The Skeptical Response

This morning, we come to another response to Jesus’s ministry: the skeptical response. To begin, let’s read Mark 6:30-44 together. Today, I want you to see two points from the text: Common Grace for the Skeptic and Comforting Grace for the Weary.

First, from verses 30-34, see the common grace for the skeptic. The story of the feeding of the 5000 is one that we are very familiar with. Many of us remember learning it early in our lives, whether it be in a Sunday school class or a VBS. It is a fascinating story, and one that intrigues the imagination of children. But, perhaps that might explain what leads to the extraordinary level of skepticism it receives from unbelievers, and even from liberal Christians who deny the authority of God’s Word. Of all the miracles recorded in the Gospels, there are only two that all four Gospels record. One is the resurrection, and the other is the feeding of the 5000. Yet, for all this veracity, this story is met with doubt. I’ve witnessed this skepticism myself. When I was a teenager, I remember my pastor at the time preaching a sermon on this story, and in it he suggested that the miracle that occurred was a miracle of sharing, as people saw the generosity of the little boy who gave his five loaves and three fish, and they too gave up some of their lunches to make this great feast.

It’s interesting that this story is met with such skepticism, because the story itself invites it. We are told, in verse 31, that Jesus wished to get away from the crowds, so he set out on the Sea of Galilee with his disciples to head for a desolate place. In Luke 9, we are told that they sailed to the region of Bethsaida, which was a small fishing village on the Northeast shore of the sea. But, despite Jesus’s plans, he could not escape the crowds. In fact, we read in verse 33 that as soon as they left, the crowds set out on foot to beat them there. This would have been about an eight-mile journey by foot and a four mile journey by sea, so this crowd is running to meet Jesus at his next destination. Not only are their fervent to meet Jesus on the other side, but the scale of this crowd is massive. Mark tells us, in verse 44, that there were 5000 men. This number does not include the women and children, and so it is within reason to assume that the crowd numbered up to 25,000 people.

With all of this, we might easily confuse this fervor with faithfulness. But, we need to recognize an important detail about this crowd. They do not want Jesus for who he is, but for what they can make him to be. John 6 contains a more detailed account of this story, and there we find that after feeding them, the crowd wants to take Jesus by force and make him king. Very likely, they wanted to force him into a rebellion against Herod Antipas, the puppet king we saw last week. Also, John tells us that, after crossing the sea again, the crowd tracks him down the next morning and begs for breakfast. They don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God and rightful Messiah. They don’t want to bow the knee to him. They don’t want to obey him. They want to use him. They want a king who will address their immediate political needs and establish a welfare state where they can receive bread and fish every day.

The crowd reveals a certain kind of skepticism – a skepticism that is unwilling to accept Christ for who he is yet is willing to use him for what they want. Skepticism is rife in our day, too. There are skeptics who would deny that Jesus even existed, saying the disciples made up the whole thing. There are skeptics who think that Jesus was just an itinerate preacher who got caught up in the politics of his day and ended up on the wrong side of the religious elite. There are skeptics, like those of this crowd, who want Jesus to have any control over their lives. They are fine with religion, fine with Jesus, as long as they benefit from it. Perhaps, you are one of these skeptics, here today because your spouse wanted you to come, or because your Mama and Daddy are buried outside, or because you think it’s socially important to go to church, but you really don’t believe this Jesus stuff. Whatever your skepticism, you have to face the two miracles that all four Gospels record: the resurrection, and the feeding of the 5000. Jesus unquestionably rose from the dead. There is an empty tomb that you can visit in Jerusalem today. And, there were over 500 people who saw him after his resurrection. There were twelve apostles, eye-witnesses of the risen Christ, who went to horrible deaths for the sake of their testimony. Jesus is risen, and that fact demands your repentance and faith.

