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. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Mark 6:30-44

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. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Mark 6:41-44

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 6:30-44, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God is concerned about our well being - He designed and encourages us to rest.  God is compassionate - He seeks to care for all of those who seek care.  God is all powerful, able to take the offering of our lives and use it for something much bigger than we will ever be able to accomplish on our own.
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People are often drawn to place their comfort above their calling - note how the disciples did not have the same compassion on the crowd as Jesus did - they sought to send them away for them to find their own food but Jesus challenged them to provide. 
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We can claim to the promises of how God provides and how He satisfies.  We should also avoid being anxious about not having what we think we need (see Matthew 6:31-33).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of incredible grace and compassion.  Thank You for softening my heart and saving me.  I am not deserving of my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

John 6

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” v8-9

In John 6, we have  Jesus feeding the five thousand, a story most believers know.  My focus is on Andrew, who is not as well known as most of the other disciples. Andrew is noted in John's account of this story but not in the other gospels' accounts.  

While Andrew is not well known (go here for more on Andrew), we see him pointing a young boy to Jesus - this young boy plays a prominent and up close role in one of Jesus' more well known miracles.  This was a divine appointment indeed and an encouragement for all of us that think we cannot do enough to make a God-sized impact.  The ironic aspect of such thinking is that THIS is the point of Jesus and Holy Spirit - that we NEED Jesus to overcome the world (John 16:33) and through Him we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-21).  Once we recognize this, we should worry less about what we do and instead focus on what He can and will do THROUGH us.  

Just as Andrew was, we are all ordinary human beings but special in the eyes of God and clay in the hands of the potter (God) who is able to sculpt miracles in, for, and through us. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has done many, many amazing things in, for, and through me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessings and love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.