Mark

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus returned to Nazareth with His disciples.  When the Sabbath came, He went to the synagogue to teach.  The people of his home town did not deny the miracles and they were amazed at His wisdom.  Instead of focusing on why these things were so and why Jesus might do these things, they focused on how these things were done.  They conclude the wisdom was given to Him by someone else and they link the wisdom with the works of his hand. 

Then, it's as if someone points out that Jesus was a local boy; His family was all nearby.  Everyone knew His brothers and sisters, this caused skepticism.  They knew Him as a carpenter's son and couldn't get past what they knew him as in the world.  It's as though all those who had just been astonished at His teaching were now skeptics because He was from nearby.  They claimed to know Him but failed to recognize Him as the Messiah.

The implication of verse five is that Jesus couldn't do any good work because of the unbelief.  The few miracles seem are downplayed as minor; but they weren't minor to those who were healed, only minor in comparison to what could have been done. 

The miracles of Jesus are in response to faith.  The response in faith to a miracle is to glorify God.  Alternately, if we receive healing apart from faith, God gets no glory.  Man might feel good about his ability to heal himself; or praise the doctor; or just feel he fell on the right side of circumstance or luck.  Probably the worse outcome would be glory to another god.  So miracles are in response to faith: 

1. Fear hinders faith.  Jairus was told "Do not fear, only believe." (Mark 5:36)
2. Familiarity hinders faith.  They trusted their knowledge of Jesus over the witness of miracles and wisdom of words.  They stumbled over familiarity.

If our enemy can bring us to fear, our belief is harmed.  But if fear fails, he might also convince us we already know the answers and we don't need to believe.  They could have marveled at Jesus and miracles He performed in their life.  Instead Jesus marveled at their unbelief. 

Are you marveled at Jesus, or is He marveled at you?

Mark 6:7-13

Jesus sent the 12 out in pairs; the idea of traveling in pairs was so there would be the witness of two.  If they were not received or heard, they would 'shake off the dust' as a testimony.  Testimony could only be established with a witness.  To 'shake off the dust' was to declare them as a heathen, unclean and undesirable.  If a Jew traveled into gentile land, he would shake the dust from his shoes and clothes before re-entering Jewish territory.  There was now testimony against them that they must some day answer.

The disciples were to travel humbly.  Two tunics were worn by the wealthy, Jesus didn't want them to appear wealthy.  They would need to be received in and offered hospitality.  This meant staying in the home of others and sharing the gospel with them.  If they weren't supportive, they were to shake the dust off the sandals and move on.  They were teaching repentance, casting out demons, anointing with oil and healing.  They had authority over unclean spirits.  They were emulating the ministry of Jesus; which also was consistent with John's ministry.  They may well have been associated with the message John proclaimed.  They had the rest of the message though. 

Mark 6:14-29

Herod heard of all that was going on and became convinced that Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist.  His conscience was still tweaked from his murder of John.  Herod was disturbed  and Mark gives an accounting as to why.  Herod had kept John in prison simply because John spoke out against his marriage.  But Herod didn't kill him because he was afraid and intimidated by him;  he considered him righteous and holy.  Herodias had a daughter Salome, this would be Philip's daughter.  The dancing at feast was for servants to entertain the men with artistic or erotic dances.  It would be unheard of that an honorable woman would dance, let alone the daughter of the host.  McArthur says this dance was a striptease – this is the dance of 7 veils.  But Salome danced before Herod, the military commanders and leading men of Galilee.  The dance pleased Herod, In his exuberance and excitement, he offered her up to half the kingdom.  These flamboyant offers were common as a show of power.  Salome takes full advantage, she asked for John's head on a platter. 

The king was 'exceedingly sorry'.  We may not feel the impact of that, but he was greatly distressed; these same words describe Christ on the cross.  Herod painted himself in a corner though and had to fulfill his vow. 

John died lonely in a prison, wondering about Jesus.  He opened his eyes in the next world and all his questions were answered.  The disciples collected the body of John and honored him in burial.   

Mark 6:30-44

Herod saw himself as king and as a ruler of his people.  His leadership was guided by politics and peer pressure.  Herod was surrounded by those who wanted to be seen and part of this worldly leader.  In contrast, we see Jesus, the King of Kings.  He serves those around Him and His disciples serve with him in a like manner; all done for the glory of God.  Their actions were not selfish in any way. 

The apostles returned to Jesus full of stories and accounts of their efforts.  They shared what was said and done and Jesus encouraged them to rest.  Ministry can be hard work.  It can wear you down.  Sometimes you have to be creative about finding something to eat.  They probably knew this already and would have agreed; but they had no idea just how creative it could get. 

