Mark
6:33-56
Lesson 75
6:33-56
Lesson 75
Mark: 6:33-56
Miracles 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. 45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. 53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. |
Margin notes:
"Many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them." (6:33) - Excited crowds from all the cities in the area "recognized Jesus and ran on foot (along the shore) and got there before them." See also Matthew 14:13. "Was moved with compassion toward them." (6:34) - Because God loves us. "This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed." (6:35) - "This is a desolate place and the time is late." "Give ye them to eat." (6:37) - Jesus feeding 5,000 people in this passage is reminiscent of Elisha (with God's help) feeding one hundred men with just a sack of grain, twenty small loaves of barley, and a few ears of corn (2 Kings 4:42-44). "Two hundred pennyworth." (6:37) - A large sum of money in Jesus' day, equal to about eight months pay for the average person. "Loaves." (6:38) - These were small, flat, barley loaves (John 6:9). People would eat several in a meal. "Sit down by companies." (6:39) - Means, "Sit down in groups." "Straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship." (6:45) - "Immediately he urged His disciples to get into the ship." "Bethsaida" (6:45) - A small town in Galilee located on the north-east shore of the Sea of Galilee six miles east of Capernaum. It was the hometown of three disciples, Peter, Philip, and Andrew (John 1:44). Jesus visited Bethsaida often and performed many miracles there (Mark 8:22-25). It was while teaching near Bethsaida that Jesus miraculously fed the five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Lost for almost two thousand years, archaeologists located Bethsaida's ruins in 1987. "When even was come." (6:47) - "When evening had come." "The wind was contrary unto them." (6:48) - "The wind was against them." "About the fourth watch of the night." (6:48) - Based on Roman timekeeping, the fourth watch is between 3 AM and 6 AM. "The land of Gennesaret." (6:53) - A small plain located south of Capernaum on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Due to its fertile soil it was called "the paradise of Galilee." In earlier times the Sea of Galilee was called the Lake of Gennesaret. "Straightway they knew him." (6:54) - "Immediately they (the people of Bethsaida) recognized Him." "Besought him." (6:56) - "Begged Him." |