Study 16
God provides for all our needs
Read Mark 6v30-44
The disciples return from their work. It was the first time they had been without Jesus. How practical Jesus is when he tells them that they need to rest and have something to eat.
Jesus’ compassion
It is easy to imagine the groan of despair that must have gone up from the exhausted men when they saw the crowds gathering. But when Jesus sees the crowd he has compassion on them.
Jesus sees the people as "sheep without a shepherd". The problem with sheep is that they never know where they are going and simply follow each other. We too, like sheep, need to be taught and led - and only Jesus can do this for us in a proper, wholesome way.
The disciples had healed the sick but their faith is not yet strong enough to imagine how they could feed this crowd of thousands. They cannot believe that Jesus wants them to feed the people; objecting that it would take “eight months wages ". They forget the power that Jesus has.
Eventually and reluctantly the disciples do show faith as they order the crowd to sit - before even seeing the food appear themselves.
Jesus provides
Jesus in this miracle is doing quickly what God does more slowly in the normal processes of nature - that is creating food. The plant and animal worlds are represented by the loaves and the fish. He is reminding us that it is “through Him" that "all things were made and without Him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3).
But also Jesus is showing that he is concerned about our whole being, not merely our souls but also our bodies. Nobody is able to concentrate on an empty stomach and as our creator He is well aware of this.
Note: God's provision is enough and more than enough for all our needs.
Time to think
- What has God provided for you physically?
- What has God provided for you spiritually?
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