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compassion

Mark 6:34&35
"34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.
35 And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came unto Him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:"

Before leaving Mark, we turn to what my pastor calls the book’s most important event (besides the crucifixion and resurrection): the feeding of the five thousand.

The apostles had just returned from their first mission and reported all they had done and taught. Jesus invited them to a desolate place to rest. The crowd recognized them, ran on foot from the towns along the Sea of Galilee, outpaced the boat, and was waiting when they arrived. There was no escape from the people.

Moved with compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus put their spiritual need first. He began teaching them many things about the kingdom of God, the kind of protective, loving leadership their own leaders had failed to give.

As the day grew late, the disciples came to him. They pointed out the remote place and the hour, and suggested sending the crowd away to buy food. They were still thinking in earthly terms, not yet grasping Who they were following...

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