Talk

The People’s Champ

Ben Stuart

October 22, 2023

The Feeding of the Five Thousand is a monumental moment in Jesus’ ministry, and it’s the only miracle recorded in all four of the Gospels. In this talk, Ben Stuart shows us how this miraculous moment reveals the proclamation of the King, the people of the King, and the priorities of the King.

Key Takeaway

In one of the most famous miracles ever recorded, Jesus boldly proclaims who He is, who we are, and what His priority is for us to see.

The miracle we are looking at today is the only one that is recorded in all 4 gospels. The feeding of the 5,000 is a major moment in the ministry of Jesus. He was declaring that there is a true King, and it's not who you think it is. This narrative shouldn't be pictured like it's often portrayed in children's books. This was a revolutionary moment. Don't miss the significance of the symbols.

We will focus on the Proclamation of the King, the People of the King, and the Priorities of the King.

Mark 6:30

The apostles whom Jesus sent out had just returned from letting people know the Kingdom was at hand. Apostles are those that are sent with the authority of the commissioner.

Mark 6:31

Jesus invites them to the wilderness to rest. Jesus has a pattern of entering into the intensity of the city for ministry and retreating to the wilderness for recovery. He is teaching His followers the same thing. This also applies to us today too. Our #1 priority is to be alone with our Father.

Mark 6:32

They all leave on a boat, but they are followed. Notice the 3 uses of "them"; people notice the people who are constantly with Jesus. The best part of ministry is going from "you" to "we".

Mark 6:34

Jesus is trying to get away from the crowd, but they are following Him. He doesn't get mad when He sees them. He has compassion on them. Compassion means that I hurt when you hurt. In Greek, it's splagchnizomai, which means lower intestine. It's a metaphor for a deep feeling, a visceral reaction.

He calls them sheep, not warriors. They're like defenseless animals and they have no shepherd. So, Jesus teaches them.

Where's the revolution? All throughout the Old Testament, "shepherd" is used as a metaphor for leadership. Moses, David, and Joshua were all shepherds of the people. The political leader was called the shepherd of the people. So Jesus says they are people with no leader or "what I'm about to do is the opposite of King Herod."

This is why there is that Herod moment in Mark 6:14-29. It's a flashback. Why would Mark put this right between the apostles being sent out and the feeding of the 5,000? Because it's showing you the Shepherd of the people. Herod Antipas is their "king". Most think that Mark is being ironic here because he's not really named King. His Dad, Herod the Great, got in good with the Romans, so they named him King of the Jews, which is why he was so threatened when the magi came looking for the one BORN the King of the Jews. That's why Herod the Great slaughtered all the males under the age of two. He killed his own kids because he thought they were rivals to his throne. Herod Antipas, who was more than willing to take over for his dad because he wanted money and power, thought he was going to take over when his dad passed away. However, five days before his dad died, he decided to divide his land among his kids, and therefore, Herod Antipas was never named king; he just was over that region.

"King" Herod has a party with all the important people around him. There is tension in this moment, though, because John the Baptist ministered in his environment, and he liked him even though John the Baptist called him out. Herod made his brother's wife divorce him and took her as his own wife. That's against God's laws for marriage and John the Baptist wasn't afraid to say it. Herod is perplexed and conflicted because he wanted money, sex, and power and had access to all of that, but he also knew that John the Baptist was a holy and righteous man. John was convicting Herod, but Herod heard him gladly, so he was perplexed. At this party, his wife sees a way to bring his two priorities to a head and make him choose. He has his stepdaughter dance for everyone, which is disgusting. Then he tries to impress his friends and offers her anything she wants. She asks her mom what to do. Her mom, who did not like John the Baptist, told her to ask for his head. Does he spare the holy and righteous man, or because he wants to look good in front of people he believes can give him money, power, and influence, kill him? Holiness or self-indulgence? He immediately calls for his head. Herod is someone who used his power and influence not to serve people, but to exploit people. He's "king" over these people, but he doesn't care about them.

The text then flashes forward to Jesus, who is surrounded by desperate and disenfranchised people. He doesn't despise them or use them. Jesus is going to serve them, and in doing so, He's pointing out that He is the True King.

Ezekiel 34:1-5, 11-17

This is the indictment used by Jesus. He promises that He will come and shepherd the people. When David is mentioned in this passage, David had been long dead. Ezekiel was prophesying about the Messiah, Jesus, that comes from David's line.

