Mark 6.34-56

This message can be viewed on our YouTube Channel

Title: Jesus, the Shepherd of His People

Text: Mark 6.31-56

Introduction: One of my favorite Psalms is the 95^th Psalm:

95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

²    Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

³    For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

⁴    In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.

⁵    The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶    Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

⁷    For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Where does such praise come from? It comes from a clear understanding of who God is and who we are. When you situate yourself properly in comparison to God, who is perfect in every way – and you see you are human, desperately flawed in every way – you can’t help but praise him.

Let me ask you this morning: have you been there? Have you gained a proper perspective of where you are situated in relation to him? Wow! It is so moving! It causes us to worship – even if we remain silent with our mouths, our spirits cry out: Praise the Lord!

I think that is what happens in Mark 6.30: ³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. This one verse expresses what has to be an incredible time of joy – of thanksgiving. These guys go out to serve – their last experience was watching their master be rejected in Nazareth. They’ve probably now learned of John’s demise. But what they experienced! Whew! That must have been incredible! Can you imagine how it started as they caught up with each other – as each pair started talking about what God did! Would you believe… You’re not going to believe this, but… “Wow”, repeated over and over. What a joy, what excitement is stirred when you celebrate the glory of God – when you’re overcome with the glory and majesty and goodness of God. They’ve got to be tired but still filled with such joy – such contentment.

Then, Jesus calls them away to rest. Verse 31 tells us, they’ve been so busy, they’ve not even been able to eat.

As we look at what then happens in 6.30-56, here is the flow of the passage:

• In v. 30-33, Jesus receives his disciples back from their missionary journey. He then takes them away to retreat from ministry for some rest, renewal and refreshment.
• In v. 34-44, Jesus feeds the 5,000 men and their families with just 5 loaves of bread and two fish. They’ve gone to a desolate place to get away the people and rest, but the people follow. Jesus, filled with compassion, shepherds these sheep without a shepherd (34). As the hour gets late, the disciples tell Jesus to send the people away so they can get something to eat. But, Jesus tasks his disciples with feeding them; but they don’t really see how that can be done. Then Jesus performs the miracle.
• In v 45-52, Jesus sends the disciples away; he puts his men on a boat and tells them to go ahead of him to Bethsaida; early that next morning, Jesus comes walking on the water. Another miracle
• In v 52-56, Mark gives us a summary of Christ’s ministry as he shepherds so many people across the region.

So, with this movement in mind, I’ll use the following outline:

1. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, feeds the 5,000 men
2. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, cares for his disciples
3. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, ministers to the people of the region

Transition: We’re in the midst of a series with a focus on Ministry and Mission. I hope it is obvious from last week and this week that our theme is Ministry; Last week we looked at the Ministries of Jesus, The Apostles, and John the Baptist. We continue with our focus this morning on Jesus, The Good Shepherd. So, let’s begin with his ministry in feeding the 5,000.

I. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, feeds the 5,000 men (34-44)

exp.: we pick up in v 34; rd 34; Sheep without a shepherd…; what does that look like?

ill.: I saw this report in World Magazine: Sleepyhead Shepherd – 1,000 sheep came wandering into this town in Spain – Huesca, Spain after their shepherd fell asleep. I guess counting sheep does make you sleepy! The report said the police actually had rounded up the entire herd before the shepherd even knew they were gone!

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, shepherds his flock in a way that is very discernable. His concern for them goes way beyond just feeding them. His 1^st action when moved with compassion, because they are like sheep without a shepherd is to … what does v 34 say? Teach them. Let that sink in. When we read this story, we usually miss this gem. You see my point written out on the screen. The Compassion of Jesus leads him to feed the 5,000. But that isn’t what the Scripture says, is it? Really, if I were being accurate here, I’d have written out: The Compassion of Jesus leads him to teach the 5,000. It is only after the hour gets late and his disciples tell him to send them away in order that Jesus performs the miracle of the fish and loaves of bread.

I don’t know how to say this softly – it sounds so harsh. But, here is what is on my mind. I’m concerned about a ministry that only feeds people or only clothes people or simply meets their needs. Don’t get me wrong – that is important. People won’t listen if their stomachs are rumbling or if they’re cold. But if you feed them, and you don’t teach them – really, what good have you done.

ill.: I have been encouraging you to hone your ministry – whatever that ministry might be. Service alone isn’t the call – there must be a higher purpose in ministry. Might I encourage you to consider that in your planning? Wednesday night in our Bible Study we mentioned teaching English as a second language. How could one do more than to simply learn the English language? How about using Scripture to teach the language?

app.: We give, we go, we meet needs, but not for those purposes alone – we do it all with the purpose of telling them about Jesus, the one who sent us. The Compassion of Jesus is demonstrated in how he cares for those he sees as Sheep without a Shepherd. He began to teach them.

exp.: The disciples then see a need: rd v 35-36; I love the realness about this story. They see the need and they then tell Jesus what he needs to do! Do you ever do that? See a need and then tell Jesus what he needs to do. I wonder if we don’t hear him say to us: You do what you just told me to do! Lord, it would take 7 or 8 months’ wages to buy them bread to eat. You see that in v 37;

Then, Jesus does what only he can do. “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied.

app.: Here’s another application: get organized. They sat them down in groups… The Compassion of Jesus is demonstrated in how he cares for those he sees as Sheep without a Shepherd. He began to teach them. And he fed them.

