Jesus Christ: The All-Sufficient Savior – Mark 6:30-52
6 (30) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported everything to him, all that they had done and all that they had taught (31) Then he said to them, Come with me to a remote place, and rest for a while. Because there were so many people coming and going, they had no leisure time, not even enough time to eat. (32) So they went away in a boat to a remote place, apart from the crowds. (33) But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and arrived there ahead of them.
(34) When Jesus came ashore and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; so he began to teach them many things. (35) When the day was almost over, his disciples came to him and said, This is a remote area, and the day is now almost over; (36) send them away, so that they may go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. (37) But he replied, You give them something to eat. They said to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat? (38) Then he said to them, How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see. When they found out, they said, Five loaves, and two small fish. (39) Then he commanded everyone to sit down in groups upon the green grass. (40) So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. (41) He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks. Then he broke the loaves into pieces and gave it to the disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. (42) They all ate, and were filled. (43) They collected twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread, and also scraps of fish. (44) The number of men who ate of the bread was five thousand.
(45) Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, in order to go on ahead of him to the village of Bethsaida, while he sent the crowd away. (46) After he had left them, he went up into the mountains to pray. (47) When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, while Jesus was alone on the land. (48) Seeing them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night* he came to them, walking on the water. He desired to pass by them, (49) but when they saw him walking on the water, assuming that it was a ghost, they cried out; (50) for they all saw him and were terrified. But he immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage. It is I; do not be afraid. (51) Then he climbed into the boat with them; and the wind died down. They were completely amazed; (52) for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
*about three a.m.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
