Give Me Jesus: Jesus as the Bread of Life: Mark 6:30-44

I. Jesus Gives Us Rest vs. 30-44

A. Jesus was going to take them to a secluded place, everyone needs time alone with God, and their thoughts. There are 3 different types that we all need. 1) A time daily set aside with Jesus, in the quiet. 2) A little extra time, in order to make important decisions, and 3) Time away for a few days with Jesus and your thoughts. (Potter’s Place ex)

B. “There they were going to be refreshed, but not as they expected. It was about four miles direct sailing and about eight miles by foot to that site”- R. Kent Hughes.

C. Jesus promises us rest, but it is rest in Him. We have to do that God’s way, not our way. (Vacation from a vacation ex).

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

II. Jesus Gives Us Love vs. 33-34

A. Jesus felt compassion, because they needed a shepherd (Ps. 23).

B. People today need a pastor, not a pulpiteer, not a dictator, and not somebody looking for a step up from what they had. What we need are God called men, who will lovingly shepherd the flock, and teach them the word of God. (The difference between preaching and teaching ex)

1 Peter 5:1–4 NASB95

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

III. Jesus Gives Us Nourishment vs. 35-44

A. The disciples suggested spending 200 days wages (close to 7 months), to give them bread. The cheapest bread there was.

B. “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. 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.1 Jesus’ proclaiming himself the Bread of Heaven corresponded to the manna. The orderliness of the people in seated regimentation before receiving the bread was reminiscent of the Mosaic camp in the wilderness. 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.”- R. Kent Hughes.

C. Jesus does the impossible with what they had. You can only be obedient with what you’ve got, God doesn’t expect you to do, more than you can do. Why do you expect more than God does?

D. John’s account says that Andrew, brought a boy with a bag lunch. So Jesus feeds them with a Hebrew Happy Meal!

John 6:9 NASB95

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”

E. The parallel with Moses is interesting, because this is around passover . Here the bread of life is making bread and fish, near where the manna ceased.

John 6:4 NASB95

Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.

Joshua 5:10–12 NASB95

While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho. On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

John 6:35 NASB95

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

F. We should be satisfied in Jesus’ provision. God will provide more than we need if we can handle it!

Philippians 4:11–20 NASB95

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

G. Each disciple had a basket. This was suppose to show each disciple to believe in Jesus.

E. There could be up to 20,000 people possibly there.