6:31-44 Elated with their victories, the disciples told Jesus all they had accomplished. Tenderly, Jesus invited them to come...apart into a desert place, and rest a while, to leave the commotion and clamor behind. And they departed into a desert place by ship, but the much-needed rest was not to be, because the people saw them...and ran...and came together unto him. By the time the boat had landed, the people were already waiting. Unfettered by their presence, Jesus was moved with compassion toward them. Seeing them as sheep not having a shepherd, he began to "feed" them, to teach them many things.
Soon, the day was far spent. Ever practical, and noting the passage of time, Jesus' disciples approached, saying, This is a desert place...: send them away, that they may go into the country...and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. The urgency of their request confirmed the remoteness of the area and how difficult it would be to find food after dark.
But Jesus answered, saying, Give ye them to eat. Incredulous, the disciples replied, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? The tone would have been important. The amount was equivalent to eight months' salary—surely more than any of them had in their pockets. Yet, a great lesson was at hand. Hadn't they just returned from a mission during which they were instructed not to carry bread or money? Had they lacked anything? We know only of their successes; they must have been cared for. Were they ready to explore a deeper understanding of bread?
