Mark 6:37-44 Twelve baskets and 5,000 men
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: January 31, 2018, Mark 6:37-44
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
(Understanding the Text) (Revelation of God) We always say that Jesus fed the 5,000, which is true; however, Jesus did not look at it as if He were feeding them Himself. He said to the disciples, “You feed them.” Thus, the disciples fed the 5,000. They divided the people up into groups of 100s and 50s. That says that there were at least 52 groups of people on the mountainside. (How did they all hear Jesus when He was teaching? Maybe that is why it took all day. They had to take turns being near to Jesus. Or else it was a natural amphitheater?) Anyway, the disciples went to Jesus, filled up their baskets, went out to the people and handed out food, and handed out more and handed out more and handed out more until everyone had enough to eat. Then, they picked up the pieces and had more than when they started. Jesus took it for granted that He would provide the miraculous power to multiply just as God always provides the miraculous power we need to do His will. Thus, in His sight, the disciples were feeding the crowd.
(Application) I’m not sure who the crowd is that I’m supposed to feed today–my friends in the Bible study group? My fellow church members? People on Facebook? My co-workers? I know that I have to keep coming to God in prayer and studying His word in order to have the food for whoever I am supposed to feed.
Even Jesus said blessings over food. I should probably start asking blessings on my food. It is one of those habits that I did not grow up doing and so never felt the need later. Also, it seemed exactly like that, a habit. Prayer should always be more than a habit. On the other hand, in a group it stops us from going our own way and focuses our attention on God for a minute.
(Understanding the Text) I guess they knew that there were 5,000 men because they sat them down in groups of 100 and could count how many groups. The disciples learned a lot about managing crowds and large groups when they were with Jesus. I guess that’s why they didn’t worry about the large crowds that they preached to after Pentecost.
(Revelation of God) (Application) It says that they all ate and were satisfied. God is not stingy when He provides the meal. He gives us enough to satisfy us with more left over. He does not leave anyone out of the meal. He has more than enough resources to supply all. Thus, we should never be stingy in handing out the meal to others. We should give everyone enough to satisfy them. We should ask God to supply more when more is needed.
(Prayer) Give me the miraculous power to do the work that you have given me to do. Help me to be generous in giving Your blessings to others. Give me an abundant blessing also. Thank you for providing for me everything that I need daily.