This story is central to the gospel of Mark; it is pure gospel. The episode serves to reveal the person and work of Jesus more overtly than any other gospel story. As Moses, under God, fed the children of Israel in the wilderness, so Jesus, under God, similarly feeds "sheep without a shepherd" in a "solitary place." In the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus reveals himself as Israel's faithful shepherd. The disciples, wearied by the Galilean mission, draw aside "to a quiet place", to "rest" in the shepherd's care. Yet the crowds follow, and so Jesus, having "compassion on them", "began teaching them many things". Thus, in the wilderness they find the sustenance for eternal rest.

v30. The "apostles" (literally, "the sent ones") return from the Galilean mission and report to Jesus.

v31-32. The disciples' mission has stirred interest and so various groups come looking for them. Jesus draws the disciples into the wilderness. Mark stresses this fact, for the wilderness is where God speaks with his people, and thus, where they may find "rest" (the Sabbath rest, eternity).

v33-34. It is possible that the disciples' mission is to draw out into the wilderness these "sheep without a shepherd." This description of the crowds comes from Num.27:17 and Ezek.34:5. Jesus fulfills prophecy as the Mosaic shepherd who leads God's people through the wilderness to the rest of the promised land.

v35-38. The disciples obviously feel responsible for the crowd which has followed them, but like Moses long ago, they cannot conceive how they should provide for them. "Where shall I find meat to give to all these people?" Num.11:13,22. Mark well describes their lack of understanding, even disrespect toward Jesus. cf. 6:52.

v39-40. Describing the scene, Mark underlines two wilderness images. First, the desert pasture is "green". The cursed land is transformed in the presence of the true shepherd. The sheep now feed on the fat of the land, cf. Ezek.34:26f. Second, the groups of hundreds and fifties images the Mosaic camp-formation of the wilderness, Ex.18:21. The wilderness blooms before Jesus, the second Moses, and the flock finds a secure rest.

v41. Jesus' thanksgiving for God's provision of food is in line with Jewish custom, although instead of looking down, as was the normal practice, Jesus looks up. Mark is probably underlining Jesus' person.

v42-44. The Lord "opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing", Ps.145:16. Indeed, the crowd is satisfied, such that twelve baskets of scraps (most likely uneaten whole pieces) remain. This is simple food, like the manna of long ago, yet the crowd knows little of its origin. Only the disciples see the miracle, but sadly there is little evidence that they understand its significance. Here is the long-awaited shepherd who will soon guide the sheep to their rest.

There is an interesting debate going on in the reformed churches throughout the world over whether infant (family) baptism should be restricted to church attenders or open to anyone. Those with a puritan leaning want the rite restricted to a family that exhibit the fruits of faith, while those with an evangelical leaning want it open to anyone and this for evangelistic purposes. In the Anglican church, for example, the puritan leaning has spawned "Naming Ceremonies" where a pseudo baptism service is performed to placate nominal members. Non church attenders have commented, "Jesus says 'suffer little children to come unto me', but Rev X only suffers good church people to come to him." All very touchy!

A restrictive baptismal policy has value in a Christian community which functions apart from secular society, particularly for believers' baptism where the sign serves as a genuine expression of repentance and therefore, a mark of initiation into full membership of the church. In a national church like the Anglican church, which is by nature "established" (part of, and open to, the wider secular society), a restrictive baptismal policy works against the nature of the institution, and serves only to undermine the historic shepherding role of the church.

In a nonconformist church, the individual member invites those "coming and going" to find rest in the wilderness under the Word of the Shepherd. Yet, in an established church, the institution, as well as the individual, invites the lost to find rest for the soul in the "green" pastures of the church's ministrations. For most nominal members, their wilderness experience is limited to baptism, marriage and funerals. Few ever actually attend a church service. If we are to "give them something to eat", the last thing we need to do is "send the people away." We must have "compassion" on "sheep without a shepherd", that in the "teaching" of the Master they may find rest.

1. Identify how Mark sets the scene in the first 4 verses.

2. List the wilderness images

3. In what sense is Jesus the shepherd, and how can we contribute to this role?