Verses 30-34. The apostles now return and tell the Lord all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. Likely they were full of the excitement of their mission. He says: “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” How kind to them this was, and they needed it so much, to take away their self-importance, and to remind them where the blessing came from, and that they were but His instruments to carry out His will, so that there in His presence in retirement they might find out what they were in truth, and enjoy His love without being puffed up by their usefulness. Notice He does not say, “Go ye yourselves apart,” but “Come.” It is being in His company that is the rest He desires for our souls; away from others, a desert place in His company.
For there were many coming and going so that they had no leisure so much as to eat. This coming and going does not tell of needy ones sitting at Jesus’ feet, and the Lord gets away from them. They departed into a desert place by ship privately. The people saw them departing. He was recognized. The news quickly spread, and out of the cities came the crowd together unto Him. The love of God breaks through His repose to meet man’s need again. Jesus coming out saw a great crowd and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things. What a true, faithful, loving Servant we have here. He saw their sad moral condition, and ministers to them the teaching He knew they were most in need of. Their leaders had already rejected Him and blasphemed the Holy Spirit. (Mark 3:22-3022And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 28Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 30Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 3:22‑30).) But His heart goes out to the needy ones in deep loving compassion.
Verses 35, 36. The disciples at length remind Him that the day was far spent and that it was a desert place and advises sending the crowd away that they may go where they can buy themselves bread; for they had nothing to eat. Could He send them away? No, indeed! His compassion on them was greater than that. If He detained them to teach their souls many things, He will also prove Himself able to meet this need also. He will testify that He is the Great Messiah of Psalm 132:1515I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Psalm 132:15), who of old said, “I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.” He will also teach His disciples, what they failed to learn in their mission, that they were His administrators (but see verse 52).
They do not understand this when He says, “Give ye them to eat.” They speak about buying bread. He said, “How many loaves have ye? Go and see.” And when they knew, they say, “Five, and two fishes.” He will use His disciples to arrange them in ranks of fifties and hundreds. And He will also use them to distribute what His fullness provides. He now takes the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves, and divided the fishes, and gave them to His disciples to set before them, and they did all eat and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. What proof this was that Jehovah was in their midst blessing the poor of His flock. In this we have a foreshowing of the Messiah’s glory and of the place His disciples have with Him. But it is only a picture, He is yet the rejected One.
Verse 45 begins another picture. In figure He dismisses the Jewish nation, constrains His disciples to get into the ship (the Jewish remnant became the church at Pentecost), while He goes up into a mountain to pray. A picture of this present time when the church has to face contrary winds and trials, but He is interceding for us on high, and though we are apparently left alone, He is with us now by the Holy Spirit. (John, 14:18.) This time will end with His coming to meet us, not on the earth, but in the air.
His coming to them walking on the water, pictures His coming to the believing remnant of Israel, and calming their fears, and delivering them from the oppressors—the winds and waves of the great tribulation. His coming for us has no signs. His coming to Israel has many signs. He watches over them, and says “Be of good cheer: It is I; be not afraid.” And coming up into the boat the storm ceases; but with the church it is taken up out of the storm. Our rest is not here. In Him we have peace. The disciples were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered, the miracle of the loaves had only hardened their hearts.
Verses 53-56. They now land at Gennesaret, or Gadara, where the man that had the legion cast out was left. Now, what a change! They besought Him to depart before, now they recognize Him and run to bring all their sick to Him, where they heard He was. And besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made whole. This pictures the future blessing of Israel when they are restored to the Lord. God’s purposes will be fulfilled without fail, and He knows the end from the very beginning. What a blessed portion is ours now, as saints in light. May we walk according to it!
Continued from page 296.