The miracle of this feeding also demands it. There is a beautiful statement in verse 34 recording Jesus’s reaction to this crowd that beat him to his place of rest. Did he turn them away? Did he get back on the boat and leave? No. Mark says that he had compassion on them. The Greek word for “compassion” there literally means, “a turning of the stomach.” He had a gut-wrenching reaction to seeing this crowd, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were lost – spiritually, emotionally, politically, culturally lost. In his compassion, he does two things. He first “teaches them many things.” It is interesting that Jesus’s first reaction to this crowd was not to feed them, but to teach them. This is reflected in John 6, where he tells them, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Friend, the greatest need you have is not the next meal. It is not that relationship you’ve been pursuing. It is not a better senator or president. The greatest need you have is the salvation of your soul. You need the forgiveness of your sins and the new life that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus also shows them compassion by feeding them. In feeding this great crowd, we find an important theological concept called “Common Grace.” Throughout the history of this world, and in this very moment, there are billions upon billions of people who do not nor will ever submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior. They live in various forms of rebellion and skepticism. Some are ignorant of Christ. Some have heard but refuse to believe. Some are blinded by another religion. But, whatever the case, all are destined for judgement. And yet, God still provides for them. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:45, “He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.” God is good, even to those who refuse to submit to him, even to those who blaspheme his name. They eat bread from the wheat that he causes to grow. They fall in love, have children, depend on friends, witness beautiful vistas, and experience the joys of life. This, friend, is why this miracle demands your repentance and faith. If you will get past your own pride, you have to acknowledge that very little if any of your success comes because of your own creativity and know-how. You did not choose where you would be born or to whom. You did not make yourself, but rather were made by the parents, teachers, bosses, friends, and family who came alongside you. And, you do not eat by your own hand either, but are fed by God’s good providence. When you realize that, the only thing you can feel is gratitude. And why do you feel gratitude? You feel it because there is a good God who has sustained you all your life.

This all leads me to my second point – the comforting grace for the weary. This whole miracle is predicated on verse 30, where mark tells us that the apostles returned to Jesus and reported on all that they’d been empowered to do on their missionary journeys. These apostles were wearied from their mission and hungry. Mark says, in verse 31, that Jesus wanted them to come away with him because the crowd was so pressing that they had no leisure, even to eat. And then, they cross the sea and what do they find, but another crowd. They immediately begin ministering again – hours of teaching and healing. At this point, the apostles are exhausted and hungry. In verse 35, they come to Jesus suggesting that they send the crowd away because they are in a lonely place and there aren’t enough fast food restaurants in the little town of Bethsaida to support such a large crowd. Then, Jesus responds with the opposite of what they thought: “You give them something to eat.” Exasperated, they respond, “Jesus, we’ve got about $10,000 on us, but that won’t be enough to buy bread for everyone.” In this, don’t you hear a wearied skepticism? They had seen and done so many amazing miracles, and yet they lacked the faith to see the amazing opportunity in front of them.

To their skepticism, Jesus offers no rebuke. Instead, he asks them to go find as many loaves as they can. They come back with five loaves and two fish. We know from John’s account, that Andrew had gone and found one little boy who had packed his lunch with these five loaves and two fish. These loaves and fish aren’t what we might think. The loaves weren’t big hocks of bread, but rather matza crackers, like a saltine. And the fish weren’t trout, but small, pickled fish, like sardines. This was the typical lunch, and it is for many even today.

Jesus takes this small meal, and looking up to heaven, he blesses it and begins passing it out to his disciples, and he keeps passing and passing and passing. Like the God of creation, who calls to the sea to bring forth fish and it does, now Jesus blesses, and the creation gives forth food. Like the God of Israel, who heard the cry of his people in the wilderness, and causes bread to rain from heaven, now Jesus sees a people without a shepherd, and he causes bread to come from his hand. When it is all said and done, in verse 42 we read that everyone was satisfied. The Greek word there literally means “to gorge.” As we say in the south, they were stuffed. 

But Jesus is not done. He sends his disciples to pick up the scraps, and we are told in verse 43 that they collect twelve baskets full. Why twelve? Remember how this story began. The disciples had returned from their missionary assignments. Back up in verse 7, when Jesus sent them on that mission, he told them to depend totally on God’s provision. They weren’t to take food or a basket. After returning, they are weary and hungry, and Jesus demands even more as they serve the crowds. But, when it is all said and done, Jesus has not only fed 25,000 people, but he has so precisely provided that there are exactly twelve baskets of food left – enough for the weary apostles who were told to trust him.

Brothers and sisters, see in this that Jesus provides for us, even when we doubt him. He may call us to faithfulness, obedience, and even suffering, but he will also provide his comforting grace for us. He knows exactly how much we need, and he is able and willing to meet our needs as we serve him.