Thousands Satisfied

The Necessity of Rest

Every single time that we rest from the work that we're supposed to do in obedience to God, we're recognizing that we're not God, that we're not all-powerful machines that are running 24/7. In fact, every single time that you rest your head on your bed to fall asleep, you are acknowledging with your body that you are not in control of your life, that you can't control anything, and that rest is necessary.

The Lord calls you and I to rest. There's really no excuse for not taking steps to rest. Whatever your to-do list was, Jesus's to-do list was more important. However busy you are, Jesus was busier, and for better reasons. And yet, He is willing to pull away to find a remote place and to rest for a while.

Let me encourage you to rest, and don't settle for superficial rest like vacations where you come back more exhausted than when you left, right? Or idly letting time pass by. Jesus encouraged His disciples to actually be proactive and not to just passively let time pass. His rest was intended to restore their spirits and their strength so that they could continue in gospel work. Finding proactive rest helps recharge your batteries to continue to serve the Lord.

That's actually what we do every single Sunday when we gather together. Some people think of going to church on Sundays as work; it's actually the opposite scripturally. There's certainly work to be done at the church—I still need volunteers for counting the tithe after service, so if you're interested in that, feel free to talk to me. But our gatherings are primarily dictated not by what we do, but by what God has done. God's pleasure in our gathering isn't just that we're doing work when we're together, but the gatherings are actually meant to be rejuvenating for our souls. Every single Sunday gathering, every time that we come together to sing hymns together and to gather around God's Word, we are gathering around a watering hole for our souls.

We come together to celebrate what the Lord has done, taking time to pull away from the world and the world's priorities to remind ourselves of essential truths and to proactively encourage one another in light of the rest that God has given us through Christ. Jesus stops His disciples from exhausting themselves and calls them to rest. But when they leave, the needy follow them all the way to their destination. You see that in our second point this morning: compassion.

Moved with Compassion

Mark 6:32-34 says:

So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

— Mark 6:32-34 (CSB)

So the disciples and Jesus get on a boat to go away, but when people see them departing and recognize who they are, they begin to follow them. Unlike a boat that can just jet across the water, these people are sprinting on shore to keep track of wherever they're going. People from all sorts of different towns hear of where Jesus and the disciples are headed and sprint into the middle of nowhere, into a deserted place, into the wilderness, to await their arrival. Their plan to rest was interrupted as the crowd followed them all the way to their vacation.

Rather than being annoyed—and I'd be annoyed if someone interrupted my sabbatical like that—Jesus responds with compassion. Look again at verse 34. It says when He went ashore, He saw a large crowd and had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and He began to teach them many things.

Here we get a window into Jesus's heart. When He looks at the crowd, He doesn't see a mass of needy people; He doesn't see a laundry list of work; He doesn't even look at the crowd and see a bunch of people who deserve His condemnation. He looks at the crowd and is moved with deep, sympathetic compassion. He was so moved because He saw that they were sheep without a shepherd—people so aimless, so without hope, that they were willing to drop everything they were doing and sprint into the middle of nowhere just to see Him.

Jesus saw their need, that they were sheep without a shepherd. They were aimless and without protection. You know, there's one thing that we know about sheep in the Bible and the way they're described: sheep are dumb. They're not able to protect themselves, and they need a shepherd to look out for them. Otherwise, they're going to be picked off and eaten by random predators, or they run astray and injure themselves. They need a shepherd to protect them. But they were sheep without a shepherd in more ways than just this agricultural analogy.

In fact, if you look at the Old Testament, this phrase "sheep without a shepherd" goes all the way back to the Book of Numbers. Let's look back at Numbers chapter 27, starting in verse 15. Numbers is the fourth book in your Bible. This passage occurs after the Exodus out of Egypt. God had delivered the people, split the Red Sea, and brought them out. During their wandering in the wilderness, before the Israelites enter the promised land, Moses knows that he is not going to be the one who leads the Israelites into the promised land. He had failed a couple of chapters earlier, giving in to the sin of anger, so God instructs him that he will pass away before the Israelites enter the promised land.

In chapter 27, Moses appeals to God. He asks that God would raise up a leader after him who would be able to care for the people as they enter the promised land:

So Moses appealed to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.” The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

— Numbers 27:15-18 (CSB)

Moses understands the need for a godly leader. He values it so much that he goes to God and asks Him to appoint a man who would oversee the people so that they wouldn't be vulnerable and led astray. The Lord raises up Joshua, who already has the Holy Spirit, to lead God's people. Joshua ends up leading the Israelites into the promised land, and you can read all about that in the Book of Joshua.

