SERVICE VIDEO: LINKTEXT: Mark 6:33-44; Psalm 105:1-2,40-43

Jesus and the disciples had just heard about the death of John the Baptist. It was a horrible thing, arranged by some in Herod’s household. John had been preaching repentance and going after Herod and his family for their wicked acts, and it resulted in his brutal death. You can read about that in the verses just before where we pick up today. Having heard about John the Baptist, Jesus and his disciples went away by boat to a secluded place. Maybe it was to grieve the death of Jesus’ cousin who had “prepared the way” for him. Or maybe it was to lay low from those who had killed John. Or maybe some of both.

But as we pick up in Mark 6:33 some of the crowd following Jesus sees them leaving by boat and follows around the shore on foot, finally catching up to them in that deserted place. And as we’ve seen several times already, Jesus’ heart goes out to them, he does a miracle, and it points toward God’s provision and the Kingdom of God.

Today is our consecration or commitment Sunday, where we’ve asked you to bring or communicate your pledges for the coming year. While I’m not going to focus on that, I do see some striking parallels between today’s text and how God has provided for us THIS year and after walking through the passage with you I’d like to point out some of those parallels as a way to encourage you that God has been providing and will continue to provide for us as we keep our eyes on Him.

COMPASSIONATE SHEPHERD (v.34)

34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

When Jesus and the disciples reached the deserted place by boat, they saw the large crowd that had traveled on foot. But rather than continue on in search of seclusion, we read that Jesus “felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” (v.34)

Mark’s choice of language here is not accidental. It draws directly on two Old Testament prophets who described the lost state of God’s people.

6 “My people have become lost sheep;Their shepherds have led them astray.They have made them turn aside on the mountains;They have gone along from mountain to hillAnd have forgotten their resting place.                              (Jeremiah 50:6)

Ezekiel proclaims a lengthy condemnation from the Lord against the shepherds of Israel who care more for themselves than for the people who are their flock. Finally, in response, God says:

11 For thus says the Lord God,“Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.15 I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,”declares the Lord God.                                        (Ezekiel 34:11,15)

Elsewhere Jesus will refer to himself as the Good Shepherd. Indeed, the religious leaders or shepherds of Israel had led God’s people astray. And as we will see, there is Jesus teaching and then literally feeding the crowds in a remarkable fulfillment of these verses.

FOOD SHORTAGE (vv.35-38)

35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; 36 send them away so that they may 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 spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” 38 And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

Jesus taught the crowds and then “when it was already quite late” (v.35) the disciples came to him to send the crowds away so they can go eat. Remember, they were in a deserted, secluded place.

Jesus answers them by saying, “You give them something to eat!” (v.37)

Let me paraphrase their response: “That’s going to cost a for