Proper 10 (G)

Mark 6:30-44

³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. ³⁵ And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. ³⁶ Send them away to 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 buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. ⁴⁴ And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

I will leave for other times to comment on the number of fish, people, loaves, and leftovers. But for today I really think there are two great points that are overlooked. Jesus is always going to desolate places. And in those desolate places he has compassion on people. But here specifically, “because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

The Apostles, the Twelve, return to Jesus. They have been wondering around proclaiming the peace of God and the reign of Heaven drawing near. This means many people have learned these things. Jesus says it is time to rest. They need to take some time and relax. So they go to a desolate place. People find them. So they get into a boat and go to another desolate place. As they come ashore they find a great crowd. So Jesus has compassion on these people wondering around in a desolate place.

This is my favorite part. He has compassion on them not because they are sick, poor, or demon oppressed. He has compassion on them, “because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” They need someone to tell the truth. They need someone to lead them in the right direction. They need someone to teach them. So Jesus teaches them. Then later when they need food because the hour is late in this desolate place, he feeds them.

Jesus teaches us. Jesus leads us. Jesus rescues and saves us.