One last application before we leave this story: We see something that will begin to repeat itself, and if we’re not careful, it can happen to us, too: The disciples come back from this incredible mission trip, but they quickly lose their sense of awe. They’ve done this sort of stuff when they were out on the mission field – as Jesus had sent them. They saw and did some incredible ministry! Bu now that they’re back home, they’re just casual observers.

t.s.: Father, please don’t let us lose our sense of awe and wonder at your greatness in our midst. Oh, to be more like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who feeds the hungry and teaches them the Truth. and Oh, to be like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who cares… as we see in v 30-34; and 45-52 – who cares for his disciples.

II. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, cares for his disciples (30-34; 45-52)

exp.: He’s tried to get them out to a desolate place where they can rest – but there is no rest for the weary. Now that this is done – and the people are satisfied, Jesus puts his disciples in a boat. He puts his men on a boat and tells them to go ahead of him to Bethsaida (rd v45; cf.:53). Now if you’ve been studying this and find a discrepancy in the gospels – I’d say you’re right. I think there is a simple explanation and this is how I see it.

We can only assume that they were to wait for Jesus who was to meet them there. And, Mark doesn’t tell us this, but Matthew and John help us out here, when Jesus didn’t show up at a certain time, they were to make their way in the other direction to Gennesaret. Well, Jesus doesn’t show up, because he’s gone up on a mountain to pray and be alone with his father (46). What must happen then is the disciples then make their way back westward, where they run into Jesus walking on the water. And I love Mark’s take here: rd 48; He meant to pass by them!

ill.: you ever been skiing? That’s me, skiing – tearin’ it up! Is there anything more excruciating to endure than skiing your heart out, only to have a senior adult woman – like in her 80’s pass you up? Hey wait, that’s not a senior adult woman – that’s Lisa. Yeah, she passes me up, too. That’s humbling. That’s when she was passing me by and stopped for a picture! Listen, I’ve been passed up by women in their 80’s; I’ve been passed up by kids who aren’t even in school yet – that were so little I don’t think they could walk, but were better skiers than me. Probably the most humbling experience for me was being passed by a blind man on skis. I’m not kidding. I’m glad we don’t have any pictures of those!

These guys in the boat – they must be having a tough time as they are fighting this headwind. Evidently, it’s easier for Jesus to walk past them, than it is for them to row their boat. Now that has to be embarrassing. Experienced fishermen can’t even row as fast on the water as Jesus can walk on by! But that isn’t their problem – no, they’re afraid because they’re thinking they’re seeing a ghost.

But Jesus, says there in v 49-50: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” The Hebrew would be, “Take heart; I am he. Do not be afraid.” I am he translated into Hebrew is ani-hu, Say it: ani-hu; now you know some Hebrew. That’s probably, horribly said with a southern drawl. But here is the beauty. This is how God identifies himself. Moses asks, “When they ask me who sent you, who do I say you are? What is your name?” God says, tell ‘em: “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

And so it is, Isaiah 41.4

⁴  Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

       I, the Lord, the first,

and with the last; I am he.

Isaiah 43.10:

¹⁰    “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

“and my servant whom I have chosen,

       that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

       Before me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

¹¹    I, I am the Lord,

and besides me there is no savior.

¹²    I declared and saved and proclaimed,

when there was no strange god among you;

and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

¹³    Also henceforth I am he;

there is none who can deliver from my hand;

I work, and who can turn it back?”

Jesus is saying – it’s ok guys, it’s me, God. ani-hu – Don’t be afraid.

Rd 51a;

app.: Jesus is concerned for his disciples as he desires to teach them more about how to function without him. You see this as he teaches them about the loaves and the fish and this comes out in 51b-52; rd 51b-52; Ok. That verse just doesn’t seem to fit. Does it? But I think Mark is just saying that these guys didn’t get that moment and they didn’t get the loaves and the fish and they’re just not getting it – their hearts are becoming harder toward what Christ is doing.

Christ isn’t just meeting needs! He’s teaching them about who he is! We miss so very much when all we do is give people stuff and wow them with our talent! Our eloquence! Our money! Our facilities!

Don’t lose the wow factor of who Christ is – don’t focus on what he does, focus on who he is!

t.s: Finally, #3

III. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, ministers to the people of the region (53-56)

exp.: rd v 53-56; the Good Shepherd, Jesus – he loves, he cares, he has compassion and tenderness toward those who are lost – like sheep without a shepherd.

app.: His compassion extends throughout the region as many come seeking his help and healing.

It isn’t like they didn’t have religious leaders. To put it in modern-day terms – it ain’t like there’s not a church on every corner!

Conclusion: You know, there is so much for us to learn from Jesus. We want to be like him, but too often we miss just what he’s trying to teach us. For those of you who follow Christ, I would like to encourage you to follow closely. Note:

1. The importance of teaching the gospel to people and not just meeting their needs – although that is important, too. Tell them why you’re doing what you’re doing.
2. And, how about the next time you see a need – how about trying to meet that need instead of telling Jesus what he needs to do to fix that need? Maybe you’ll hear him say – you take care of it!
3. And about hard hearts…man, I worry about my own understanding of circumstances and situations. I worry that my heart might become hard to his leadership – that I won’t get what he’s doing. Maybe your prayer is like mine: Lord, teach me to Trust in you with all my heart, and to not lean on my own understanding. Help to acknowledge you in all my ways and trust that you’re making my paths straight.
4. But listen, if you’re not a believer – a follower of Christ – then I encourage you to place your trust in him today. He is the Good Shepherd and he cares for you infinitely more than you can imagine. His compassion toward you this morning is indescribable. Won’t you trust your life to him? I’ll close with the rest of Psalm 95…     Today, if you hear his voice,

⁸        do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

⁹    when your fathers put me to the test

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

¹⁰    For forty years I loathed that generation

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,

and they have not known my ways.”

