Today we are reading from Mark 6: 14-29:

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And all ate and were filled; 43 and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Today we see Jesus feeding the 5,000.  But today I want to contrast this passage with what we read yesterday.  In our passage yesterday, we see Herod throw a huge feast.  And who did he invite?  The leaders, his court, the powerful, all of his people, the wealthy, and the powerful. 

Today, we see Jesus host a feast as well.  But notice who He invites.  The ordinary, common folks who are following Him.  Herod casts a very narrow net.  Jesus casts a very wide one.  

Herod’s feast if for only those who he would let in, Jesus’ feast is for all who wish to come. 

Herod’s feast, as we mentioned yesterday, was about his power and his pride, Jesus’ feast was about His humility and His service.  

We see in these feeding stories (this one, and one coming later) just the love that Jesus has for His followers, His desire to care for them, and all that we have is more than enough to make do with all that we need.  

They ate and were filled. That is a minor note, but in that day these people would have barely had enough to eat on a good day.  Hunger was a part of their lives.  Not this day, though. The grace of God burst through, and they had more than enough to eat. They were filled. They had enough.  They were satisfied.  

Jesus brought this motley crew of hungry and poor, outcasts, He brought this group to a feast. And there was more than enough for them.  

Just as there is for us today. There is always enough with Jesus. 

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