But that's not where the story ends. After the judges and kings, over and over again, the people eventually end up getting exiled and kicked out of the land because of their disobedience. The Lord laments the evil in the land, particularly the evil leadership that sought only to provide for themselves. You can see this in Ezekiel chapter 34.

The Good Shepherd

We are broken in our sin, ravaged, battered, and broken. And it's not primarily because we are victims of this world or subjects to all the evil that happens around us. We are subjects to evil because we are the perpetrators. We ourselves participated in that rebellion. All of us have turned away from God and fallen to our own rebellious devices, eviscerated by the Brokenness of sin.

But the good news of the gospel is that God Himself came to shepherd His people. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, to shepherd us. He lived the perfect life that we could never live. He was moved with compassion for this crowd, and He was moved in more ways than just teaching them. He came to die on a cross, and on the cross, He bore the penalty of sin that you and I deserved.

For all who will turn from their sin and trust in Him, that is the message of life that we preach here every Sunday. Jesus provides true healing because He paid that penalty, and on the third day, He rose from the dead, victorious over sin and death.

So if you're here and you're not a believer, are you willing to go to Him like this crowd does? Are you willing to abandon everything that you have to sprint from everything that you know and everything you ever held onto in order to find Jesus? If you do, let me promise you, He will never turn you away. He will not despise you; instead, He will look upon you with compassion and provide the grace and forgiveness that you need. Run from the mess and calamity of this life and run to Jesus. He is ready to receive you. If you have questions about what it looks like to follow Jesus, I'll be at the door after service, keeping a respectable distance so I don't give you the flu.

Jesus cares for this crowd by teaching them God's Word, but He is about to show His provision to this crowd not just through what He taught, but through what they're about to eat. You see that in our last point this morning: satisfaction.

Miraculous Satisfaction

Look at verse 35 of Mark chapter 6:

When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.” “You give them something to eat,” he responded.They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.

— Mark 6:35-44 (CSB)

Jesus teaches so long that the sun begins to set. The disciples tell Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go and grab some dinner, and Jesus responds, "You give them something to eat." The disciples know that they are broke. They've been following Jesus this whole time, and He had just instructed them to go out without carrying a bag or spare money. So they respond, "Are we supposed to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread?"—which was equivalent to tens of thousands of dollars—"to feed this massive crowd?"

They couldn't fathom how they were supposed to do that, and they couldn't fathom what Jesus was about to do. Jesus tells everyone to sit down and break into groups on the green grass, reminiscent of the way God organized and fed the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness. He takes the five loaves and two fish, blesses the food, and begins to break the loaves. He keeps giving them to the disciples to distribute, and everyone eats and is satisfied.

The loaves and fish were multiplied to the point that everyone could eat, and not just eat, but have their absolute fill—to eat enough that they didn't want another bite. There were 5,000 men, not counting women and children. We are looking at a crowd of easily 10,000 to 15,000 people. That is a massive crowd, and they were all fed by five loaves and two fish.

Many have speculated as to how Jesus accomplished this miracle. Some have conjured up theories that the disciples snuck in food, like a magic trick where colored cloth keeps coming out of a hat, or that the crowd had secretly brought their own food and were so ashamed that they finally shared it. None of those things are in the text. I don't know how this miracle happened biologically or molecularly. I don't know how those loaves of bread continued to multiply, but that is the nature of a miracle. Jesus chose to demonstrate His supernatural ability by showing His extravagant grace. Everyone ate and was satisfied because Jesus went beyond what they needed to simply quiet their hunger.

Jesus is able to do more than just meet our basic needs; He goes above and beyond. Verse 43 tells us that there were twelve baskets full of leftovers. The word used for baskets here is a very specific word referring to Jewish baskets, the ones specifically used by the people of Israel. Twelve baskets—one for each tribe of Israel.

Can you think of another time in the Bible where the people of Israel were in a deserted place, hungry, and God fed them? Yes, the manna in the Exodus. In Exodus 16, the people complained that they had nothing to eat, and God provided manna. Now, over 1,400 years after that Exodus miracle, Jesus is doing the exact same thing.

Jesus isn't just feeding the hungry; He's sending a message. He is initiating a new Exodus, providing a way not just through physical hunger, but through the worst that this life has to offer. The Lord heard our cries, saw our suffering in sin, and saw the hopelessness of humanity. He promised in Ezekiel that He would come Himself to shepherd the flock, and Jesus came to do exactly that. When the Lord is our Shepherd, miracles happen, needs are met, the blind see, the deaf hear, the hungry are fed, the dead are raised, and sinners are forgiven. When we understand that kind of grace, we will be truly, fully satisfied.

