Mark 6-4.27.22

Scripture: 

Mark 6:30-37

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

Observation-What does it say? 

The initial plan was for the disciples to get away to a quiet place and get some rest by themselves with Jesus. However, because of Jesus’ compassion on the large crowd of people, who in verse 34 says were “like sheep without a shepherd”, their plans changed.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Because of Jesus’ compassion on the lost, He didn’t want His disciples to send them away, but rather, take action.

Jesus was very outward focused with His ministry. Although He taught the religious leaders in the temple and synagogues and loved resting, teaching and hanging out with his disciples, He NEVER neglected the lost. Jesus was a true leader, not a follower in this regard. His disciples would get questions from the Pharisees about why He ate and dined with sinners. Throwback to our reading in Mark 2:17, Jesus responded, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Life Application: 

Pray to have a compassionate heart for the lost, like Jesus did, and take action when He instructs us to!

Without a heart of compassion for the lost, we will never be outward focused, but always want to stay within our own circle of Believers. One way to develop a heart of compassion is by remembering who we once were before Jesus grabbed a hold of our hearts. It’s hard not to have mercy and compassion for the lost when we remember the lost person we used to be before Christ. (For those who think they weren’t that bad of a person, there’s your sin right there! Please see Luke 18:9-14).

I love how Pastor Levi said that the Holy Spirit is stirring up an evangelistic/mission focused mindset at our church at DSC! What did Jesus say to His disciples when they wanted to send the people away to get something to eat? He said, “YOU give them something to eat.” He not only said that, but gave them instructions on what to do next and provided everything they needed to accomplish the task. 

Let’s continue praying for the lost, but also be obedient to the call to invite and feed them when the Lord instructs us to. 

-Michelle Gaddi