When Jesus scares me. (Mark 6:45-56)
Even though Jesus really wanted the rest, he took time out for the people. The needy people. The hurt. The broken. The hungry. No politicians in that crowd. No priests. No famous people. What does this mean for me and you? Jesus cares for normal joes. He will meet our needs and teach us truth.
No matter what my mother says, The Brick Testament is pure genius.
While Jesus takes some time alone to pray, to recoup from the rigors of ministry, the disciples pile into the slow boat again and head back across the lake.
And after many hours of prayer, it is now between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning (remember he is setting an example of how important prayer is for us). When he checks on his boys, he sees them working hard, fighting against the wind. So he goes out on the lake, walking on the water. He’s God incarnate. he can do whatever he wants.
Jesus told them he would meet them in Bethsaida, and that’s where he was headed when they saw him and cried like like school girls in fear. They thought it was a ghost. But aren’t these are the same guys that had power and authority from Jesus to cast out demons? Again, Jesus is compassionate and changes his plans to help. He calms them down and climbs in the boat with them.
The moment Jesus steps into the boat, the wind suddenly stops. To me that is scarier than the idea of a ghost on the water coming after me.
THINK:
- Do you ever think that Jesus cares about other people and will heal them or guide them but not you? Why?
- Jesus knows things about the future, right? So why does he send his disciples into lake that he knows will soon have an opposing wind? Why is he compassionate about some things, but not about other things?
- What is Jesus allowing in your life right now, that you really need him to calm you down and say,”Don’t be afraid, It’s just me!”?
- Verse 52 says that the disciples are amazed by Jesus and have hardened hearts at the very same time. What in your heart needs to be softened?
- When you realize a little more of who Jesus really is, do you get scared?
Slow Boat and Free Fish Mark 6:32-44
In an attempt to run away from the masses of people, Jesus and his disciples jump on a boat. It’s a slow boat, though. Slow enough, I suppose for them to get some rest. But the boat is so slow that the crowds of people walk around the lake to where Jesus is going, and they are waiting on him when he gets there. They were determined to get something from him.
Imagining myself here.
I’d love a long ride in a slow boat right with Jesus right about now.
When Jesus lands, he has compassion on the people and begins teaching them. That’s my Jesus, but that’s not necessarily me. I look at people sometimes as time-wasters, energy suckers, life-drainers, joy-hogs. When I do have compassion, it is only Jesus’ Spirit in me coming through. Now I love to teach and tell people what to do, and I recognize that I can do it two ways. I can do it in my meanness (telling people how I think they ought to live) or I can teach in the spirit that Jesus did. One is effective and leads toward righteousness, the other is controlling and results in me getting corrected by the Master.
Later that afternoon, the disciples in their wisdom told Jesus it was time to close shop and send the people away so they could go eat. But because they were on the other side of the lake, in the middle of nowhere, there was nowhere for them to go. I personally think the disciples were hungry, and just wanted to eat, and it was a good plan for them. Jesus was probably hungry too and thought it best to treat everyone like he would want to be treated. So, he fed them all.
It was miraculous to feed 5,000+ people with so little food, with 12 baskets of leftovers. Jesus is that kind of man … and he is that kind of God. Compassionate. Miraculous. Available.
THINK and comment:
- How determined are you to get something from Jesus? Would you have walked around the lake to get to him?
- Have you ever endured physical fatigue when seeking Jesus? Other than a tired rump when a preacher is going too long?
- Would you have eaten the fish and bread that day? Even if you couldn’t explain where they all came from?
- What are you refusing to accept from God today because it isn’t logical and you can’t explain how it is going to happen?
When is it time to stop? Mark 6:30-32
After the disciples spent a time of traveling and ministering, Jesus offered them the next part of their schooling: Rest.
Working with people on any level is difficult and rewarding. Dealing with them on a spiritual level is exhilarating and exhausting at the same time, because you pouring into them who and what you are. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “We were pleased not only to impart to you the Gospel, but our own lives” (1 Thess 2:7)
Jesus took them to a solitary place. There were no cell text messages to respond to, no cell phones ringing, no email alerts to hear. It was quiet. They were alone, as alone as you can be with 13 people. But all of them had experienced the highs and lows ministry. They had that in common.
Jesus knew they needed time alone. Time alone to process everything that they experienced. Time alone to be quiet. Time alone to be themselves. Time alone with Jesus.
I like the phrase “sharpen the axe”, especially when it’s referring to resting in order to work more. That’s what rest does. You may have banged and banged away at something, and before long you are dull and ineffective. Rest is the solution. Sharpen the axe. Renew your mind, your body, your soul. Some of you are dull and worthless right now because you need rest. You need renewal. Being present in ministry is not enough, you must be sharp, ready, effective.
