The Gospel of Mark: Loaves and Fish

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men. ~ Mark 6:30-44


It feels in many ways to me that by the time we get to this episode, Jesus has been trying, without success, to get some much needed sabbath - meditative, prayer - time. Every time he seeks quiet, the crowd finds him.

Here, he even tries to get his disciples to have that quiet time as well.

Not only to the crowds follow him here, but they actually get to where he is going ahead of him! They are eager for him!

And as always, in compassion, Jesus leaves behind what he needs to minister to them.

The disciples don't seem to get it yet, do they? Earlier in the book, Simon had come to Jesus when he was at prayer to try to get him to do more healings. Now, when Simon has a chance for some quiet time for himself, he and the other disciples are sure in a hurry to get rid of that crowd Jesus has compassion for!

There is a fine line I think between sabbath and ministry. It absolutely is important to take sabbath time - time in meditation, prayer, solitude - to recharge our batteries.

But we remember always that that time is not simply for us alone. It is time that gives us the strength we need to continue our ministry to and for others as well.

The disciples here are focused on their own needs rather than the needs of others. They perhaps see time spent alone with Jesus as a reward for their ministry rather than as sustenance for their ministry.

But perhaps with some actual sabbath time to sustain their vision for ministry, they might have their eyes opened to what five loaves and two fish can do.

And may I myself never fail to see what five loaves and two fish can do.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Question:


Do you take sabbath time? How does time spent in prayer or meditation feed your service to others?

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