¹¹    Therefore I swore in my wrath,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

Won’t you enter today… let’s pray.

Mark 6.7-33

Title: What does it mean to follow Christ?

Text: Mark 6.1-33

What does it mean to follow Christ? Mark 8.34 says: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

So, just what does it mean to follow Christ? And, Is the call of God to follow different for everyone? Is the call different for anyone? What does Christ mean here: “If anyone would follow after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Most of us read the passage and we identify these remarks as being for someone else: someone who is called to a special ministry. We don’t normally associate these words with becoming a Christian. Do you agree?

Oh wait! We do – like when we witness to someone. But once someone becomes a Christian, we don’t think it really applies anymore. Do we?

Do we? Really? Think about that… let that simmer on the back burner for a while.

This morning we’ll take a look at some different ‘ministries’ in Mark. These stories are similar and yet, very different.

1. We have Jesus – the ultimate authority on ministry – and the rejection of those who knew him as he tried to minister to them.
2. We’ll look at his disciples who go and expand his ministry.
3. And we’ll look at John. John demonstrates for us someone who was called and suffered for his ministry.
4. Finally, we’ll look back at the report of the disciples and the attempt for rest after ministry.

Transition: let’s begin with a quick review of last week’s message.

I. The Ministry of Jesus (1-6)

exp.: We don’t need to repeat this message, but I wanted to include it here because it seems to clearly fit the emphasis of the cost of discipleship. Even Christ was rejected when he did ministry.

• The Pharisees rejected him earlier (3.1-6).
• His family rejected him, too (later in ch. 3).
• His hometown rejected him, as well.

Isaiah said of him: He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

app.: The summary of his ministry there is found in v 5:⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And, in this we find a warning: no student is above his teacher, no servant above his master. We must remember this as we move into v7.

t.s.: with this experience of rejection fresh in the minds of his disciples, Jesus sends them out…

II. The Ministry of the Apostles (7-13)

exp.: rd v 7;

• He summons: called them to him (προσκαλέω; Summoned them, called them to himself)
• He sends: began to send them out two by two; to send is the Gk word for which we get apostle: it means commissioned or sent with a mission. And this mission comes out in giving them authority.
• He gave them authority over unclean spirits; You’ll see them exercise this authority when we get down to v 13.
• He charged them to trust God for their provision: their orders; rd v 8-9;
  • Basic necessities – food, clothes, money.
  • Basic etiquette rd v 10;
  • Knowing when it’s time to go; rd 11

app.: They did what Jesus sent them to do; rd v 12-13; this was the purpose all along: Mk 3.14-15 – ¹⁴ And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and have authority to cast out demons.

t.s: Now these twelve have gone out by the authority of Jesus. We come to this interlude (that is, we’ll pick up this story down in v 30) and we hear of another ministry.

III. The Ministry of John (14-29)

exp.: i.e.: John the Baptizer; This story of John is born out of a need for explanation. Herod is questioning who Jesus might be. Maybe this arises from the Apostle’s who’ve been commissioned by Jesus through his authority. Who is this Jesus? Maybe they are asked by what authority they do these things. Their answer of course would be: Jesus. Herod seems to be thinking something similar: Who is this Jesus? Herod thinks he could be John, the baptizer whom he had put to death earlier. This would not make sense to the reader because nothing has been said about John since chapter one. So, Mark educates us with his story:

Now listen carefully, I’m going to make this simple: Verse 16 says Herod had John beheaded. Herod didn’t really want to kill him. He did it at the request of Salome – But she probably didn’t want it either. You see, it was really her mother, Herodias, who was Philip’s wife. Well, she was his wife, but now she was Philip’s brother’s wife. Evidently there was some shady stuff going on there. So, The reason is because his step-daughter, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, his new wife, or she was his niece because she was the daughter of his half brother Philip who was at one time married to Herodias, or maybe we should say Salome was his grandniece because Herodias, his wife, was also his half brother Aristobolus’s daughter. Anyway, that lady, she’s the one who had asked for John’s head on a platter. Clear?

Listen, this is a tangled web of men named Herod. These guys all were all related to each other by their father. Their actions were sinful and John’s call was to call them to repentance. John does just what Jesus has called others to do…he calls Herod and Herodias to repent of their sinful behavior. People don’t like that. People don’t like to have their sin called out.

• If you are meeting up with a woman who isn’t your wife – that’s adultery!
• If this person you’re hooking up with is of the same gender – that’s Homosexuality and according to Scripture, it is sinful behavior!
• If you were born with a certain genitalia, then you’re a man. If not, you’re a woman. If you have trouble with this, get some help. Pretending to be something you’re not is sinful and harmful.
• If you feel like you are a cat or a dog – that’s not natural. You need help.

