Mark 6:30-56 - Bread and water

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In Mark 6:30-44 we read about the feeding of the five thousand, while in Mark 6:45-56 Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee. Both these events are miraculous, both would have been astonishing to the disciples.

Why did Jesus perform miracles, was it just to impress people? No, I don't think so.

Everything he did was in response to the Father's prompting, and almost always it was also in response to some kind of human need. The multiplication of the bread and fish was a compassionate response to a large crowd of hungry men, women and children. Walking on the water was a practical matter of crossing the lake but would also help the disciples understand the previous miracle (Mark 6:52).

Are we becoming more and more like Jesus in that respect? Can we yet say that everything we do is in response to the Father's prompting and/or in response to some kind of human need?

No we can't! We are all too human. But can we say that we are in the process of becoming more like Jesus? If we are following him and our hearts and minds are open to him then, yes, hopefully we can say that we are making progress in the right direction most of the time.

What prevents us growing more like him in our thoughts, words and deeds is usually a self-centred focus on worldly things [Tweet it!]. In the words of the old song, 'Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face. And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.'

See also 'Food for thousands' and 'Walking on water' (Matthew 14) for more on these two events.

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