Following the Master - 9 (We Hungry)
The saga takes place in a deserted area that was meant for solitude. Two groups gathered; one very large, and one small. Their biggest enemy was hunger, but their biggest weapon was not enough. Oh, the teachable moment!
What if the world wandered into your dining room? How would you feel? How would you respond? Would you be energized or overwhelmed?
But then again, don't we, in fact, share a dinning room with the rest of the world? What would it have been like if those gathered there that day, on that hillside, with Jesus, had experienced something different? Perhaps a small percentage of the crowd gorging themselves on what they had and felt was theirs, while the vast majority of them found that the left over crumbs were insufficient?
What happens when Jesus gets involved in the story? What happens when people respond to the way that Jesus gets involved? If we were to place ourselves in the midst of this story, how would we respond? When we find ourselves in the midst of our own, how do we respond? What happens when our own experiences of being "hungry" (however it may compare in severity to that of others) get in the way of the needs of others?
Lots of questions to consider here! This week Pastor Fidi explores the dynamic of food, faith and servitude in Mark 6 as we continue the sermon series "Following the Master". If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, click here to access our sermon library. As you continue to consider what Pastor Fidi shares, take some time to review the passage again and consider these additional questions.
Mark 6 (TNIV)
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat."
They said to him, "That would take almost a year's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."
When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 4142 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.