Our Pilgrimage -- 22-02
Eating in a Desolate Place
I am studying the book of Mark with a couple of guys. As I was working on the story about the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6.30-44, I saw something I had never seen before.
In the past, I had always focused on the miracle of multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish. Not to minimize that miracle, but this time I saw something even bigger.
First some context. In the preceding stories:
Jesus sent the disciples out on their first solo mission trip [Mark 6.7-13]
Mark tells us the story about the beheading of John, Jesus' cousin [Mark 6.14-29]
Next, I'll paraphrase the story. I'd highly recommend you read yourself it in a few different translations.
When the disciples get back from their mission trip, they tell Jesus about all they had done and taught [30]
While they were debriefing, it seems Jesus and the disciples were working so hard serving the people that they didn't even have time to eat [31]
Jesus suggested / commanded them to come with Him to a "solitary place" so they could rest a while [31]
However, the masses had a different idea and followed them to the "desolate / solitary" place [33]
Jesus had compassion on them who followed Him to the solitary place [34]
There at the solitary / deserted place Jesus taught them many things and He fed them [34-42]
Even with 5000 men plus women and children, Jesus fed them, they ate, were satisfied and there were leftovers! [42-44]
These are the "new" things I saw in the story:
Although the food in the story is real bread and real fish, I think Mark is really talking about about eating of the bread of life, Jesus!
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. [John 6.35]
John also tells us that Jesus is God's Word made flesh
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1.14]
We are no different than the masses or the disciples, we need to rest and to eat
We need to go to a "solitary" place and meet with God to rest, be taught and to eat from the "bread of life" and be filled with Jesus
We need to "eat" God's Word and be filled with Jesus
There will always be "leftovers" to share with others
The tl;dr for me:
I do my best to spend a lot of time both in quantity and quality with God every day
Despite that, I need more! So, I go on long walks to hang with Dad, just me and Him!
Hopefully, I love my neighbor enough to share the “leftovers”
Are you ready for His return?
Contact me if you want help getting ready.
Walking deets:
Walked counterclockwise around Loop 1604 in San Antonio from Dove Canyon / Falcon Wolf to Madonna / Nelson
This walk: Dist: 14.84 km; Time: 3+17; Steps: 18,679
Total 2022: Dist: 23.75 km; Time: 5+17; Steps: 29,238
Total: Dist: 513.51 km; Time: 116+03; Steps: 618,829
Social Media Links:
Yes. I see it now too. Thank you for sharing