Do you believe that this morning? Do you believe that God provided everything you would ever need in the person of Jesus Christ? If you do, don't let anything stop you from going to Him. You can enjoy true grace this morning. You can rejoice in knowing that Jesus has provided everything you will ever need. As Paul says in Romans 8:31-32:

What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?

— Romans 8:31-32 (CSB)

Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies every true need we have. When you go to Him, you don't need to eat in moderation. You can have your fill in Jesus. Let's be Christians who are grace gluttons—marvelling in grace, glorying in it, tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. See that God has given us far more abundantly than we could ask or think. All of us deserved hell, and God provided true salvation. Our hope goes beyond the grave; we have the hope of everlasting life. God sees us in our broken, sinful rebellion and looks upon us with compassion, and in the midst of our hunger, Jesus comes and gives us true bread.

When you put yourself under the care of this Shepherd, that is when you can say with all of your heart:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

— Psalm 23:1-3 (CSB)

Let's pray.

Lord, we thank you for this gift of grace that you've provided in Christ. We thank you that He has provided true bread through which we will never hunger again. We pray, Lord, that you would help us to taste and see your goodness this morning, this week, and for the rest of our lives. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Our Response and Ministry

A couple of announcements for us before we dismiss this morning. Number one, giving. If you'd like to give, you can do so online. We have a new giving slide up there. If you're interested in giving, you can do so in the offering plate in the back, or online at FirstBaptistAria.com, or by scanning the QR code with your smartphone. Just point your camera at it and it should work.

As we see in this text, Jesus gives us more than we can possibly offer ourselves. We're not giving because God needs our money to accomplish His mission. Jesus is able to multiply loaves and fish to accomplish whatever He wants to do. The reason we give is because God has given so extravagantly to us. We are completely satisfied in Him, and we have the joy and privilege of participating in His work. Let's pray and give thanks for the offering.

Lord, we thank you for the abundant blessings you've given us. We thank you for providing for all of our needs. We pray, Lord, that you would use this offering for the advancement of your kingdom and the glory of your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you're visiting with us this morning, please don't feel any obligation to give. We're just glad that you're here. Giving is something the Lord commands Christians to do in obedience to God and in commitment to their local church.

For other announcements: we have Sunday School in the morning. Irwin is continuing to teach through the Book of Mark, which we are also going through on Sunday mornings. We also have our Church Matters class every Sunday at 9:00 AM. If you're interested in what it looks like to be a committed member of a local church, or the basics of Christianity, join us in the Bible study room in the back. Just walk straight down the hallway through the doors. Feel free to talk to me at the door to learn more.

We also have Wednesday night Bible studies at 7:00 PM in the back room, and Sunday evening prayer meetings every Sunday at 5:00 PM. Even though I am sick, I will still be here to pray, and I pray that God gives a hedge of protection to everyone else who comes. But sincerely, please come. I was saying in Sunday School this morning—and the quote is failing me verbatim—but one pastor said that a prayerless Christian is a functional atheist. We believe that God is a mighty God who actually hears our prayers, listens to us, and answers them to accomplish His will. He commands us to pray, so we have the joy of doing that together every Sunday at 5:00 PM.

Some of you may have heard the news that Marsha passed away. Her memorial service will be held here on February 10th at 11:00 AM. If you'd like to come pay your respects and celebrate Marsha's life, please join us here at First Baptist.

One more important announcement: our counters are leaving after this Sunday for an extended period. If we do not have volunteers to count, the money cannot be counted. It is actually an easier job than it has ever been, so please, if you are willing to consider counting, talk to me at the door. It is a vital service that frees up everyone else so they don't have to worry about it. People wonder why we have faithful servants like Larry and Diego in the back serving with sound, or people passing out bulletins, or serving with music. They volunteer so that the rest of us are freed up to have intentional conversations, encourage one another, and not have to bear every administrative responsibility. Counting money isn't just about funds; it's about freeing up the body to participate in the joy of ministry. I want to thank our counters, Virgin and King, for serving us so faithfully. Enjoy your trip away, and if anyone else is interested in helping, please talk to me after the service.

And now for a benediction from 2 Corinthians 13:14: And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Let's stand and sing together.

[Music] How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure, That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away, As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders; Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished; His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom; But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom. [Music]

Amen. Amen. Have a blessed week.