On the other hand, and this has to be said … too many people don’t know how to use their axe in the first place. They don’t ever jump into anything and put forth a good effort. They prepare themselves, but never do anything. They think more sharpening is needed.
All the time I was growing up, I was bent on being prepared. I wanted all things in place, and perfect. It would take me 30 minutes to get gear and tools together to do a 5 minute job. It was at these times that my dad would always pass on his dad’s advice,”Son, you’ve whetted your sword till the battle was done.”
And for many of us, we are trying to get everything in perfect order, before we begin doing what God has been calling us to. If that’s you, then you don’t need rest. You need a kick in the pants.
THINK … and comment. Get a discussion started:
- Are you giving yourself to people in the work of God, or are you exhausted from pursuing your own interests?
- What are you waiting on, in order to do what God has called you to?
- When are you usually your lowest? Is there a pattern to this exhaustion?What do you do to recoup when you are at a low point?
- Is Jesus involved your efforts? Is Jesus involved in your rest?
Mark 6:14-29 Intrigued, but not enough
There are days when you get bad news, and then there are days when you get news that just puts the fear of God in you. In this passage, King Herod hears about Jesus for the first time. He discovers that Jesus and his disciples have been going from village to village teaching about the kingdom of God and working miracles. We know from the other gospels that Jesus and his disciples were baptizing converts also. And after having just beheading John the Baptiizer, he feared that he had come back from the dead. Everything seemed to line up:
- This man had disciples. John had disciples.
- This man baptizes people. John baptized.
- This man taught about God’s Kingdom, so did John.
- This man preached about repentance. John commanded repentance.
- This man has miraculous powers. John would have miraculous powers if he rose from the dead, right?
Backstory on Herod’s paranoia:
Who is really free? John or Herod? "Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he is free. Because his God is with him." This is a line from the movie "Joseph". It was Potiphar speaking to his horrible wife after Joseph was sent to prison because of her indulgence.
History tells us that early in his reign, King Herod Antipas and his wife were staying in Rome for a while with his half brother, Philip. Herod liked Phil’s wife, Herodius, better than his own, and before long, they agreed to divorce their spouses in order to marry each other.
John the Baptist entered the scene as a wild man, eating locusts and predicting damnation for unrepentant sinners. He lambasted Herod, who was only Jew(ish), for his immoral unbiblical marriage. This and the fact that John had gained so much notoriety with the common people. made Herod afraid that rebellion was near, so he arrested John. (Matthew 14:3-4; Luke 3:19)
Once John was imprisoned, Herod continued his debauchery. But verse 20 catches me by surprise. I picture a guilty Herod leaving his life of indulgence to take the occasional stroll to the prison to talk with John. He knew John was righteous and holy … and right. Maybe he could endure a private rebuke, but not public. Maybe he wanted to align his life with God, but was too comfortable in his current lifestyle. We don’t know, but we do know that Herod was protecting John from his new wife. She hated the embarrassment he cause her.
And ultimately, we see yet another man who doesn’t stand up and do what is right. Herod’s indulgence led to his neice (or possibly his own daughter) dancing for him and his guests. Sensually? Sexually? Breakdancing? Not sure, but it charmed Herod enough to offer her whatever she wanted. And after consulting with a bitter, unrepentant mom, the decision was made: John’s head on a plate. Herodius’ source of embarrasment would end, or would it?
Herod is most known today for his role in the execution of John the Baptist and Jesus. He was interested in both John and Jesus, for more than political reasons (Luke 23:8), but in the end his only stand was for ease of his own life … not truth.
THINK:
- John dared to tell the King that it was wrong to marry his brother’s wife. If you were John, what would you have done?
- When it comes for standing up for what is right, what do you usually do?
- What is God telling you to do? Are you silencing his voice? Will you ever do it? Will you give up and keep your life easy?
- What do you do when God’s message or his messenger leaves you puzzled, like in verse 20?
Mark 6:6-13 Taking it to the Village People
Jesus teaches by involvement. A few months earlier, these disciples were working regular jobs. They weren’t theologians. They were simple, uneducated men. But they had been with Jesus, had learned a little about the Kingdom. had been given authority over evil spirits, and showed that healing was possible through God. Jesus thought they were ready for a mission. Would that criteria exclude your christian friends today? 
Think about the leap of faith they had to make. They were to double up, 2 by 2, and walk ahead of Jesus in each village, teaching about him and the Kingdom. Jesus also limited their luggage to what they had on at that moment. Why? He wanted to show them that God would provide for all their needs as they pursued his Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus had given them authority over evil spirits, but not human spirits. Instead, he gave them the wisdom of verse 11: some people will refuse to hear and obey God, and there is nothing you can do for them. Jesus told his disciples to leave them, and make sure they know why.
