Mark 6:45-56

Mark 6:45-56

The disciples could not wrap their minds around Jesus’ walking on the water. Their explanation was a ghost, not the Lord doing a miracle. Their heart (and note the singular there) was hardened. Why the singular ‘heart’ and why did they assume it was a ghost? They were an influence on each other; in this case, a bad one. They shared their opinions until it became their opinion. That opinion was a lack of faith having not learned the lesson of the feeding of the multitude. This new world view, this new understanding of what the universe is like, namely God is here and active, had not rooted it out and replaced their old world view of superstition and fear. The default setting of the heart was not yet changed. In the moment that the miracle happened, they saw and believed they had faith, but away from that moment in a moment of crisis they reverted back to their hardwired hard-heartedness.

Mark contrasts the disciples with a people who just a chapter  before asked Jesus to leave (Mark 5:17). These people may not have got it perfectly, but they did get it enough to believe that Jesus was greater than their previous worldview. They didn’t trust Him yet but they saw the miracle and they knew nothing was the same. The disciples didn’t get even that yet.

"Lord, protect me from an unbelieving and hard heart. AMEN"

Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

King Herod's fit of conscience was caused by the excitement and reports of the Apostles’ ministry. Mark returns to the life of Christ after the description of John and Herod. Jesus calls for a retreat and a season of rest. Healthy bodies and minds require healthy boundaries. Sometimes the most spiritually Biblical thing that one can do is to take a nap and have a good meal. But the press of people interrupts even the Lord’s plans.

The people are clamoring for something meaningful. They walked around the Sea of Galilee to find where Jesus would land. How much of our media/entertainment/ sports/celebrity culture is a symptom of people looking for something of substance. Often the church is offering only a spiritual version of the media/entertainment/ sports/celebrity culture. In His compassion Jesus responds by teaching. He sees the people running amok, chaos rules their lives. Like sheep with no Shepherd, people with no direction, He is moved to the core of His emotions. He responds by teaching. 

Don't miss this point! Into the chaos of the lives of directionless people, the starting point for Jesus was not healing, music, feeding the masses, or entertainment; but rather, He taught them. This is a lesson the church needs to never forget. No one will deny the value of the social aspects of the ministry of the church and they can reinforce and remind sheep of the main point. But the only cure for the people in chaos is the Lord and He comes via teaching. The act of feeding the 5,000 is a study unto itself and is a metaphor for the feeding of the Body of Christ.

In short, there was an impossible situation and into that impossible situation Jesus introduces possibilities: Divine-human cooperation. In such a situation our contribution is not that grand. It is reflective of where my head and commitment is. What are five loaves among so many? Even in the giving the disciples are doubtful. The Lord does not need a lot or even much or in reality anything from us except willingness. Without our being willing to surrender what little we have God isn't working with us, He is working in spite of us. We have to be willing.

"Lord, help me cooperate with You by being willing to surrender to You. AMEN"

Mark 6:14-29

 Mark 6:14-29

Mark's account of the death of John the Baptist is placed in reference to the growing fame of Christ. Jesus not revealing His identity to the public led to speculations. The wildest speculation came from the guiltiest conscience. The whole Herodian family was dysfunctional in the extreme. This is put on display for the ages in the events of John’s death.  The conscience is a powerful thing.  With the exception of a sociopath who has completely killed his conscience, everyone struggles with what a conscience brings.  While vile and wicked to the core, Herod was bothered by what he had done to John and it provoked what was left of his guilty conscience. Herod also protected John enjoying listening to him and was challenged by him. Herod wants to find a middle ground a way that will not do the greatest evil, but is not genuinely righteous. One who is in deeper darkness easily manipulates a person who is trying to find a middle way. Like the gravitational pull of a planet on a satellite with a degrading orbit is the effect of an evil person on the individual who is not committed to biblical grace, holiness and faith. Herodias was like that to Herod.

When there is such a person in our lives there must be a clean break from the negative influences because the cunning of the powers of darkness will always outmaneuver the person given to compromise; if not now later, if not on this occasion, some future opportunity. The person who still has a conscience, but is living in sin is never completely at peace. They have two options.  One option is they can give themselves over completely to righteousness. This painful experience begins with a coming to terms with their evil and this coming to terms is called repentance. This requires us to renounce and reject completely the world, the flesh and the Devil along with all the delights, such as a dancing girl, that these may offer. The other option is to slowly and passively degrade ourselves, killing our conscience a bit at a time till we either are overtaken by death, or become a spiritual sociopath with no conscience left. There is no third way.  Herod took one more step into deeper darkness when he killed John.

"Lord, help me be passionately committed to You above all else. AMEN"

Mark 6:1-13

Mark 6:1-13

The preventive power of unbelief is amazing.  Jesus is well into His ministry.  He has done amazing things and great works of power or miracles.  But in His own town He is limited in what can be done.  Here is the example of the contrast between unbelief and doubt.  Doubt is more akin to the questions that honestly seek answers.  Unbelief is rejection that seeks an excuse to justify that rejection.   Nazareth had decided to reject Him; the citation of family association was merely a flimsy excuse.   Don’t miss the tragedy!  In the presence of God and all that He might do for them, they rejected Him because their minds were made up.   Jesus could only marvel at their rejection.  What blessings and what an opportunity they rejected. 

In contrast, the people to whom Jesus sends His disciples experienced healing and the liberation from demonic powers.  On this trip, Jesus specifically gave the disciples authority over the demonic powers.  This mission was to be as much about training for the disciples as it was teaching for the people.  The disciples learned to do ministry quick and light.  We must not think that ministry requires a building, a truckload of equipment and a 3-5 year plan.  They went with nothing but a walking stick and their clothes.  If the Lord calls, the needs will be provided along the way.  But we must not presume upon the Lord’s promise for what is not His agenda.

"Lord, help me to make your agenda mine. AMEN"