The story after “the loaves” in Mark
with explanations or alternatives in orange
“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
He saw the disciples (4-7 km away)
straining at the oars,
(because the wind was against them, &
he had sent them in that direction, “ahead of him - to Bethsaida”, &
this tells us it was likely a very moon-light night, near full-moon)
Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake.
He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought [not wrongly, from their fearful culture's wives' tales and stories about fishermen whose boats had gone down on that lake, that] he was a ghost, [but they were ready, because of their observations in the last day (& before that), their recollections since, and their thinking and conversations during the last 6-9 hrs of hard physical labour while they had rowed in turns, (to get only 5-10 km, against this headwind) with each other's company to help them to process this, & nut this all out! They had understood, [in the same way that the boatloads around them also understood, that they had just experienced something like, what years before, the whole nation of Israel had experienced, when God had fed them, through Moses’ interceding for them in a deserted place, and then via Moses’ declaration from God, of God's provision of “bread (& flesh) from heaven” for them all. Then in the days of Elisha the prophet (Elijah's understudy who was given a double portion of the spirit on Elijah), God's word had come to God's people through Elisha who had seen that 20 (small?) barley loaves had fully fed 100 men, with left overs. God was at work letting his people know that once again, he had heard and had come down. Moses himself had warned them that God would send a prophet like him, so they had asked the God, of this Jesus their Rabbi, for insight into the scriptures that Jesus lived his own life from and within, and insight into these times they lived in. Now they lived in anticipation and expectancy…so...)
They cried out, and cheered as one man, because they all saw him and (since he was so close, on such a moon-light night, they recognized him immediately, and) were
(gladdened, beyond belief. They knew that deep shalom-peace in their own experience! Now they knew beyond reasonable doubt, that the God of Creation, the Lord of all the Earth was on their side, was with them. Jesus was not bound by the normal events of life, he was bound only by his Father's will. This was one greater than Moses who they were with, and who was with them. ... But instead of this, which might actually be a long shot, they were...)
terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’
Then he climbed into the boat with them, and
the wind died down.
This was almost the opposite miracle that happened with Jonah and his sailors (where the wind died down when they threw Jonah out of the boat), so like those sailors they also “worshiped God”. Moses on the other hand, had, before the feeding in the desert, led God's people in crossing over, walking through the Red Sea “on dry land”, and his name's sake “Jesus” the servant and successor to Moses, had led God's people over the Jordan River, “on dry land”.) They now realized that this man was walking ON the Sea (of Galilee, which happened to also be the Jordan River), as though it was merely dry land! The miracles of Moses and his servant “Jesus”, were only faint reflections of this one. And this Joshua could enable them as his (apostles=) Ambassadors to do anything he asked them to do. In the incident with the loaves, he had stretched his disciples’ capacity yet again. Before “the loaves” incident, they had just come back from heralding the Good News of God's real Emperor-ship (even over Rome), and throwing out unclean spiritual powers, and they had also healed people with all kinds of diseases. But in the incident with “the loaves (& fish)”, they (these 12 disciples) had asked him to send these (pesty?) people away. Jesus had instead commanded them (and empowered them) to feed the people God brought to them. … and (against their own belief), they HAD! In the light of these past events and with this private revelation (in the middle of the lake, between 3 & 6 am), they now saw at once that they could now be confident, be courageous, nothing could stop this man, nor his designs and plans; no divide of distance, Roman States, even states of matter. Up until now they could recall that the God of Abraham, and the fearsome God of Isaac and the God who had tamed or emboldened the trickster Jacob to become a wrestler, was with them. Now they recognised Yeshua as God’s Messiah. From now, on, they would know that the God (& Father) of Yeshua, God's Messiah was with them. Now they really took heart! They were on the winning team! As this realisation hit them, they cheered again, in unison, and the sound of those cheers in the early morning just before the birds woke, in that natural amphitheatre in Galilee, crossed the lake and woke and infected many throughout the surrounding countryside, putting new heart into them as well!
Strangely, that clinching recognition and the courage it now gave them, spread to all the surrounding towns and countryside!)
[They were (filled with courage and resolve, no longer shaking their heads in incredulity, or) completely amazed, for they had not (stayed like infants in their thinking, they had been trained by their contact with Jesus, and his “scriptures” to now live their lives in the habit of the “men of Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel (God’s people) should do. They had also been taken the next step by him when they had shared life with him, and being given jobs by him to Herald his “Good News”, to drive out demons, to heal the sick, and yesterday, to feed the people whom God brought to them. So because they had asked God for insight, and helped each other, they now) understood about the loaves; their hearts were (no longer) hardened.]
