The Compassionate Christ
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Good evening students! I am glad to see each and every one of you here tonight. As we continue in our study through the Gospel of Mark, we arrive at a familiar passage tonight. Many of you have probably hear of Jesus feeding the 5,000. This is one of the famous miracles that Jesus performed, and tonight, we will take a dive understanding this passage.
Leading up to this passage, the disciples had been sent out to proclaim the Gospel, heal people, and cast out demons. Then, we heard about John the Baptist and his tragic end. Now, we arrive at tonight’s passage of Scripture as Jesus looks upon a crowd with compassion.
Have you ever look upon another person with compassion? We live in a compassionless society to say the least. We look at one another with no concern or care for our fellow man. Even in myself, I find that I can be compassionless as well. Oftentimes, I can find myself seeing someone in need and looking past that need. I can be very skeptical of others simply because of instances in which someone has scammed me. For instance, there are times whenever people come to the church asking for help. I have to fight the urge to be skeptical and not help. Christ has called us to help those in need. Even if it is a scam, we should still look upon others with compassion.
As Jesus walked on the earth during His public ministry, constantly crowds would follow Jesus. In the passage tonight, we will see that the crowd continues to follow Him. Oftentimes, the primary reason that the crowd would follow Jesus was to see what miracle He would perform next. The majority of people that would come to see Jesus would simply seek the gift or the miracle instead of seeking to follow Jesus. However, Jesus has compassion upon such people.
30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Pray.
We pick up this week and see that the disciples have returned from their journey to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Upon their return, Jesus seeks to hear about what they had done; however, this meet was interrupted by a crowd in which Jesus fed with five loaves and two fishes. This reveals to us three things: We are called to serve God with times of rest and recovery; Human needs call for the interruption of plans and compassion; and Jesus abundantly supplies our deepest needs.
We are called to serve God with times of rest and recovery.
We are called to serve God with times of rest and recovery.
30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
As we saw several weeks ago, Jesus had sent out the twelve disciples in order that they would go out to preach the Gospel, heal people, and cast out demons. With that commissioning, the disciples had returned to be with Jesus. Upon their return, Jesus was eager to hear all that the disciples had done and taught. So, He sought to get the disciples and Himself to a place in which they would not be disturbed. This would be a time of celebration and reflection as the disciples were returning from their ministry journey. Where they were was a busy place in which they did not even have time to eat. So, Jesus sought for them to go to a place to receive rest and reflection. Jesus and His disciples get into a boat and go away to a desolate place to find rest.
Jesus is teaching His disciples the importance of spiritual rest. As they had been out performing and doing many miracles, it was time for them to go away for a time in order to rest and recovery from their ministry work. They had been out and about preaching, healing, and casting out demons which would have taken a lot out of these disciples.
As a side note, I can tell you that doing the work of ministry can take a lot out of you. The work of ministry is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually demanding. It can wear someone out quickly much like the disciples were probably exhausted from traveling and ministering in Jesus name. Now, it was time for them to take time to recover and recuperate from their ministry efforts.
Vance Havner has said, “If you don’t come apart and rest, you will come apart.”
Rest is essential in the Christian life. In the Old Testament, God created the universe in 6, 24-hour days. Does anyone know what He did on the 7th day?
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
God rested from all of His work on the seventh day. This would later be known as the Sabbath Day. This was to be a day of rest and worship. God set up this model for us to follow. Work six day and rest one. This is important for us to understand. God the Father modeled this for us in the creation of the universe. Likewise, Jesus showed us how to rest during His earthly ministry.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
After Jesus had ministered to the crowds, He went away to be alone with God. This is Jesus demonstrating for us the way in which we are to rest. Spiritual rest does not mean that we are sleeping all day long or being lazy. While there are days in which we can rest or sleep in, the call is to spend time with God resting in Who He is and resting by spending time with Him. Jesus would rest by going to a desolate or secluded place in order to spend time with God the Father.
In my own life, there have been times in which I felt I was close to burnout or spiritual exhaustion. In those times, the call is for rest and recovery through spending time with God. In those times, I withdraw or find somewhere in which I can be alone and read the Word, spend time in prayer, and spend time communing with God.
I remember last year during the COVID pandemic there were times in which I was just tired and down. The was open; however, we were preaching to empty pews with no people in the church. It was exhausting to desire to see the church and meet with y’all but being unable to do so. I remember, after Jesse and I got married, we went to the beach which was a time of rest and recovery. I was able to read my Bible on the beach, pray and rest. Biblical rest is vital to the Christian life.
The call is to live according to God’s Word and reach the lost with His Gospel. We are called to do this each and every day. With that, there will be times in which you may grow weary. You may grow tired and fatigued. In those moments, go to a place in which you can rest by spending time with God. Go for a walk to pray and talk with God. I used to go outside with my Bible in the summer time and read beside my parents pond. Find a place where you can go away and read Scripture allowing for God to speak to you through His Word. Biblical rest is important for your Christian walk. God gave us a day to rest, and Jesus showed us how to rest in Him.
Human needs call for an interruption of plans and compassion.
Human needs call for an interruption of plans and compassion.
33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied.
Jesus and the disciples were seeking to withdraw into a place to reflect and rest; however, that was not going to be the case for them this time. As they sought to get to a desolate place, the crowd saw them set out on a boat and went to meet them where they we going. So, as they were coming to the other side or their destination, the crowd is there is meet them.
