Mark 6

I was reading through Mark 6 today and saw some interesting points about ministry. I'm reflecting on them as I prepare to return to Swaziland.

30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught. 31Then Jesus said, "Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. 32They left by boat for a quieter spot. 33But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. 34A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

We see here Christ's humanity in being pooped out after ministering all day, and yet he still has compassion for the lost. He's willing to sacrifice his rest and refuel time, just for a while, to continue to minister. We need to make a note of this. We run the risk of being too sacrificial to serve others, neglecting the basic care we need for ourselves.


35Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. 36Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food."
37But Jesus said, "You feed them." "With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!"
38"How much food do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out." They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish." 39Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. 42They all ate as much as they wanted, 43and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves!

Here, there was a physical need that people had. And the disciples expect Jesus to do something about it.
What?
Send them someplace else to get food.
But what did Jesus say?
"You do it."
Oh how often do I see a need and the pray for God to move in that situation, when I could be his hands and feet myself. And notice how Jesus asked them to use what they already had. I donÂ’t need to go out and get additional college degrees or training to help meet people's basic needs. Like Jesus, I can ask God to bless the bit I have and God will arrange for it to be sufficient.

Jesus Walks on Water
45Immediately after this, Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and head out across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

This last part is so important. After it was all said and done, he did send everyone away and take the time to rest, refuel and spend time with the Father.