Sit in groups

Imagine a jar of marbles — how many marbles does it take to fill a jar?

Imagine of glass of water — how many tablespoons of water does it take to fill a glass?

Imagine a crowd of people — how much food does it take to feed a crowd of people — 5,000+ people?

Mark 6:30-44 is the story of Jesus feeding 5,000+ people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Notice at the beginning of this story that Jesus and his disciples were trying to talk and eat together but a massive crowd of people continued to hang around them, around Jesus. Jesus instructed his disciples to go with him to a “lonely place;” however, they were unable to get away by themselves. Wherever they went, people found them and gathered around. They needed something, someone.

The disciples told Jesus to send the people away to their own towns to find something to eat. There was nothing available in this “lonely place.” But Jesus wouldn’t have it. He instructed the people to sit in groups …of 50 or 100 …and He fed them, all of them, from the only food available: 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and He had 12 baskets of leftovers.

People want groups. They want community. They want relationships. These people were following Jesus for help, for community. Things happen in groups. Jesus provided food for them in groups.

Like the jar of marbles: It’s not a jar of marbles with only one lonely marble in the bottom of the jar.

Like the glass of water: It’s not a glass of water with only one drop in the glass.

Like the crowd of people: It’s not a crowd of people with only one person. We need a group or groups of people to have community and seek Jesus. He provides when we follow Him. We do best when we follow Him as a group, giving each other support and encouragement.