Mark 6:31-34 - And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while--for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.
And they went away in a boat to a solitary place by themselves. Now many [people] saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those in the boat]. As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
I seriously doubt compassion would have been my overriding emotion here. I wonder if the disciples were also feeling compassionate, or if they were tired of the crowds & just wanted some quiet time? I couldn't help but wonder as I read this, What was it that moved Jesus? What was it about the people? What was it about Him? The Word says they were like sheep without a shepherd.
- without guidance
- without protection
- wandering with no direction, aim or purpose
- lost
- looking for someone to follow??
- feeling vulnerable, insecure
Maybe if I really understood the behavior of sheep, I could draw more out of this than I have; maybe my list would be longer or more enlightening? But I think this list above describes every person who tries to function without Jesus. Every person that I know who does not know Jesus is like a sheep without a shepherd, yet I am seldom moved with compassion to the point of taking action. I pray that He would continually change this about me until I am like Him.
Mark 6:35-46 - And when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and isolated place, and the hour is now late. Send the crowds away to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat. But He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy 200 denarii [about forty dollars] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?
And He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they [had looked and] knew, they said, Five [loaves] and two fish. Then He commanded the people all to recline on the green grass by companies.
So they threw themselves down in ranks of hundreds and fifties [with the regularity of an arrangement of beds of herbs, looking like so many garden plots]. And taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He [also] divided the two fish among [them] all.
And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve [small hand] baskets full of broken pieces [from the loaves] and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.
And at once He insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He was sending the throng away. And after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.
So from what I can gather, it was late, and it was time to think of eating dinner. Still this crowd of 5,000 lingered - to hear Him, to be near Him. Their motivation to feed their stomachs was nothing compared to their desire to stay near Him. I'm amazed that they all chose to sit down and recline, even before they knew He would be feeding them. By nature, the posture of reclining makes one think of settling in and staying a while. These 5,000 were willing to forgo their meal, well into the evening, just to stay where He was. This was their heart condition - hungry to be near Him, to hear Him, to wait on Him. Maybe it was this heart condition that moved Him with compassion? Perhaps it was this attitude of faith and belief in Him that made it possible for Him to pour out such a miraculous meal on them - quite a difference from what He was able (or unable) to do in Nazareth not long before this.
And I can't help but notice this about Jesus as I read this account: when the disciples were tired and ready to send the people on their way, Jesus was unwilling to let them go. He made a way for them to stay with Him. Only after they had been satisfied by the One Who is more than enough did He personally disburse the crowd.
Then He went and prayed. I wonder what He prayed about? Surely He was tired and in need of His Father's company; in need of being refreshed and refilled; in need of wisdom, guidance, direction for all that was yet to come. But I wonder, did He also lift those 5,000 up in prayer? That all they had seen and heard that day would stay with them? That His words would be protected and guarded in their hearts? Did He pray a blessing over them? Although I don't know the answers to these questions, I love to get glimpses of Him like this. I love to get a glimpse of the tenderness of Jesus. And I am continually humbled when I think that the Lord of lords takes time to pray for me and my simple life...that I am just one in the crowd, yet He knows me, knows what I need, and He goes before His Father on my behalf. I depend on His perfect prayer, knowing that He is always moving and working in my life and my family. I could never deserve a love like this, and I am eternally thankful to Him.