Is Jesus Your Source?
Watch or Listen to Video
Mark 6:30-44
This 3-minute video and devotion come from a message of the same title. There's a link to the full message at the end of this devotion.
Exhausted
In Mark 6:30-44, Jesus is going to prove to his Disciples that he is the true source for all that they need in every circumstance and situation to accomplish all that he’s called them to do.
Mark 6:30–32 (NLT) 30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
The Disciples had just returned from their first big ministry tour; they were exhausted, overwhelmed, and stretched to the breaking point. Things were so crazy, they didn't even have time to eat. And they thought Jesus was taking them away for a little rest.
But, how do we learn that Jesus is truly the source for all that we need in order to do all that he has called us to do? We learn it best by experience, don’t we? We learn it by meeting Jesus in the middle of a breaking-point situation where we have to look to him as our complete and miraculous source, which is exactly what the Disciples are about to experience.
The people recognized Jesus and the Disciples, and so they ran along the shore to follow them. When the boat landed (most likely at Bethsaida), Jesus had compassion on the crowd and began to teach them late into the day. However, the Disciples were exhausted; they came exhausted, in fact, they came to get away from this crowd. So they told Jesus to send the crowds away so the people could get something to eat, and so the Disciples could maybe get some rest. (Mark 6:35-36)
The Disciples had just returned from their first big ministry tour; they were exhausted, overwhelmed, and stretched to the breaking point. Things were so crazy, they didn't even have time to eat. And they thought Jesus was taking them away for a little rest.
But, how do we learn that Jesus is truly the source for all that we need in order to do all that he has called us to do? We learn it best by experience, don’t we? We learn it by meeting Jesus in the middle of a breaking-point situation where we have to look to him as our complete and miraculous source, which is exactly what the Disciples are about to experience.
The people recognized Jesus and the Disciples, and so they ran along the shore to follow them. When the boat landed (most likely at Bethsaida), Jesus had compassion on the crowd and began to teach them late into the day. However, the Disciples were exhausted; they came exhausted, in fact, they came to get away from this crowd. So they told Jesus to send the crowds away so the people could get something to eat, and so the Disciples could maybe get some rest. (Mark 6:35-36)
Impossible
Mark 6:37(a) (NLT) 37 But Jesus said, “You feed them” . . .
"Did he just tell US to feed all these people? Oh no, he did not! With what, exactly, does he expect us to feed all these people?"
Jesus is demanding that his Disciples do something impossible. Has he ever done that to you? Have you ever looked at the Word of God and said, “That’s impossible!”
Every day, in every circumstance and every situation, those who are following and serving Jesus must know this truth: Jesus is their source for all that they need - in order to do all that he has called them to do. Jesus is asking his Disciples to do something impossible. Why?
Referring to this same moment, we read in John 6:6 (NLT) He was testing [them], for he already knew what he was going to do.
When Jesus puts you between a rock and a hard place; you see no way out, you have no answers on your own, you have no logic, no reasoning, and you can’t see the next step. It seems to me that right there, Jesus says, “Perfect. I finally have you where I need you.”
"Did he just tell US to feed all these people? Oh no, he did not! With what, exactly, does he expect us to feed all these people?"
Jesus is demanding that his Disciples do something impossible. Has he ever done that to you? Have you ever looked at the Word of God and said, “That’s impossible!”
Every day, in every circumstance and every situation, those who are following and serving Jesus must know this truth: Jesus is their source for all that they need - in order to do all that he has called them to do. Jesus is asking his Disciples to do something impossible. Why?
Referring to this same moment, we read in John 6:6 (NLT) He was testing [them], for he already knew what he was going to do.
When Jesus puts you between a rock and a hard place; you see no way out, you have no answers on your own, you have no logic, no reasoning, and you can’t see the next step. It seems to me that right there, Jesus says, “Perfect. I finally have you where I need you.”
Broken Before God
You’re saying, “Lord, this is impossible.” And He’s like, "Yeah, I know, to you it is." And at some point, you break, and you say, “Lord, only with you will I get through this. Only by you being my source for everything I need, every breath I take, will I make it through this.” And I feel like sometimes Jesus says, "Whew! About time!"
Jesus demanded the Disciples do something impossible to prove something to them.
Mark 6:37(b) (NLT) 37 . . . (Jesus says, YOU feed them) “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out” . . .
This was humiliating - in a pride-breaking sort of way, and maybe you and I would just walk away from it all right at that moment.
Have you ever had that happen, where something in your serving or following of Jesus has pushed you to the breaking point? And you want to blame it on other people, or the enemy, when it might actually be God showing you that he needs you broken, so that you will learn to depend on him, instead of depending on your own logic and your own understanding.
It was a test . . . And you walked away?
Do you know what could have happened if you would have just pressed through the test and done what God was calling you to do? Do you realize what God could have done in your life, and through your life, if you would have just trusted Jesus? And instead, you gave up??
Jesus demanded the Disciples do something impossible to prove something to them.
Mark 6:37(b) (NLT) 37 . . . (Jesus says, YOU feed them) “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out” . . .
This was humiliating - in a pride-breaking sort of way, and maybe you and I would just walk away from it all right at that moment.
Have you ever had that happen, where something in your serving or following of Jesus has pushed you to the breaking point? And you want to blame it on other people, or the enemy, when it might actually be God showing you that he needs you broken, so that you will learn to depend on him, instead of depending on your own logic and your own understanding.
It was a test . . . And you walked away?
Do you know what could have happened if you would have just pressed through the test and done what God was calling you to do? Do you realize what God could have done in your life, and through your life, if you would have just trusted Jesus? And instead, you gave up??
The Source
After surveying the crowd, and finding out how much food there was, Jesus had the Disciples sit the crowd down in orderly groups. (Mark 6:39-40). Then we read,
Mark 6:41(a) (NLT) 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
Jesus became the source of all that the Disciples needed, in order to do all that Jesus called them to do. And guys, Jesus is our source for all that we need, in order to do all that he has called us to do, in every circumstance, in every situation, no matter how overwhelming it looks.
How can we begin living this way with Jesus? First, you have to throw out all your own logic and your own reasoning. Because, as they say, your thinking is stinking.
No matter how you feel, keep serving Jesus; keep obeying Jesus; keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. Walk closer with him. Abide deeper in him. Cling more tightly to him, and then watch what Jesus will do in your seemingly hopeless situation.
If you are a Christ-follower today, Jesus is the source for all that you need, in order to do all that he has called you to do.
Mark 6:41(a) (NLT) 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
Jesus became the source of all that the Disciples needed, in order to do all that Jesus called them to do. And guys, Jesus is our source for all that we need, in order to do all that he has called us to do, in every circumstance, in every situation, no matter how overwhelming it looks.
How can we begin living this way with Jesus? First, you have to throw out all your own logic and your own reasoning. Because, as they say, your thinking is stinking.
No matter how you feel, keep serving Jesus; keep obeying Jesus; keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. Walk closer with him. Abide deeper in him. Cling more tightly to him, and then watch what Jesus will do in your seemingly hopeless situation.
If you are a Christ-follower today, Jesus is the source for all that you need, in order to do all that he has called you to do.