When you call people to repentance, it is offensive. People don’t want to repent. Ok, John is standing under their balcony calling them to repent. I’m assuming others can hear this preaching of repentance. If someone is in sin and doesn’t want to repent, he or she will get angry and defensive. That’s exactly what happens to Herodias. And we’re just like she is: We all want others to embrace us in our sin. Tell us it is ok, so we can keep doing it.

John will die because he refuses to back down from the calling of his ministry. He gives us a foretaste of what Jesus will endure because he will not back down from his ministry.

Before we leave John, I’d like to look at some parallels between Jesus and John. In these 1^st three points we have the ministries of Jesus, the disciples, and John. John, however, isn’t to be compared with the disciples, but rather with Jesus.

ill.: There are many parallels between Jesus and John.

John is not just a model “follower” of Jesus. He’s different than the disciples who go in Christ’s authority. These are baby steps for the disciples. In a couple of years, the mantle will be laid upon them and they’ll go pro. But, for now, they still have training wheels on. John is in the Big Leagues. Listen to Craig Blomberg, how he parallels the ministry of John w/ Jesus’: John is the forerunner of the Messiah, and his death serves as a foreshadowing and preview of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Both Jesus and John are arrested for challenging the powers that be. Both are put to death by self-seeking rulers who know their victims are innocent but vacillate under pressure and choose expediency over justice. The bodies of both are taken and buried by sympathetic followers. After John’s death, rumors arise that he has risen from the dead. But Jesus actually does rise from the dead!

These implicit parallels between John and Jesus in Mark find similar expression in the other gospels. In Luke, for example, the births of Jesus and John are paralleled, heralded by angelic announcements and miraculous conceptions (Luke 1). Yet in this parallelism, Jesus is shown to be the superior. John’s birth to a barren woman is a miracle (like similar births in the OT), but Jesus’ birth to a virgin is unprecedented. While John is “prophet of the Most High” (Luke 1:76; cf. 1:17), Jesus is the “Son of the Most High” (1:32). John’s role is to prepare the way for the Lord (1:17, 76); Jesus is that Lord—the Savior, who is Messiah and Lord (2:11; cf. 1:43).

This theme is carried forward in John’s public ministry. John says that the one who will come after him is so much greater than he that John is not worthy to unlatch his sandals. While John baptizes with water, Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit (1:7–8). Jesus must increase, while John must decrease (John 3:3). Here we find the true essence of discipleship. It is following Christ’s model, but always in service to him. It is a willingness to give up one’s life, not for our own glory, but for the glory of Christ.

app.: that’s what we se in v 27ff; rd 27-29; as we read v 27-29 we are saddened. Jesus was, too. In each of the Gospels Jesus seeks to get away after the story of John is told. It isn’t as clear in Mark as it is in Matthew and Luke and John.

t.s: But even then, as Jesus tries to get his disciples the rest and refreshing they need, even as he tries to get the rest and refreshing he needs…they keep coming.

IV. The Call to Ministry Persists (30-33)

exp.: Read v 30-34; His compassion compels him to care for their needs.

app.: Sometimes as a servant, you’re pushed. Maybe I should say often times. You may want to get away, but you can’t. The calendar won’t cooperate. People have things for you to do. They need you. This doesn’t diminish the need for rest and refreshment, but it might need to wait. My guess is the Christ is teaching his disciples of this important part of ministry: retreat, refresh, and repair.

One last word: Some years ago, many years ago, a man came to me and told me of a need. There was a organization that he was a part of that met regularly. This group, I believe, was all men. It wasn’t that women couldn’t be a part of it, I guess it was just that women weren’t interested in that line of work. Anyway, This man in my church thought it would be the perfect place to start a Bible Study. I have to say, I think he was right. The problem was, he thought I should start that Bible Study. I told him that I didn’t have any time to do so, but that I would help in whatever manner I could.

That’s pretty much always been philosophy on ministry and service. My job is to equip you to do the work of the ministry – not to do the ministry for you. He didn’t like that. He felt that it was my job to start a Bible Study in his organization. That ministry never got started. I wish I could have thought to say to him, “Jesus did not call me to take up your cross and follow after him.”

Same church, a couple of years later: I had a lady who wanted to start a ministry. I asked her what she needed and how I could help her get started. She said, “I need some rooms and permission for you to turn me loose.” I gave her the rooms and turned her loose. She never wanted me to do the ministry for her, just to equip her. That ministry just exploded. She saw a need and rose to the challenge to serve people through meeting that need. She has since moved on, but that ministry continues, because others have seen the need and stepped up to serve.

You can go on line and look that ministry up on the Calvary website… it’s called Bridgemark – a school for children who suffer from dyslexia.

So, what are the applications for us as we consider just what it means to ‘take up your cross and follow Christ’? I have chosen four.

