Episode 058 – Bread of Life Pt 2: Feeding of the 5,000
Key Passage(s): Mark 6:30-44
Did you know that of all the miracles Jesus performed, only one is recorded in all four Gospels? Yep, only one! And it’s the feeding of the five thousand. Why is this story so central to the ministry of Jesus that all four biographers recorded it? That’s what we begin tackling in this teaching. And like all of the stories familiar to us in the Bible, there’s so much more going on. May you marvel at the details and how intentional Jesus is in communicating in both word and deed what his mission is all about.
Discussion Questions
- What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
- Knowing that Jesus just learned of John the Baptist’s death (see Matthew 14:12) and would’ve been in a state of grief and mourning, what strikes you most about Jesus’ attitude and actions towards the people? What we can we learn from that?
- Why do you think large crowds are flooding to Jesus? He hasn’t multiplied bread before, so what’s drawing them to Jesus?
- Why do you think Jesus said to the disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37)? After pondering this question, read John 6:6. Why is Jesus doing this?
- How does understanding that numbers are both quantitative and qualitative enhance or change your perspective on the feeding of the five thousand? What other stories in the Bible are possibly impacted by this reality?
- What does this story teach us about the mission of Jesus and the character of God?
- How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?
For Further Study
- Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels– see Chapter 23: The Feedings of the Multitudes: When, Where, and Why? by Gordan Franz
- A Visual Guide to Bible Events by James C. Martin, John A. Beck and David G. Hansen – see “Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand in a Remote Place (p. 176-177).
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GREAT ONE BRAD GREAT!
SO IF THEY ARE “BIOGRAPHIES” ARE THEY AS INSPIRED AS THE FIRST 5 BOOKS?
EVERY “WORD”, TORAH, THAT PROCEEDS OUT FROM THE MOUTH OF YEHOVAH?
2 FISH EQUALS THE TWO TABLETS OF THE TORAH WHICH WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER???????
IF ABOVE IS TRUE THEN ALL N THE NT IS DERIVED FORM A JEWISH YEHOVAH WORSHIPING CULTURE AND NOT PROTESTANT?
UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS HOW LOOONG DID IT TAKE TO FEED ALL THEM? REALLY HOW LONG?
WHAT WAS GOING ON AS THEY FED THEM-THOSE 12 DISCIPLES OR PERHAPS MORE THAN 12?
WHY WAS THERE LEFT OVERS-DID NO ONE TAKE MORE THAN NEEDED AS IT WAS FREE?
Absolutely, they are as inspired as every other book in the Bible. I use the word “biography” because some of the people watching these videos don’t know what “gospel” means. Hence, using language they can readily understand 🙂
Such a great and encouraging message, Brad. Jesus cares about what is going on in my life. What a great picture of a tired and mourning Jesus responding with compassion as he sees the crowd. He was here for the crowd. We are here for the crowd.
Absolutely! Thanks for sharing this, Susan.