Who Is This Man?

The Good Shepherd. The passage begins with Jesus’ concern for the welfare of his disciples and his call for them to get away to a “quiet” (NIV) or “remote” (ἔρημος) place to get some rest (v. 31). Ministry, like that conducted by the disciples in their mission, is exhausting, and Jesus recognizes the need for a time of retreat and rejuvenation. Tension arises, however, when Jesus sees the greater needs of the people, who are “sheep without a shepherd,” and is drawn to meet those needs. As the good shepherd, he will ultimately lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Here he sets aside his own personal needs and ministers to others. Significantly, Jesus meets both spiritual needs and physical ones, first teaching and then feeding the people. This is a good model for us today, where a “social gospel” that meets the physical needs of people should not be isolated from the message, but should be an essential and indispensable part of the proclamation of the saving work of Christ. (Mark Strauss) The Disciples. Mark doesn’t emphasize the disciples' failure in this passage. However, their shortcomings increase in severity until the death of Christ. The disciples should be sympathetic characters, as we are likely to have made the same mistakes. This passage illustrates the merciful and forgiving nature of Jesus, who is patient and longsuffering towards his people.