To us this would be a major violation of privacy. I would be irritated as would many others seeking to rest. This is almost like getting called into work on your off day. However, notice the approach of Jesus. He looks on the shore and seeing the crowd, He has compassion on them. This crowd was interrupting the plan for rest and recovery. However, Jesus sees this crowd with compassion and in need. Notice, Jesus has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd.
Sheep without a shepherd are lost and bound for danger. They have no one to lead them. They have no one to protect them from the danger of predators. The sheep are sitting ducks if they do not have a shepherd. Therefore, Jesus looks upon this crowd with compassion as they are in need of a shepherd. As Jesus looks on them with compassion, He seeks to address their need. However, He considers their need not to be money, food, or health. Instead, Jesus comes ashore and He begin teaching them many things is what Scripture says. The deepest need of these people was not a miracle. The deepest need for this crowd was the Gospel. They needed to understand their sin and need for repentance and faith in the Savior of the world. Therefore, Jesus begins teaching the crowd.
This is telling for us as believers. The deepest need is not money, food, or health. Every person’s deepest need is to know Jesus Christ as Lord. All of humanity is born into sin and condemned before God. Therefore, each and every person’s deepest need is forgiveness, and the only way in which one can be saved is through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, as we look at those around us, we must be certain to point people to Christ as the deepest need of humanity is forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.
This is the deepest need that must be addressed first. After Jesus had taught the crowd, the disciples noticed that it was growing late into the evening. They had gone to a desolate place so there was not anywhere for the disciples to eat. The disciples sought to send the crowd away into the surrounding villages in order for them to eat. The disciples were seeking to get rid of the crowd. However, I love Jesus’s response.
37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
Jesus places the responsibility on the disciples. He calls for the disciples to provide the crowd with something to eat instead of sending them away. The disciples again seek to shrug off providing a meal. They ask if they should go and buy food for the crowd which would cost 200 denarii which would be a whole years wages for an average worker. Therefore, they did not know how they would feed such a crowd. However, Jesus knows exactly how to feed this crowd.
He sends the disciples out to see what food could be found. They come back with five loaves of bread and two fishes. Jesus places the people into groups by hundreds and by fifties is what the text says. After doing so, He blessed the food and sat it before the crowd to eat.
42 And they all ate and were satisfied.
All of the people were filled. Jesus had provided food for the five thousand. And understand this is five thousand men. That means the number was more than likely much higher than five thousand as the women and children were not included within that number. Jesus provided for the needs of the people. He provided first for their spiritual need and then for their physical need. He had preached and fed the crowd through a miracle.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “After all, He did not perform miracles just to meet human needs, though that was important. He wanted each miracle to be a revelation of Himself, a sermon in action.”
Jesus was preaching through this miracle. Jesus was revealing Himself as the Son of God through the feeding of the 5,000. Not only that, Jesus was compassionate toward the crowd. He had compassion on them so much so that He took the time to teach them and feed them.
What was initially an interruption was used to point people to Jesus Christ. In our lives, we have two options. As we see people in our community and wherever we go, we can view people in need or around us as interruptions or as opportunities.
Just this week, Jesse and I were at Walmart. As we were in the parking lot putting out groceries in the car, a man approached us. I was in a suit because we had just left a funeral. It was hot outside, and I was trying my hardest to get the groceries into the car as fast as possible. This man approached and was asking me random questions. I responded to one; however, I was a bit frustrated and nervous because of how this man approached. Because of this, I did not give the man any attention and viewed him as an interruption. As I drove home, God was disciplining me with conviction from the Holy Spirit. I had viewed that man as an interruption and not as an opportunity to point him to Jesus. I was wrong. I did not do what God calls us to do. I did not have compassion upon the man as Jesus would have.
Maybe there is that person at school or on your sports team that you view as a constant interruption. Maybe they even annoy you. However, they are probably the very ones that you are called to have compassion on. Understand that we never know what someone is going through or where they have been. Therefore, it is important for us to extend compassion and point others to Christ. This can be scary and this does call for us to accept interruptions to our plans. However, God in His sovereignty may appoint for someone to interrupt our plans in order that we share the Gospel with them and they come to salvation in Jesus Christ. Whatever the case, will we be obedient to extend compassion and the Gospel to those around us.
Jesus abundantly supplies our needs.
Jesus abundantly supplies our needs.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
Jesus has provided the spiritual and physical needs of the crowd. Not only did He provide for their needs, He completely satisfied their needs. The primary need of this crowd was salvation through Christ alone. Likewise, it is interesting that the disciples and Jesus went to a desolate place to find rest and recover from their ministry efforts. The crowd followed them into the desolate place where there was no food.
This is reflective of the crowd and of us. We all are spiritually desolate. We are born with a sin nature that separates us from a relationship with God. We are desperately wicked and unable to please God. We were hungry from forgiveness of sin and could not get food for ourselves. Then, God looked upon us with compassion. So much compassion that He sent Jesus, His very own Son, the Bread of Life. Jesus lived a holy and perfect life in order to die on the cross for our sins in order that we would be saved. Not only that, the wrath of God was satisfied and our spiritual longing for salvation is satisfied whenever we place our faith in Him.
Therefore, for the Christian in the room, will you look upon other with compassion and seek to point them to Christ and share the Gospel with them? Look for opportunities.
Unbelievers: Understand that God has compassion on you through the send of His Son to die for you on the cross and be resurrected. SHARE THE GOSPEL.