As the disciples boarded the boat with Jesus to go to a secluded place for some rest and a meal, the mob kept watch on where they were going.   This mob moved quickly on the land as the boat moved on the water and they were waiting for Jesus when they came ashore.  Jesus saw this He was moved with compassion.  They were like sheep without a shepherd; looking for guidance, food, comfort and safety.  They wanted someone to protect them and they wanted to belong to someone.  This crowd could have been as large as 20,000.  These sheep were then taught by the Good Shepherd that they might become part of His flock. 

It became late in the day and the disciples realize the setting; they were in the wilderness with a large crowd and no food.  This is a humble setting and quite a picture in contrast to Herod and those who feasted with him in luxury.  The disciples advised Jesus to send this mob away so they could find food.  Yet, Jesus commanded them to provide food for the crowd.  The disciple responds with sarcasm.  A denarii would be about a days pay; so 200 would be months worth of wages, obviously not the kind of money they had. 

They had a meager supply, five loaves and two fish.  What they called a loaf was more like a flat dinner roll.  The crowd was sat down in groups as Jesus blessed the food and gave it to the disciples.  Everyone there was served by the disciples and all were miraculously fed.  The disciples probably thought they wouldn't get to eat when they began this, after all, this wasn't even possible.  In the end they each took up a basket of leftovers. 

With all the miracles they had seen, it never occurred to the disciples that Jesus would perform a miracle. 

• The miracle started with the meager provision.
  • The Lord will work with what is available – if we make it available.
  • The meager provision wasn't ignored or seen as insignificant – it was offered.
  • The meager provision was multiplied.
• While the miracle was an extravagant display, it was humble and simple.
  • Not steak & lobster
  • Not a show for the shows sake, but provision for God's glory
• Jesus returned thanks before the miracle occurred.
  • The blessing wasn't for the food
  • The blessing was for the Lord, giving thanks for what was about to happen.
• The loaves & fish were distributed at the hands of His faithful servants.
  • They were last to eat
  • They may have wondered how they would ever get any.
• The people didn't just get enough to get by…… but were filled. 
  • We should note:  Anyone not filled ………
    • Either rejected what Jesus provided
    • Or…….. a disciple didn't offer it to them.
      • What if a disciple took the basket, sat down and ate keeping to himself what God had given him?
• Jesus had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
  • This is how a shepherd cares for His sheep. 
  • They laid down in green pastures, they were filled with food and filled with teaching and cared for.
• Jesus can provide for our every need

On this day, it was loaves and fishes Jesus provided for the thousands.  He can just as easily provide your need for you.  Do you seek His provision?  Do you trust Him for it?  When it comes, do we thank Him for it?

It's fascinating that there is no response by the crowd.  Did they even know of this miraculous provision?  God provides for us so much every day.  We often just take it for granted and fail to acknowledge the provision.

Mark 6:45-52

The disciples were sent ahead; Jesus dismissed the crowd and went to the mountain to pray. The fourth watch would be between 3am and 6am.  The disciples were straining at the oars since the wind was in their face.  Imagine their surprise when Jesus walked alongside them as if he would pass them by and meet them on the other side.   They thought they were seeing a ghost, as any of us might think.  After all, walking on water was simply not possible as far as they were concerned.  This brought fear to them.  It was then Jesus encouraged them and calmed their fear. 

(Mark is likely penning the gospel of Peter and may be why Mark doesn't mention Peter walking on water.) 

Consider:

• It was a small boat in the middle of a big sea.  They were in trouble.
• Jesus was far away, or so it seemed. 
• The circumstances seemed impossible.  The only way to overcome was by rowing harder, working harder………or so it seemed.
• They were getting nowhere.
• Jesus will come to you no matter where you are.
• It's not enough to know know him, or be familiar with him ( as His family did).  We need His power, His authority, His sovereignty. 
  • We need Jesus to come alongside us, get in our boat and calm the head wind.
• Jesus was walking on the water as if He would pass by.
  • Many had failed to recognize Him as He passed by.
  • Those of Nazereth are examples of those whom were passed by. 

It was the disciples hard heart (stubborn rebellion, unbelief) that kept them from understanding the loaves.  The same hardness caused fear, and it caused them to fail to recognize Him for a moment.  They were greatly amazed in themselves; as in, "How could we have missed this?  How could we be so dense?"  Then they marveled at Jesus.

It is so critical for us that as we follow Christ we don't place boundaries and limits on Him based on our understanding.  These limitations are ours; they show our lack of understanding how big and omniscient and omnipotent our God is!  He reigns sovereign; there is nothing so big He can't accomplish it nor is there anything so small that He would fail to care. 

Mark 6:53-56

Once they were on shore again, Jesus was mobbed.  As the word spread, the sick and diseased were brought to Jesus so they could be cured.  Word must have spread that the woman was healed by touching the hem of His garment. 

©2018 Doug Ford