Application:

1. Summons to Ministry: this is different for each one called. No one is called to sit on the sidelines. If you are a believer, then you’re called to be a witness for Christ. But, your call is different. You must seek out God’s will for your life and follow in obedience. You can’t live out someone else’s call. And, BTW: you can’t just go…you must be sent out in his authority. You don’t just think to yourself: ah, I want to see the world. You must be summoned by Christ and sent out in his authority.
2. Service in Ministry: Each of us is called to different types of service. No one is called to exactly the same thing. I think of even my wife, whose calling is very similar to mine; however, it differs greatly. As for you, I can’t tell you what that is. I think you discover your area of service by trial and error. You sense a desire to serve here or there and you follow that passion. God opens and closes doors. Consider your unique position. Retired individuals have more time – not being held down by a job. Young people have energy, stamina and health on their side. And, BTW: don’t consider your area of service based on money or supplies. You don’t just think: well, I don’t have the money so I guess I can’t go. The charge is the same: don’t worry about food, clothes or money. God will provide for you as he sees fit. I can’t say this is always the case, but I see God wants you to learn to trust him to provide for you in miraculous ways. That is how you learn to trust him in the ministry.  
3. Sacrifice in Ministry: You can’t surrender to ministry without offering a sacrifice at some level. Some, however, give more than others. John the Baptist demonstrates for us a willingness to remain faithful to his calling. The spiritual gift of Martyrdom is a one-time gift. The call of God on your life might mean leaving the place you live and work. It might mean leaving your family and friends. The call of God on your life means you must sacrifice your desires and follow His. It’s funny though how your desires change… how you desire the things of God as you follow him. It might mean being educated. It might mean changing professions. I don’t know what God has in store for you. But, I know from experience: your life is no longer your own. You are bought at a price. You now belong to him – and what he says for your life – that is what you must now do.
4. Success in Ministry: I hate that we (and I include myself in this) judge people in their ministry as successful or as a failure. We see larger churches, bigger youth ministries, larger and more dynamic worship programs and we measure all others by that standard. I wonder how many ministries we would label as success and try to emulate, when Christ would label that ministry a failure. Was John’s ministry a success? How so? His final place of ministry was a prison cell and from there, he was beheaded. How do you measure success? Is the pastor who works in a small church his whole life unsuccessful? What if he remains bi-vocational his whole ministry? Ultimately, success is measured through obedience.

What is your ministry? What has God called you to do? What does it mean for you to follow Christ?

Mark 6.1-6

Title: How Do You See Jesus?

Text: Mark 6.1-6

Introduction:   This passage concludes with the 2^nd cycle of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. If you’ve been following through Mark geographically, you’ve noticed that Mark stays in the Galilean region. We know he’s been in the area of Jerusalem before. The other gospels give us more on this, but not Mark. For instance, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, not too far from Jericho, where the Israelites crossed the Jordan as they came up out of Egypt. More than that, we know of his confrontation with the religious leaders. Mark, however, moves us directly to the region of the Sea of Galilee for his ministry setting in the beginning of his Gospel. The first cycle, the ‘early Galilean ministry’ concludes in 3.6 with the conspiracy of the religious leaders plot to destroy Jesus. That desire of theirs hasn’t died. Their unbelief and rejection of Christ sets a tone that is weaved in and out of Mark’s gospel. This 2^nd cycle listed as his ‘later Galilean ministry’ is concluded with the rejection and unbelief of his own people – the people of Nazareth.

1. The early Galilean ministry (1.16-3.6)
   1. The 1^st Disciples are called
   2. They appear to be the true followers as the religious leaders and his own family reject him – even believe he is out of his mind.
   3. Concludes with Christ being rejected by the religious leaders and their plot with the Herodians to destroy Christ.
2. The later Galilean ministry (3.7-6.6)
   1. Then, the apostles are selected and called to follow.
   2. But something interesting happens as we make our way through chapter six. His disciples find themselves in a state of disbelief and find their hearts hardened toward the work of Christ.
   3. Concludes with Christ being rejected by his own – the people of Nazareth.
3. The Expansion of His Ministry (6.7-8.20)
   1. Jesus then commissions his apostles and sends them out to fulfill his ministry purpose through them.
   2. Concludes with his disciples still dull to all that he’s been trying to teach them (v52).
4. Marks cyclical pattern is evidence of his hard work in writing this Gospel. For the student, this is truly an amazing and wonderful study. We see other patterns:
5. His work among Gentiles, especially women.
6. He walks on water more than once
7. He feeds the 5,000 in one cycle and feeds 4,000 in another.
8. His work with his disciples – teaching them, sending them out, their state of disbelief.

I’m hoping you’ll see this information as fodder for your personal and group study. This is a great question and task for WEBS to dig into. Ask yourselves: Did Mark organize his thoughts or did he simply write out a story?

Today’s focus for us, is to outline chapter six and then, to spend the rest of our time in this final section of the later Galilean ministry – his rejection at Nazareth (6.1-6).

      The passage is bookended by the opposing storylines of rejection and reception. Christ is first rejected by his own – the people of Nazareth. At the end of the chapter, He is received by the people of Gennesaret, who run to him and seek even the touching of the fringe of his garment.

      The 2^nd part, and similar in form, is the sending out of the apostles or the commissioning of the apostles. In verses7-13, Jesus commissions his disciples (Apostles) with the task of preaching his gospel, casting out demons and anointing many with oil that they might be healed. In this experience, they are successful in their quest as they live out their faith and calling. And yet, bookended with this story, on the other end of the chapter, Jesus again sends his disciples. This time he sends them ahead to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. At this point Jesus walks out on the water to them. This section ends as they are utterly astounded at what they’ve witnessed, they don’t understand the loaves (i.e.: the feeding of the five thousand) and their hearts are hardened. They are in danger of becoming just like those who’ve rejected Christ.

      The two middle sections of chapter 6 are two long stories about John the Baptist and the feeding of the 5,000.

