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BASIC SCRIPTURE Daily Manna 28 August 2023
Scripture: Mark 6:30-44 (KJV)
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. BASIC SCRIPTURE Daily Manna 28 August 2023
35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
FINISH READING: Daily Manna 28 August 2023 TOM DOTSON: DON’T GIVE UP ON THEM NOW!
Reflection:
In this passage from the Gospel of Mark, we witness the remarkable account of Jesus feeding a multitude of people with just a few loaves of bread and fish. What begins as a desire for rest and solitude for Jesus and His disciples becomes a demonstration of divine compassion, provision, and abundance.
Upon seeing the crowds, Jesus is moved with compassion, recognizing their spiritual hunger and likening them to sheep without a shepherd. Instead of sending them away, He teaches them and ministers to their needs. The disciples, however, suggest sending the people away to find food, given their remote location.
Jesus challenges His disciples’ perspective, telling them to give the crowd something to eat. The disciples, perplexed by the inadequacy of their resources, present five loaves of bread and two fish. Yet, Jesus takes what little they have, blesses it, and miraculously multiplies it to feed the entire crowd—about five thousand men, not including women and children. After everyone has eaten, there are even twelve baskets of fragments left over. BASIC SCRIPTURE Daily Manna 28 August 2023
Lessons:
- Compassionate Savior: Jesus’ compassion for people’s spiritual and physical needs is evident. He is the Good Shepherd who cares deeply for His sheep and seeks to provide for them.
- Divine Provision: The story showcases Jesus’ power over scarcity and His ability to provide abundantly from seemingly insufficient resources.
- Faithful Discipleship: The disciples’ willingness to offer what little they had, despite their doubts, demonstrates the importance of obedience and trust in God’s ability to work miracles.
- Sharing in Community: The people were fed in a communal setting, reinforcing the idea of sharing resources and supporting one another.
- Miracles of Faith: This account highlights the importance of faith in witnessing God’s miraculous interventions in our lives.
Application:
As we reflect on this passage, let’s remember that Jesus is our Shepherd who cares for our every need. Just as He multiplied the loaves and fish, He can multiply our efforts, resources, and abilities to achieve His purposes. Let’s also embrace the call to compassionately minister to others and to offer what we have, no matter how small, in faith and obedience to God.
In moments of scarcity or doubt, let’s remember that our Savior can turn our insufficiency into abundance. Just as the disciples saw the miraculous feeding, may we witness God’s provision and care in our own lives.
