Grahams notes 2

Mark 6. Feeding of 5000 only miracle in all 4 gospels. Why this miracle? Influenced many, enormous power. Shows us Jesus the true Shepherd feeds his sheep through hid disciples.
1. The Shepherd's flock.12 just back excited from preaching tour and Jesus knows they need rest and refreshment. So cross in boat to Galilean wilderness but they were persued.Large crowd awaits. Jesus has compassion on them sheep without a shepherd.
Why seen as sheep? In wilderness the place of freedom from Egypt. Place they had to depend on God to provide. Guided them. God met with them. looked forward to promised land. Liberty. Privilege. Hope. But no shepherd. Herod was king. Ignored people's needs. Religious leaders do not feed them either. Jesus sees their need as sheep without shepherd. People are like that around us today in helpless confusion, not caring for their souls. Do not know where they are going. Political leaders and religious fail us too. Confusion surrounds us and among this confusion are the elect flock of God.2.Shepherd's feedingMoses prayed for a shepherd after him. Ezek 34 promised God would search for and look after the sheep placing one shepherd over them. God will be their shepherd. This is the context of Mark 6. Initiative here is entirely with Jesus. he sits them in groups as Ex18:21 just as Israel in wilderness. Gives thanks to God who makes bread to come forth from the earth. Seated on green grass 6:39, an eyewitness account. Ez 35 the shepherd turns the wilderness into green grass. Lord is shepherd so they will not want but lie in green pastures. Does it today for us in the wilderness of this world. He can meet all our needs. Living Christ will feed you. You will like them be satisfied by the good shepherd.3, Shepherd's followersDisciples unusually involved in this miracle. Jesus usually does it all himself but here works through disciples who are asked about food, make people be seated, distribute food. Involved reluctantly and disbelievingly. Think they can do nothing yet the Lord does not bypass them. Deliberately uses these men s they understand their future pattern of ministry. He will be soon gone. His followers are to distribute his blessings to the needy around. Are we moved with compassion for the lost around us? We feel overwhelmed by the need as did these panicking disciples. They has 5 rolls and 3 little fish for 5000. Jesus says inadequate resources do not matter because only the good Shepherd maters. Today we are told to give the people something to eat. We feel inadequate. Look at this miracle. Christ can multiply blessings for us. He can use our small efforts in witness. He can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. No limits to what Christ can do through us.