How would you articulate the main theme of this passage?  Why do you think that Mark decided to include it in his gospel?

How does this passage highlight the power and authority of Jesus?  How does it highlight the sufficiency of Jesus to provide for his people?

How does this passage highlight the reality that Jesus is superior to, and the ultimate fulfillment of, the Old Covenant?

What emotions does Jesus experience when he sees the crowd?  (6:34)  Why do you think he feels this way?

What do you think Mark means when he says that the people in the crowd were “like sheep without a shepherd”?  (6:34)  Do you think that that phrase is an accurate description of people, apart from Christ and his grace?  Why or why not?  (See also John 10.)

Consider the verbs in 6:41 (take, bless, break, give).  Compare them with what Jesus does at the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:22).  Why do you think that Mark chose to use the same words, and create a literary parallel between these two moments?

Jesus saw that the people were hungry, and needed food.  (14:33-36)  And he chose to meet that need by asking his disciples to feed them, then having them gather what little food there was available, then miraculously multiplying it.  (14:37-44)  Jesus could have met this need in any way that he saw fit.  Why do you think that he chose to meet this need in this particular way?

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