      In the previous chapter, 5, we observed Christ’s authority over everything. Mark presents these miracles where he demonstrates Christ’s authority over the physical, the spiritual and the natural. And with all of this power (speaking to the wind and the waves; casting out legions of demons – and sending them into 2,000 pigs; healing a woman who has suffered for 12 years, spending every penny she’s had on doctors and to no avail; and raising the 12 year old daughter of Jairus from the dead), with all of that power demonstrated, we now find his own people reject him. In their disbelief, He is left amazed and astounded.

Side bar: In our discussions during Bible Study, something we’ve not touched on is what the people were raised and healed to… (most of the time we simply tell the story and are amazed at the miracle)… there is the thread of the relationships – after the resurrections or the healings, you see a table and eating together; you see service in the preparation of a meal. But, you won’t see that here in Nazareth. We watch Christ walk away from those who reject him, actually marveling at their lack of faith.

This cycle ends without the fellowship. There is no table; there is no dinner; there is no fellowship. Only sadness.

I think this comes because of one overarching reason – and it is a lesson for us today: they can’t get passed what they think they know.

Are you familiar with the phrase: familiarity breeds contempt? I googled this phrase looking for a place of origin. Who said if first? On the free dictionary site, it gave an explanation of this phrase: people do not respect someone they know well enough to know their faults. Well, Jesus had no faults, but because they think they know him so well, they’ll find they don’t know him at all.

Transition: With that application in mind, I’d like to simply ask one simple question this morning:

1. How do you see Jesus? (1-3) exp.: just consider for the moment, how do you see Jesus? rd v 1; so, he leaves from say, maybe Capernaum and heads some 20 miles or so up the mountain range to his hometown of Nazareth.
   1. I’m reminded of John 1, where Philip found Nathanael and told him that they had found the Messiah, the one Moses had told them about in the Law – Jesus, of Nazareth. Nathanael is like: Nazareth! Can anything good come out of Nazareth? So, as the disciples head that way, I wonder what contempt they hold for that town. I think disdain for a town that is a rival to you is something you can relate to…
   2. 2^nd, this is no easy walk! Rd v 1ab; Show pic; 1,200 ft above sea level; SOG is 700 ft below sea level; in our passage it’s like: Oh, he just came to his hometown. Yeah, I’m sure with their activity everyday, this was typical; however, it ain’t an easy walk! And, it’s some 20 miles!

Rd 2a; So, Jesus does what just what Jesus does wherever he goes when he gets there. He begins in the Synagogue on a Sabbath and he teaches. And just how do these people respond? Rd 2b;

• These people are amazed! Astonished! We see so much more in Luke; With Luke you get the clear picture that they love him at 1^st. They’re proud, because he a hometown boy, grown up and done good. But let me say this English word really lacks the punch the Gk word hits us with. This word is derived from the idea that whatever you’ve experienced, it feels like you’ve been blind-sided. Stricken. You’ve been hit. Punched in the gut. I think of the way we say: knocked for a loop. The idea to strike someone is in this compound word. At first, we don’t know if this is good or if this is bad – if this is positive or negative. But we quickly find out they’re having trouble with what he teaches.
• They ask a series of questions:
  • Where did this man get these things? That is a literal translation: I think the idea is more like: how does this man have the ability to do the things he’s doing? And this comes out in their next two questions.
  • What is the wisdom given to him? He is so wise – that’s evident. Where did he get this wisdom?
  • How are such mighty works done by his hands? What Power! Where does this power come from? The Gospel of Luke and his 2^nd book Acts, places great emphasis on the power of God at work through Christ. So, they’re seeing these things – But, they’ve got real problems with it because… look at the next few questions…
  • ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” They know him. They know him as the young man who learned the skill of carpentry from either his father, or from a tradesman (meaning, we don’t know if Joseph was a carpenter and we don’t know when he died.) And, they know his family: his momma, his brothers, his sisters. They know where he was raised. They’re not demeaning him because he works with his hands. The people are not saying, “He’s nothing but a common laborer,” but rather, “He’s no better than anyone of us.” We know him to be just like us. The way he is teaching and the power he demonstrates through healing – amazing as they are – he didn’t get those things there in Nazareth. And they just can’t get past what they think they know…

They observe him and they can’t comprehend that the preaching of Jesus is filled with the Spirit of God. There is authority and power and wisdom displayed in ways they have never seen before. But, it doesn’t match what they think they know about Jesus. So, what is their conclusion? Just how do they see Jesus?

• And here is their ultimate response at the end of v3c: They’re offended! This is the Gk word for which we get our English word Scandalous. We might envision these people listening and becoming more and more offended with each part of the lesson – so much so that they would cry out: Scandalous!  

There’s something else. We have so much more in Luke. For context, let me share a little from Luke’s perspective. He tells us of a trip to Nazareth. In his story, we have the text Jesus taught from: Isaiah. With Luke, the story goes from their elation of their Jesus – the awesome preacher-teacher – to their frustration with that Jesus. Mark leaves us with, Oh, well – Jesus wasn’t welcome. Luke says: they wanted to kill him.

app.:. Let’s bring this home: There is a process one works through in his or her own mind as one deals with this question, “How do you see Jesus?” and the conclusion to which that person arrives after hearing His Words. And once one has worked through that process, one can only come to one of two conclusions: Either,

1. You hear the teaching of Jesus and your offended. Or…
2. You hear the teaching of Jesus and your convicted.

t.s.: So, which one of these answers clearly applies to you: conviction or offense.

exp.: You see, you can experience miracles, and you can feel the power of his healing hand, but it isn’t enough. You can hear the wisdom in his teaching and you can be astonished and amazed, but it isn’t enough. You can hear him speak peace to the wind and the waves. You can see him cast out demons. You can touch the fringe of his garment and even feel the touch of his healing hand. But, unless the power of his Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin, and draws you into a relationship with him, you’re not going to respond the way you should. Instead, you will scream scandalous!

