Shepherd the lost sheep - Mark 6:36-37
The disciples saw no way to care for such a large crowd in a deserted, wilderness–like place. Their only solution was to urge Jesus to
Send them away. Jesus emphatically put the responsibility on the disciples. They had to learn to shepherd those lost sheep. Jesus told them to feed the crowd. The disciples, who were still probably worn out from their own missionary journey, replied with a hint of sarcasm.
Two hundred denarii would have been over half of a year's wages according to Matt. 20:2. Their words were a defensive admission that they couldn't do what Jesus had told them to do.
Blessing before a meal - Mark 6:41
The prayer for God's blessing before a meal was a typical Jewish act. The acknowledgement of God's blessing sets this bountiful provision in strong contrast with the immediately preceding account of Herod's drunken feast. Jesus' compassionate care and sustaining of life is the opposite of Herod's self-centered murderous party.
God's provision went beyond - Mark 6:43
Not only did Jesus feed the crowd; he fed them until they had no more need. There were twelve
baskets full of leftover food. God's provision went beyond what they could eat. The whole scene in the deserted wilderness place is reminiscent of God's provision of manna for Israel in the wilderness (Exod. 16).
5,000 - Mark 6:44
Mark gave the total of men fed as 5,000. Matthew (14:21) added that there were also women and children who were fed.
Time to pray alone - Mark 6:45-46
The Greek word translated
made is a strong word that can also be translated
compelled. In Mark's narrative the reason Jesus forced them to leave seems to be his desire to be alone for time to pray. The Gospel of John (6:14, 15) adds the fact that the crowd was convinced by the miracle that Jesus was the expected messianic prophet of Deut. 18:15. They did not, however, understand what kind of a Messiah he was and they tried to make him king by force.
Romans divided the night - Mark 6:48
The Romans divided the night (6:00pm till 6:00am) into four periods. The fourth
watch was from 3:00am until 6:00am.
He wanted to pass by them is a very difficult clause. Jesus was not attempting to sneak past the disciples. If he had wanted to avoid them he could have. He came to them because he saw them in trouble. Mark meant that Jesus wanted to pass in front of the disciples walking on the water so he could demonstrate that he was indeed God himself. Note the parallels with Job 9:8 and 11 which describe God.
He alone...treads on the waves of the sea… When he passes by I cannot see him. See also Exod.33:18, 22.
Jesus identified himself - Mark 6:49-51
The disciples mistook him for some kind of a spirit or a
ghost. That
terrified them. Then Jesus identified himself with the words,
It is I. These words are the translation of the Greek which in John 8:53 is translated
I am. Jesus identified himself by walking on the sea and then using the divine name of Exod. 3:14. The disciples were
completely amazed. This is the same pattern that Mark reported earlier. The disciples were terrified. Jesus calmed their fear. Then they feared Jesus and stood in awe at the revelation of his divine power.
Disciples' amazement - Mark 6:52
Mark explained the disciples' amazement. It was because their
hearts were hardened. They had not understood the full significance of the feeding of the 5,000 and then they had not understood Jesus' revelation of his divine glory on the Sea. Both times it was because of the hardness of their hearts. At times like this they did not seem to be much further along in their understanding than Jesus' enemies and the crowds.
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