Mark 6:30-44 | Session 24 | Mark Rightly Divided

Mark 6:30-31 | The Apostles Return

Verse 30 -

Prior to this point, “the apostles” had been called “the twelve” (as in 6:7). The Greek word, in its purest sense, simply referred to one who had been sent on a mission. Now, having been sent and returned, it makes sense to use this specific word. The word was used when someone was sent with authority for a specific mission.

Mark points out that the apostles return with a report concerning, “both what they had done, and what they had taught.” As the mission encompasses both activity and information, a comprehensive report would necessitate both.

Verse 31 -

I would categorize this instruction as more practical than doctrinal. Regardless of religious beliefs, both the human body and mind can only withstand a certain level of activity before rest becomes necessary. One should not feel guilty for taking breaks or for sleeping more than others might deem necessary. Instead, find the optimal amount of rest and leisure that suits your own needs, and embrace it without guilt. It's also important to recognize the signs in your own body or mind that indicate you've reached your limit.

They went to “a desert place.” However, the word “desert.” The Oxford English Dictionary says that the English word, “Formerly applied more widely to any wild, uninhabited region, including forest-land.” Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “desert (n.2),” December 2023, [https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1193767736.]

Mark 6:32-44 | The Feeding of the 5,000

Verses 32-34 -

The people's excitement is so immense that they rush along the seashore to meet Jesus and the apostles at their destination. Jesus' compassion reveals his concern, seeing them as "as sheep not having a shepherd." In the Bible, sheep analogies typically refer to Israel, suggesting Jesus' disappointment with Israel's leaders who had abandoned their flock. This is likely an allusion to Zechariah 10:2, where the Lord describes Israel as a nation who "went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd." Ezekiel 34 also employs the sheep/shepherd analogy, with verse 4 stating, "they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered."

Seeing them, Jesus “began to teach them many things.” John 6 gives some insight into what those “many things” were.

Verses 35-36 -

Although the apostles are frequently criticized for asking Jesus to "Send them away" (v. 35), it's likely the only compassionate response anyone, other than Jesus, would have had. Until this point, Jesus had not performed any resource-related miracles. All his miracles were either physical healings or spiritual victories. The apostles, it seems to me, are making a prudent decision.

Verse 37 -

When Jesus instructed them to provide food, they asked, "Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?" While this is often interpreted sarcastically, I don't believe sarcasm is involved. Why can't this be an honest question? Maybe "two hundred pennyworth" is sufficient, or maybe this is all they had. Regardless, we shouldn't assume sarcasm. A literal interpretation of scripture means that words are taken at face value without inferring additional layers of meaning such as irony or sarcasm.

The King James Version (KJV) interprets denarius as pennyworth. Prior to the introduction of the "new penny" in 1971, a penny was symbolized by the letter d, which stood for denarius. As such, "penny" or "pennyworth" seemed a logical translation choice. However, by the time the penny was invented (around the 8th Century), its value was much lower than the first-century denarius, which was then considered a day's wage.

Verse 38 -

Sent to make inventory of the food, they discover only five loaves and two fish. From John 6:9, we know that these were in the possession of a boy in the crowd. Recall that the crowd left quickly to pursue Jesus, so it is not surprising that none brought food.

Remember, there are two distinct but similar events: the feeding of the 5,000, recorded in Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:5-15, as well as the feeding of the 4,000, documented in Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-9. In the feeding of the 4,000 there were seven loaves.

Verse 39 -

Jesus asks the apostles to have them “sit down by companies.” The word “companies” is translated from the Greek, συμπόσια (symposia), which was derived from συν (syn, meaning "together") and πόσις (posis, meaning "drinking"). It originally referred to a "drinking party" or "banquet.” In extra-biblical Greek literature almost always refers to gatherings focused on eating, drinking, and intellectual discourse. Being used here, then, one could presume this is not only an instruction to gather in an organized manner for being fed, but also implying the people would have a festive time, and involve themselves in intellectual discourse.

Verse 40 -

The phrase "they sat down in ranks" is a translation of ανέπεσον πρασιαί πρασιαί (anepeson prasiai prasiai). This involves reclining at a table (anepeson) and a repeated metaphor (prasiai prasiai), which literally means "garden plot by garden plot." The original language is more conversationally poetic than the English translation. The phrase "they sat down in ranks" in English is a more functional and straightforward description, focusing on the orderly arrangement but losing some of the picturesque quality of the original Greek.

They accomplished this "by hundreds, and by fifties." Given the reference to "garden plots," we interpret this to mean an orderly arrangement of 50 rows by 100 columns, yielding a total of 5,000 (see v. 44).

Verses 41-44 -

The well-known miracle is described rather matter-of-factly, yet its impact was so significant that all four Gospels mention it.

I choose not to delve into spiritual interpretations about the number of people or the quantity of loaves and fishes. Instead, I see this simply as a testament to the miracle Jesus performed. In my view, the only symbolism lies in the foreshadowing of the bounty that the Messiah would bring to the earth. This promised bounty can be seen in passages like Isaiah 25:6-8, Ezekiel 34:23-29, Amos 9:13-14, and Psalm 72:16.