Lessons of Jesus
Chapter 5: For they had not understood about the loaves

Previous Chapter: They did not even have time to eat


In the previous chapter, we saw the reason why the Lord took his disciples to the wilderness, and the miracle of Jesus Christ did in the wilderness would have given great surprise to his disciples - 32.So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33.But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34.And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35.When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36.Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” 37.But He answered and said to 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 them something to eat?” 38.But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39.Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40.So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41.And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42.So they all ate and were filled. 43.And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44.Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men - Mark 6:32-44

The twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish that the disciples gathered must have filled them with even more greater astonishment and joy, even today the bread is one of the precious food, so, they might have thought them selling and gain some money or perhaps spend a few days enjoying life in the company of their old friends, so their entire focus was turned towards basket rather than Jesus Christ, so, Christ sent them alone in the boat, and no body asked to Christ, how you would come to the other side - 45.Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46.And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47.Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land - Mark 6:45-47

But nothing they thought happened, because the wind was against them and they tossed in the sea until the fourth hour of the night [between 3AM and 6AM]. If they were fighting against the wind for about 6-9 hours, surely the 12 baskets of loaves and fish that they had would have washed away, in such a life-threatening situation, the Lord came and saved them - 48.Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49.And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out - Mark 6:48-49


The disciples thought the 12 baskets of bread will be a permanent solution for all their needs, but, Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, came and saved them, yet the disciples could not understand to whom we relay on, because the disciples' hearts were still hardened - 50.for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be[a] of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51.Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52.For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened - Mark 6:50-52

Next Chapter: Washing of pots and cups