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried those who were ill on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed those who were ill in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. Mark 6:45-56 NIVUK
Some related scriptures:
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Deut. 4:7 NIVUK
Elisha the prophet (the understudy of Elijah, who had “a double portion of the spirit of Elijah”) spoke God’s word to cause 20 small loaves to feed 100 men (with some left over) 2 Kings 4:42-44
Then Job replied: ‘Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him once in a thousand times. His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 9:1-10 NIVUK
Moses said to the Lord , ‘May the Lord , the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’ So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so that the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by enquiring of the Urim before the Lord . At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.’ Num. 27:15-21 NIVUK
from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king – 18,000; from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do – 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty – 50,000;. 1 Chron. 12:31-33 NIVUK
They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, “Yes, I knew of them.” You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ears have not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth. Isaiah 48:7-8 NIVUK
Then Micaiah answered, ‘I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, “These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.” ’ 1 Kings 22:17 NIVUK
The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: you will lie down in torment. Isaiah 50:4-11 NIVUK
Always remember that I am God. Take time to know and understand me. I am The Lord and I always exercise lovingkindness. I am the one who brings justice and righteousness to the earth and I delight in these things declares The Lord. JEREMIAH 9:24 (PM VERSION)
My heart is crushed, and I am trembling. Because of the Lord, because of his holy words, I am like a man who is drunk, someone who has had too much wine. The land is full of people unfaithful to the Lord; they live wicked lives and misuse their power. Because of the Lord's curse the land mourns and the pastures are dry. The Lord says, “The prophets and the priests are godless; I have caught them doing evil in the Temple itself. The paths they follow will be slippery and dark; I will make them stumble and fall. I am going to bring disaster on them; the time of their punishment is coming. I, the Lord, have spoken. I have seen the sin of Samaria's prophets: they have spoken in the name of Baal and have led my people astray. But I have seen the prophets in Jerusalem do even worse: they commit adultery and tell lies; they help people to do wrong, so that no one stops doing what is evil. To me they are all as bad as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. “So then, this is what I, the Lord Almighty, say about the prophets of Jerusalem: I will give them bitter plants to eat and poison to drink, because they have spread ungodliness throughout the land.” The Lord Almighty said to the people of Jerusalem, “Do not listen to what the prophets say; they are filling you with false hopes. They tell you what they have imagined and not what I have said. To the people who refuse to listen to what I have said, they keep saying that all will go well with them. And they tell everyone who is stubborn that disaster will never touch them.” I said, “None of these prophets has ever known the Lord's secret thoughts. None of them has ever heard or understood his message, or ever listened or paid attention to what he said. His anger is a storm, a furious wind that will rage over the heads of the wicked, and it will not end until he has done everything he intends to do. In days to come his people will understand this clearly.” The Lord said, “I did not send these prophets, but even so they went. I did not give them any message, but still they spoke in my name. If they had known my secret thoughts, then they could have proclaimed my message to my people and could have made them give up the evil lives they live and the wicked things they do. “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only. No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth? I know what those prophets have said who speak lies in my name and claim that I have given them my messages in their dreams. How much longer will those prophets mislead my people with the lies they have invented? They think that the dreams they tell will make my people forget me, just as their ancestors forgot me and turned to Baal. The prophet who has had a dream should say it is only a dream, but the prophet who has heard my message should proclaim that message faithfully. What good is straw compared with wheat? My message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces. I am against those prophets who take each other's words and proclaim them as my message. I am also against those prophets who speak their own words and claim they came from me. Listen to what I, the Lord, say! I am against the prophets who tell their dreams that are full of lies. They tell these dreams and lead my people astray with their lies and their boasting. I did not send them or order them to go, and they are of no help at all to the people. I, the Lord, have spoken.”. Jeremiah 23:9-32 GNTD
With his great power the Lord warned me not to follow the road which the people were following. He said, “Do not join in the schemes of the people and do not be afraid of the things that they fear. Remember that I, the Lord Almighty, am holy; I am the one you must fear. Because of my awesome holiness I am like a stone that people stumble over; I am like a trap that will catch the people of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel and the people of Jerusalem. Many will stumble; they will fall and be crushed. They will be caught in a trap.” You, my disciples, are to guard and preserve the messages that God has given me. The Lord has hidden himself from his people, but I trust him and place my hope in him. Here I am with the children the Lord has given me. The Lord Almighty, whose throne is on Mount Zion, has sent us as living messages to the people of Israel. But people will tell you to ask for messages from fortunetellers and mediums, who chirp and mutter. They will say, “After all, people should ask for messages from the spirits and consult the dead on behalf of the living.” You are to answer them, “Listen to what the Lord is teaching you! Don't listen to mediums—what they tell you cannot keep trouble away.” Isaiah 8:11-20 GNTD
Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord , who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Isaiah 8:16-20 NIV
When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord , ‘I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.’ 2 Samuel 24:17 NIVUK
But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. Psalm 78:52 NIVUK
The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed those who are ill or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no-one searched or looked for them. ‘ “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord : as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord : this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. ‘ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and make them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord . I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. ‘ “As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? ‘ “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: see, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken. Ezek. 34:1-24 NIVUK
The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. Zech. 10:2 NIVUK
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Neh. 8:8 NIVUK
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. Neh. 8:12 NIVUK
Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times... Esther 1:13 NIVUK
‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” ’ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Mark 16:6-8 NIVUK
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:2-8 NIVUK
