Getting to Know Jesus in the Gospel of Mark
Study Thirty-One ~
Mark 6:30-44
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. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he
had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he
began to teach them many things. 35 And
when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate
place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send
them away to 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 buy two hundred denarii
worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And
he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and
see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five,
and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded
them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So
they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And
taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a
blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the
people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And
they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And
they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand
men. (Mark 6)
1. The disciples
had just returned from their travels around Israel, preaching the gospel,
healing the sick, and driving out demons. What do we learn about Jesus’ care
for his disciples in the instructions he gives them upon their return?
2. What actually
happened when Jesus and the disciples crossed the lake for their time of rest?
What does this tell us about what it may sometimes be like when we are following
Jesus through life?
3. What did this
look like from the perspective of the crowds of people?
4. What do you
learn about Jesus’ response to the crowds? What encouragement does this give
you about approaching him?
5. Describe the
difference between the way the disciples thought the needs of the people should
be met, and the way Jesus thought their needs should be met. What are some ways
we see these same differences of point of view in the church today?
6. What was Jesus teaching
the crowds through his miracle? What was he teaching the disciples?
7. Jesus taught his
church to “seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). How does Jesus’ interaction with the crowds and his
disciples encourage us in this regard?
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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