What does "send them away" reveal about the disciples' understanding of Jesus' mission? Setting the Scene Mark 6:36 records the disciples’ words to Jesus as the crowds pressed in late in the day: “Send them away so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” The same scene appears in Matthew 14:15 and Luke 9:12, highlighting its importance. The Disciples’ Request: “Send Them Away” • Practical concern: hunger, dusk, remote location • Assumed limitation: finite resources (only five loaves and two fish, v. 38) • Human logic: disperse the need, shift responsibility to the people themselves What the Request Reveals • Incomplete grasp of Jesus’ compassion – They saw physical need yet expected Jesus’ ministry to end for the day. – Psalm 145:16: “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Jesus would embody this truth, but they did not anticipate it. • Narrow view of His power – Earlier, they witnessed healings and exorcisms (Mark 6:12-13) yet assumed food supply lay outside His reach. • Transactional mindset about ministry – Ministry time slot over → people on their own. – Jesus’ mission, however, is holistic: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) • Tendency to prioritize efficiency over mercy – “Send them away” contrasts starkly with Jesus’ “You give them something to eat.” (Mark 6:37) Contrasting Jesus’ Response • Invitation into participation – He involves them in distribution, teaching that service partners with divine provision. • Revelation of messianic sufficiency – Multiplication of bread foreshadows the greater provision of His body (John 6:35). • Display of shepherd-like compassion – Mark 6:34: “He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Lessons for Us Today • Avoid limiting Christ’s mission to spiritual needs only; He cares for body and soul. • Expect God to supply beyond visible resources when serving others. • Ministry is not dismissed by logistical difficulty; it is the arena for God’s glory. • Compassion directs strategy; efficiency follows love, not the other way around. Supporting Scriptures • Isaiah 55:1-2 – Invitation to receive freely what we cannot buy • Luke 4:18-19 – Messiah’s holistic mandate • Mark 10:45 – Service at the heart of His mission • Matthew 28:20 – Ongoing presence that empowers ministry • Ephesians 3:20 – “Able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” |
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