This verse from Mark 6:37 is a pivotal moment in the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Let's break it down:
"But he answered them, 'You give them something to eat.'" This is Jesus speaking to his disciples. He's just witnessed a huge crowd following him and his disciples, and the disciples are concerned about feeding them. Jesus' initial response is striking and a bit challenging. He's essentially telling his disciples to take responsibility and find a solution to the problem themselves. This highlights the theme of discipleship, where followers of Jesus are expected to actively participate in his ministry and care for others.
"They asked him, 'Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?'" This is the disciples' reaction to Jesus' statement. "Denarii" was a Roman coin representing a typical day's wage for a laborer. Two hundred denarii would represent a significant amount of money, roughly 200 days' wages. Their response reveals several things:
Their Limited Resources: They immediately think in terms of buying food, and their immediate concern is the cost. They are acutely aware of their financial limitations. They are probably expressing the impossibility of the task with the available resources.
Their Practicality (but also Lack of Faith): They are trying to think of a practical solution (buying bread), but their solution is based on a limited understanding of Jesus' power and provision. They see the problem as a logistical one that can only be solved with money.
Their Questioning of Jesus' Command: Their question also subtly reveals their disbelief that they, with their limited resources, could possibly feed such a large crowd.
In essence, the verse highlights a key theme in the Gospels: the difference between human limitations and divine possibilities. Jesus is challenging his disciples to think beyond their own capabilities and trust in his power to provide. The disciples, however, are focused on the seemingly impossible task at hand and their lack of resources. This sets the stage for the miracle that follows, where Jesus feeds the 5,000 with only a few loaves of bread and some fish, demonstrating his divine power and the importance of faith and obedience.
This verse from Mark 6:37 is a pivotal moment in the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Let's break it down:
"But he answered them, 'You give them something to eat.'" This is Jesus speaking to his disciples. He's just witnessed a huge crowd following him and his disciples, and the disciples are concerned about feeding them. Jesus' initial response is striking and a bit challenging. He's essentially telling his disciples to take responsibility and find a solution to the problem themselves. This highlights the theme of discipleship, where followers of Jesus are expected to actively participate in his ministry and care for others.
"They asked him, 'Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?'" This is the disciples' reaction to Jesus' statement. "Denarii" was a Roman coin representing a typical day's wage for a laborer. Two hundred denarii would represent a significant amount of money, roughly 200 days' wages. Their response reveals several things:
Their Limited Resources: They immediately think in terms of buying food, and their immediate concern is the cost. They are acutely aware of their financial limitations. They are probably expressing the impossibility of the task with the available resources.
Their Practicality (but also Lack of Faith): They are trying to think of a practical solution (buying bread), but their solution is based on a limited understanding of Jesus' power and provision. They see the problem as a logistical one that can only be solved with money.
Their Questioning of Jesus' Command: Their question also subtly reveals their disbelief that they, with their limited resources, could possibly feed such a large crowd.
In essence, the verse highlights a key theme in the Gospels: the difference between human limitations and divine possibilities. Jesus is challenging his disciples to think beyond their own capabilities and trust in his power to provide. The disciples, however, are focused on the seemingly impossible task at hand and their lack of resources. This sets the stage for the miracle that follows, where Jesus feeds the 5,000 with only a few loaves of bread and some fish, demonstrating his divine power and the importance of faith and obedience.