11: Disciples’ Blindness (Feeding 5,000 & Walking on Water) (Mark 6:30 – 52)

After rejections, Jesus focused on training His disciples. However, the disciples were slow to understand Jesus’ true identity.

👉 Read Mark 6:30 - 56

When they returned from the mission, what did Jesus say to them?

"Come with me to an isolated place and take a rest."

We need a time of rest with the Lord to restore our spiritual energy after ministry. 

Interestingly, Mark recorded the death of John between the sending and the returning of the twelve. This arrangement might allude to the persecution of Jesus and His apostles. John the Baptist also was a messenger who proclaimed repentance and was killed because of the message.  

In Luke, when seventy-two returned with joy, Jesus told them to rejoice more for their salvation than their ministry output (Luke 10:17-20).

Jesus saw a large crowd and had compassion for them because they were like (                         ). So he (           ) them many things

Sheep without a shepherd. Taught

Teaching was their need. Healing was what they craved. - Constable They craved healing and food and flocked to Jesus. In that way, they were like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep don't know their needs.

The disciples said, “(             ) them away so that they can buy something for (                ) to eat.” Jesus said, “(          ) give them something to eat.”.

Jesus took the (        ) loaves and the (        ) fish, gave (           ), and gave them to his disciples to (           ) the crowd. 

They all ate and were (                ). And they picked up (            ) baskets full of crumbs. 

• The disciples said, “(send ) them away so that they can buy something for (themselves  ) to eat.” Jesus said, “( You ) give them something to eat.”

We don't want to get involved in problematic situations. We think, ‘How efficient it is if they go and buy themselves!’ 

The best solution is to eat all together. But our limited resources make us choose the second option, dismissing them for a meal.

Here, Jesus wants the disciples to know His way. ‘You give them something to eat.’ He wants us to be involved in rather than ignore it. 

• Jesus took the ( five ) loaves and the (two ) fish, gave ( thanks   ), and gave them to his disciples to ( serve  ) the crowd. 

With our limited resources, Jesus could do greater things. Note that Jesus didn’t feed the crowd directly. He wanted to feed the people through His disciples. 

• They all ate and were (satisfied  ). And they picked up ( twelve  ) baskets full of crumbs. 

Everyone is satisfied and happy when you follow Jesus’ way. His ways bring the best for us.

(                 ) Jesus made his disciples leave for the other side of the lake while he (                ) the crowd. He went to a mountain to (           ). 

Immediately, dispersed, pray

After demonstrating His power in front of the crowd, the disciples might have wanted to stay more in the glorious vibes. Jesus didn’t want their enjoying human praise to blind their eyes. And he went to pray by himself as well.

Why were they afraid when they saw Jesus walking on the water?

They thought he was a ghost. They never thought it would be Jesus.

‘They did not understand about the loaves but their hearts were hardened.’ 

They thought feeding 5000 could be one of the miracles, like the miracle of Elisha in 2 King 4:42 – 44. He fed a hundred men with twenty loaves of bread. They thought Jesus could be a prophet of great power, but not God. 

Jesus forgives sins, which God alone can do (2.5-11), and claims to be the Sabbath's Lord (2.28)! Feeding 5000 should change their question mark with an exclamation mark. However, they were reluctant to acknowledge Jesus was God. This is what ‘their hearts were hardened’ meant.  

They were very conservative in acknowledging Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and slow to understand. We shouldn't follow their example. Be progressive in Jesus Christ, the hope of all possibility. 

Verses 53 - 56 show people's crowding for healing. Such a crowding matches with the disciples' ignorance.