In today’s world, I think people find Jesus attractive in so many ways. He’s smart, he’s kind, he’s caring. Look at what he does for the Gadarene Demoniac; look at his response to the wind and the waves; look at his care for the woman stricken with this blood disease for 12 years. And, look at how he cares tenderly for Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter. That’s the sweet Jesus we want.

We love to hear him say, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” But we won’t tolerate him saying – go and sin no more. We don’t like the sin part! The Wrath of God offends us!

Ill.: The following comes from Timothy George who explains why the Presbyterian Church USA has recently rejected the hymn “In Christ Alone” from its new hymnal:

Recently, the wrath of God became a point of controversy in the decision of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song to exclude from its new hymnal the much-loved song “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The Committee wanted to include this song because it is being sung in many churches, Presbyterian and otherwise, but they could not abide this line from the third stanza: “Till on that cross as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied.” For this they wanted to substitute: “…as Jesus died/the love of God was magnified.” The authors of the hymn insisted on the original wording, and the Committee voted nine to six that “In Christ Alone” would not be among the eight hundred or so items in their new hymnal.

God is wrathful?!? Scandalous! We adore the Jesus who sits the child upon his lap, but we abhor the Jesus who condemns sinful, harmful behavior. We crave more about God and his love, but we can ‘not abide’ the Wrath of God.

So, how do you see Jesus? What response does he illicit from you? Are you offended or convicted. (Pause)

Conclusion: When I was in Cotulla, I thought it would be good to teach who Jesus was. As an informal survey, I asked the teens questions about Jesus. We went over these questions one by one, out loud. One simple question was about his nationality – his ethnicity. After some quick, wrong guesses, I said Jesus was Jewish. At that statement, a girl, I think she was about a freshman or sophomore in age, responded in disgust: Oh my God, we worship a Jew!

Scandalous, is what she was saying…

• Born of a virgin – Scandalous!
• Crucified on a cross – Scandalous!
• Died for the sins of humanity – Scandalous!
• Buried in a borrowed tomb and raised from the dead three days later – Scandalous!
• A Jewish Carpenter crucified for my sins – Scandalous!

If you’re offended at Jesus and his teaching – well, there are many who’ve felt the same way. Some choose simply to ignore these harder teachings. Look at the people of Nazareth – it was all too much for them to take in. They couldn’t get past what they thought they knew.

But, if you’re convicted of your sin this morning – if the teachings of Jesus cut you down to the core of your soul, let me offer you forgiveness this morning through Christ. There is no reason to wait a second longer – stand right now, right where you are and say, I need that forgiveness. I’ll pair you up with someone who will walk through the Scriptures and explain to you how you can know that you’re forgiven and have the promise of heaven.

Let’s take a quick moment and notice those who missed him:

• Those who knew him best – missed him.
• Those who knew his family – missed him.
• Those who lived close to where he lived – missed him.
• Those who were of the same nationality – missed him.
• Those who were common everyday folk, just like him – missed him.

Rd v 4-5; ⁴ And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

We often times will wonder at how Jesus is viewed by others. But have you ever considered how Jesus might be looking at you? Rd v 6a: ⁶ And he marveled because of their unbelief. Wow… what more could be done for these people? You know what, I don’t think it even matters – they still won’t believe.

And then, what does 6b say: he went into counseling because the rejection hurt him too much. Is that what it says?

And Jesus quit the ministry because it just hurt too much that people rejected him. … He never told another soul…

And he went about among the villages teaching. I love this little sentence. Rejection doesn’t mean it is all over.

There is still work to do. Yes, Christ was not received by his own. He came to his own, but his own received him not. Invitation: I want to give you a chance to respond to Christ this morning…

Mark 5.21-43

Title: Desperate People

Text: Mark 5.21-41

Introduction: thank you, Robert, for reading Scripture for us this morning.

I’m finishing off a short series on Jesus and his authority as demonstrated through miracles. We’ve already looked at how he demonstrated his authority, that is, He is Lord over:

1. The Natural Realm: when he spoke to the wind and the waves.
2. The Spiritual Realm: when he healed the Gadarene Demoniac of his demon possession.
3. Now, today, we’ll look at his authority over the Physical Realm

Next week, we’ll begin a new series that will take us on a journey to the Mount of Transfiguration. That moment will mark a transition in the work of Christ. He will no longer simply be out “doing” ministry and mission, but will turn his face toward Jerusalem – to face the cross and all that it entails.

Our focus will move from ministry to mission and evangelism. I hope you’ll notice the subtle change over the next four weeks.

Some years ago, about 7, I took a trip to Israel. How do I begin to tell you about Israel? It is impossible. I can show you pictures and tell stories – but that won’t really do. You have to go. You really do. I told Lisa that I should have gone 30 years ago. And I’ve should have gone back multiple times since then, taking with me members of my congregation who would go with me.

