Mark 6:31-56

Theme: Jesus is the fulfilment of OT promises (in so many ways!) coming to lead and feed his people.

Aim: Turn to him in thankfulness and adoration, because he has come to save his people.

Study

Recap

• Jesus is God’s promised Messiah, and God’s Son, sharing full divinity and power with him.
• He has been going around the towns in Galilee preaching and teaching about the gospel.
• He has performed many miracles, demonstrating his power and authority over the Scriptures, sickness, creation and death.
• Many are amazed by him and great crowds follow him but some oppose him and want to kill him.
• Only a handful of people have responded in repentance and faith.

Feeding 5000 (v31-44)

1. What do Jesus’ actions tell us about his priorities?
   • He has compassion on the crowd (v34), because “they were like sheep without a shepherd” - He takes all the time he needs to teach them, even late in the day.
   • His compassion is selfless - he and his disciples are also hungry, and he lets the crowd stay when his disciples want to send them away.
2. 1 Kings 22:17
   • Micaiah says that he sees Israel and they are like sheep without a shepherd (i.e. Ahab is a bad king) and Mark uses the same words in (v34) - Jesus has come to fulfil the role of the king of Israel, God’s people.
   • Jesus has come to lead and care for God’s people
3. Michah 2:12
   • Here the Lord promises to one day gather together the remnant of Israel like a shepherd gathering his sheep into a fold - in Mark, Jesus gathers a great crowd; this promise is beginning to be fulfilled and Jesus is the way by which it will be accomplished.
   • He has come to assemble God’s people together, and unite them.
4. Ezekiel 34:1-16
   • Ezekiel prophecies against the shepherds of Israel, using it as a metaphor for the leaders of Israel. The Lord promises to find and gather his sheep himself, no matter where they are - in Mark we have seen people from all over the land come to Jesus; again, this promise is beginning to be fulfilled by Jesus, he is God.
   • As above, but as well Jesus will feed and nourish his people with perfect justice.
5. Ezekiel 34:23
   • God promises to set up David as the shepherd of Israel - Jesus, as the greater David, comes to fulfil this same role, only better.
   • Again, Jesus comes to be the head of his people, feeding them, and v24 tells us he will be among us, he shares our humanity.
6. Exodus 16
   • Jesus performs a miraculous feeding just as God does in Ex. 16 - Jesus has the same power as God, performs the same actions, he is God.
   • [More to add here]
7. What does all this tell us about Jesus’ mission?
   • Jesus is the culmination of OT promises, the main instrument of God’s blessing to his people.
   • He has been anticipated for centuries and is finally here - VERY EXCITING!
   • Brings much hope and blessing.
   • We know that it gets better from here - Jesus goes on to take our punishment and give us his perfection.
8. How do these things shape your attitude to Jesus?
   • Respond in thankfulness.
   • Respond in adoration and praise.
   • Reliance on him, without him we are sheep without a shepherd.
   • [More to add here]

Walking on Water (v45-52)

1. As before, what does this episode tell us about Jesus and why he came?
   • Jesus’ priority of prayer shows us that this is the Father’s mission as well - they have an intimate connection like no other.
   • Walking on water is impossible, together with the OT references shows Jesus is God.
   • Passes by to display his glory, meant to encourage the disciples.
   • OT references:
     • Job 9:8
     • Ex. 33:18-22, Ex. 34:6, 1 Kings 19:10-12
     • 2 Kings 6
     • “Take heart, I am”
   • [More to add here]
2. What do the disciples not understand?
   • They don’t understand that it really is Jesus himself, not an apparition.
   • [More to add here]

Healing at Gennesaret

1. How does the crowd’s response to Jesus compare to his disciples’?
   • They immediately recognise Jesus but his disciples didn’t on the boat!
   • The disciples were terrified.
   • They still seem to have very little trust in Jesus and are fearful of superstition, despite being the closest to him.
2. As a whole, what does this passage tell us about Jesus’ followers?
   • “Take heart, it is I” - don’t be afraid because we know who Jesus is and he is with us.
   • Jesus has saved us - joy and thankfulness.
   • Trust in him, without him we are helpless.
   • ESV has many references to taking courage in Jesus:
     • Matt. 17:7
     • Deut. 31:6
     • Isa. 41:1-2
     • John 16:33