1]Charles R. Swindoll, Mark, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Tyndale House Publishers, 2018), 166–167.

[2]R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 146–147.

[3]Larry W. Hurtado, Mark, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011), 99.

[4]Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Mark, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 136–137.

[5]William Barclay, ed., The Gospel of Mark, The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster John Knox Press, 1976), 155–156.

[6]A. Elwood Sanner, “The Gospel according to Mark,” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Beacon Bible Commentary (Beacon Hill Press, 1964), Mk 6:30–44.

[7]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 132.

[8]Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Mark, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 138.

[9]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to Mark, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996),112, 116.

[10]John Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Mk 6:38.

[11]William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1974), 228–229.

[12]David Guzik, Mark, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Mk 6:35–44.