The Good Shepherd Feeds His Sheep

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 6:30-44.

The apostles had gone out to teach and act with Jesus’ authority. Having handed out the Lord’s gifts, they return to Jesus in need of Him to give to them yet again. He calls them away to a desolate place for that purpose, but the crowds continue to hunger and thirst for Jesus’ gifts as well. When they beat Jesus to the place He was going, the Lord does not react with anger or annoyance. His heart is moved to mercy for these sheep who need Him as their true Shepherd. He fills their souls with His teaching, and then He fills their bodies with food. He accomplishes this through His apostles. Though they do not understand, Jesus teaches them that they can only give out what He has given them. He takes only a small amount of food and feeds in abundance this huge crowd. In the Lord’s Supper, Christ gives us today an even greater feast of His Body and Blood as He invites us sinners to dine with Him for forgiveness.

“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.