I wish I had really really learned that before I went and started a church. I knew it was a possibility, but I didn’t think the majority of the people I would come across would be unwilling to repent, or obey the Bible. I feel I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to teach unwilling people and convince them of why they need God. However, I am friends with many of them now, but I don’t try to tell them anything about God.
It’s simple logic really … it is impossible to cast out a human spirit. And if a human spirit refuses to repent, then there is nothing else you can do. Even God himself will not change a human spirit … the person must be willing. We can read stories about this in the Bible all the way back to Genesis 2. But God’s goodness does cause people to repent. Maybe that is why Jesus couples his teaching with healing and casting out demons.
At verse 12 we begin to see it all coming together … this ragtag group was actually doing it! Just like John the Baptist, they were teaching, telling people to repent and that the Kingdom of God was coming. And like Jesus, they cast out evil spirits and healed, all by themselves! They were finally doing what they saw Jesus do.
Sounds a bit like a 4 year old finally learning to ride a bike. Although wobbly and scared to death, still riding and grinning.
THINK:
- What does the disciples assignment tell you about the Kingdom of God?
- Who have you told lately about God’s Kingdom? How did they receive the news?
- How have you handled being rejected when you tried to teach an unwilling person about Jesus?
- What assignment has God given you? What is your progress? Leave a comment below. I’m curious what God is doing around the world.
Hey! Please leave a comment about verse 11. What do you think it means? Jesus’ teachings didn’t allow for promiscuity or drunkenness, so why did he hang out with drunks and prostitutes? Why would he teach his disciples otherwise? What’s the main point?
Mark 6:1-6 Amazed and Offended at the same time
The presence of Jesus definitely brings out different things in different people. In this part of Jesus’ life, he returns home. He is back where he grew up, where his brothers and sisters still live. A thought … Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, but her other kids were from Joseph, not God. Mmmmm, why do some people still refer to her as the virgin Mary? I’m glad people don’t still refer to me as Cub Scout Toby.
And it is in Jesus’ hometown that the savior of the world was the most rejected.
Look at the scenario closely. Jesus teaches at the synagoge on the Sabbath day, and everyone who heard him was utterly amazed (vs2). They were in awe of his knowledge of the scriptures and God and about his stories of miracles and the soon coming of God’s kingdom. They had just heard the Master himself break down the gospel.
But head knowledge by itself is nothing without faith. Jesus only healed a few people, because they didn’t have faith.
I have friends who know more about God than I do. They can quote theologians and historians. They know terms like ontological and monarchianism. They can spin my head with knowledge. But they do not know God. There is a difference. They do not have faith in him like I do. They are not passionate about him like I am. Think about it, you can know all about my wife Ellen: her social security number, her favorite food and color, her height and weight. But I know her, even if I don’t know how much she weighs.
Jesus’ hometown people had just heard Jesus teach. They were amazed by how wonderfully he explained God. And they stopped there. They did not have faith to believe what they just heard.
Therein lies what I think is the biggest issue in Christianity today. Knowledge with no faith. Belief with no works. “Faith” with no Faith. Believers with no experience with God. This type of Christianity screws up our children, so that they have no foundation to stand on when life comes against them. This requires a revolution … which I am actively trying to make happen.
"Help Thou My Unbelief" by David Andrew Green. Of this he says, "These works come out of my personal experience, and in them I explore the nature of inherited faith and the child-like qualities an adult must have for faith to exist. All at once, I appreciate and criticize this process of faith. Does “becoming like little children” make one pure and innocent? Or does it mean being naïve or simple, which suggests ignorance? In order to have faith, one must disregard fact to some degree. Faith is deciding to believe, whether facts support this decision or not. In this series I am exploring my struggle to reconcile the faith of my youth with the adult I have become."
Then Jesus talks about honor and prophets. I’m not a prophet, but I do try to represent God in all venues of my life. And I’ve noticed that people you are really close to you, especially for a long time, have trouble accepting the change that God works in you. Most of them just don’t like God’s favor on you. They may say, why are you special? Because you pray more? Because you read the Bible? Because you give? Because you do things for people? Because you quit watching porn and playing video games all day? Because you are responsible? Because you are faithful?
I don’t know if it is their own self-imposed conviction that spurs them to remember all the things that make you “no better” than them. I don’t know if it is unfulfilled, God-given promises in their life that restrains their honor for you. It may even be that they are still living in the same sins that you once shared with them, and you followed God out of those sins, and they are still wallowing in them. Whatever the reason, when it comes to family and old friends, it is difficult even for Jesus to get the honor that is due.
THINK:
- What childhood escapades of yours do you hear about most often when you visit family or old friends?
- How has familiarity blocked you from really seeing Jesus for who he is?
- How does your family react to your faith in Christ?