The Crowd understands this. In John 6:14-15, the people recognize that Jesus is the one prophesied about and they want to make him King by force. Jesus retreats and gets away. He's not a king like Herod, but He's not a revolutionary force they're looking for either. He's building a new type of Kingdom. His revolution isn't weapons of death, He's the Bread of Life. He's not looking to overthrow the government; Jesus is going to change the world. The revolution of Jesus is one of compassion. This is the revolution that we all desperately need: that we would be ruled by love.

Mark 6:35-36

Jesus uses His disciples and brings them in. They identify a problem and propose a solution. Jesus foregoes a reasonable solution and intensifies the "crisis" of people being hungry. They respond with snide comments back because what He is asking is beyond their capacity. Jesus, knowing He is going to solve the problem He created, asks them what they have. They return with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The point is Jesus wants to use inadequate people as part of His work. Jesus is creating a moment where everything depends on Him. Jesus will take you far beyond your capacity so people can see the power and love of God.

Mark 6:39

Jesus has them sit in groups. The mention of green grass is a tip of the hat to Psalm 23 and green pastures.

Mark 6:40

He has them sit in groups of 50 and 100 because that's how Moses had them sit, and Jesus is showing them He's the new Moses, He's the new Shepherd...but He's far beyond what Moses could do.

Mark 6:41

Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fish, said a blessing, broke the loaves, and divided the fish just like a good host would do. They are there because of their need, not because of their importance. He welcomes them all.

Mark 6:42-44

Everyone eats until satisfied with 12 baskets left over. It seems impossible for us to have a revolution of compassion, but that is the point of this miracle. It takes supernatural power and provision. Church should be a place where no one can add up through a band, a team, the preaching, or a venue to make it what it is. God is on the move, God can change hearts, and Gos can do things we can't imagine.

The priority of the King was His Authority. His miracles weren't random. They were Him taking nature as it is and saying He was the Authority over it. He is our provider.

In Mark 6:42-52

Jesus sends His disciples out on a boat and a storm comes on them. He walks out on the water, and they are terrified, thinking He's a ghost. He gets into the boat and commands the wind and waves to calm and it does, and they are amazed, but the Scripture says that it's because they didn't understand the loaves. Had they understood the power in that moment, that this is the God over nature, then why would they be afraid? Don't be quick to judge the disciples. Anxieties rise when past mercies are forgotten. God was faithful then, and He'll be faithful now.

We have a better Moses who will lead His people to the promised land.

We have a better Elijah who will provide for us.

We have a better David who will feed His people.

We have a better Shepherd who will let you lie down in green pastures and restore.

We have the Lord who rules the wind and the waves. He didn't just break bread for the people. His body was broken for us on the Cross. He paid for all our sins. He can be the redeemer of the world because He was the sacrifice of the world. He is the King who is compassionate.

“

"They (miracles) proclaim that He who has come is not merely a king, but the King: nature's and ours."

”

C.S Lewis

Discussion Questions

What is the only miracle to be recorded in all 4 Gospels? What is the significance of that?
What are the events leading up to the feeding of the 5,000 found in Mark 6?
A good leader teaches their followers, then lets them help, and then helps them. How did Jesus do that throughout Mark 6:30-56?
What was Jesus's reaction when he saw the people were following him? See Mark 6:34.
What were shepherds a metaphor for in the Old Testament?
What is the contrast Jesus was making between Himself and Herod? What did Herod do that proved his lack of leadership?
Read Ezekiel 34:1-5, 11-17 and John 6:14-15. What was prophesied about Jesus, and what did the people see?
What was the point of the miracle of feeding the 5,000? Since the counting was reflecting the men, how many people were potentially there? How does that emphasize the main point?
What is the priority of Jesus? What is He in our lives and in nature?
Jesus broke bread for the people, but His body was broken for us. How did Jesus prove He could be the redeemer of the world?

Scripture References

14King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

17For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,

20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

21Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

22When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

23And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

27So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

28and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

29On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them,

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.

36Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37But he answered,

“You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?”

he asked.

“Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

42They all ate and were satisfied,

43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.

48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,

49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,

50because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said,

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.

55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

56And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

1The word of the

Lord

came to me:

2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign

Lord

says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

3You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

4You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

5So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.

11“ ‘For this is what the Sovereign

Lord

says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.

12As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

13I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.

14I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

15I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign

Lord

16I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

17“ ‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign

Lord

says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.

Ben Stuart

Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.