I feel like I should apologize for some of the things I’ve said over the past 30 years. I imagined the stories taking place in my western mind. I did not realize how off I was. I’ll show you what I mean: turn to Mark 5.21.

Today we continue our study in Mark. We’re in the midst of a sermon series on miracles Jesus performed demonstrating his authority over the natural, the spiritual, and today, the physical – even death. Read 5.21 with me. ²¹ And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Well, our context tells us that Jesus was on the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Garesenes where he healed the Gadarene Demoniac. His popularity had grown so much that he just needed to get away from all of the people. They pressed in on every side. He left the towns and villages because he could no long enter into them without being mobbed. Now, after this experience with this man and commissioning him to be a missionary to the region of the Decapolis, he crosses back over to the north side of the SOG where he did most of his ministry.

He isn’t in town. The people have come out to him. They’ve not had to walk very far. But mind you, it would still be a hard walk, because of the terrain. It is some 700 ft below sea level. Everywhere along the north shore goes up from the water – and it goes up steeply. It rises some 10,000 feet to Mt. Hermon just to the North.

1. Show pics of the north shore. (Use Laser) – I took this picture from Tiberias, a town of Gentiles on the western side of the SOG. John 6.1
2. North Shore…

Read 5.22a – ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name… there are actually two desperate people we’ll meet this morning: Jairus and A unnamed woman.

Read 5.22b-23; there are two parts to this man’s situation that I want you to notice in this passage:

1. His Despair:
   1. He fell: at the feet of Jesus
   2. He implored: he begged if you will,
   3. He persisted: earnestly is translated from poly – lit.: many or much sayings
2. His Request: just come and touch her – lay your hand on her to accomplish two goals – σῴζω and ζάω; that she may be saved, rescued, or delivered. And, she may live.
   1. This 1st word is a verb – Jesus said that is why he came – to save, to rescue, to deliver.
   2. This 2nd word is used in comparison to death. Jesus said in Jn 10.10: I have come that they may have life.

Here we have our 1^st application for the day: When you pray…pray according to the will of Jesus. If you want to know that your prayers, although they are selfish in origin, that those prayers are within God’s will – pray that way – pray God’s will over your situation. If you’re praying for someone – say your child, a friend – pray Scripture over him or her.

Jairus is asking Jesus to do just what Jesus has said is his purpose:¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Rd v 24a; ²⁴ And he went with him.

I’m sure Jairus was stilled scared and filled with worry, but there must be some relief. Look at the rest of v 24: And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

Now, with this relief that Jesus is coming to see his daughter, there has to be some frustration for Jairus. This word translated thronging here is a word that means to press. As in what they do with olives to get olive oil; or to grapes, to get the juice or to make wine. The people who are thronging and pressing all around had to be slowing them down. Jairus has his request, but now Jesus has got to get there.

I’ve pictured this scene in my mind many times. So many people who’ve gathered around him to see miracles, or maybe they’ve come to get something from Jesus. I’m sure there are desperate people in this crowd, too. People like Jairus. We meet another such person in v 25 – rd 25-28;

Let’s look at these two people (Jairus and the woman) who really sit in contrast to each other:

1. Jairus: a ruler of the synagogue, top dog on the ladder of society, probably respected and trusted. When we’re introduced to Jairus, we meet him by name and position.
2. The woman: we don’t know her name. As for position, she has none. She’s not allowed in the synagogue, nor was she allowed around anyone in the community. What money she had that would have given her position has been spent on doctors.

Most people appear on the rungs between these two extremes. Hence, they probably represent the whole ladder. I leave that for more discussion at WEBS.

As with Jairus, I’d like you to note her actions:

1. Her Desperation
   1. She was unclean: because of her blood disease, an outcast in their society. She wouldn’t be allowed near anyone, let alone into the synagogue and have access to the priests.
   2. She suffered at the hands of those who offered her something they couldn’t provide. Time and again, placing her hope in physicians who couldn’t provide her with a cure.
   3. She was poor: she had exhausted her resources of money on doctors and remedies; There have been times that I’ve thought to myself that if I had money, I could fix this problem. Have you ever thought of that? This woman knew intimately, empirically, that statement isn’t true.  
2. Her Persistence: she has no right to ask. She’s not even supposed to be near him or anyone one else for that matter. The law is clear on this.

Leviticus 15.25-27: ²⁵ “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. ²⁶ Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. ²⁷ And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

But she’s thinking: if I can just get near him and touch him, he will save me and I’ll live. All the days of her impurity – for 12 long years – she’s had to avoid people. Can you imagine the disgust of those who might sit where she sat or touch what she touched? Can you imagine the mistreatment – ugly things said when someone was declared unclean for a day because of their contact with her? Can you approach her humiliation?

But He is her last hope. She truly believes that if she can just touch his garment…and she uses the same word Jairus used in v. 23 – σῴζω – I’ll be saved, cleansed, rescued, delivered! And evidently, she touches him.

I shot a photo of a painting – a mural on a wall in the museum in Magdal. This photo captures the artists impression of this moment when she is able to reach out in faith and touch the hem of his garment. Which, by the way, Matthew and Luke mention – just the fringe of his garment. And what happens? Her faith becomes real… rd v 29;

One particular moment in time and she is changed. She is healed. And, she knows it. But so does Jesus. So he asks who touched him. But of course, the disciples are like – really?

The story began by the sea. Jairus requests the presence of the Lord to attend his daughter. They move in that general direction. The village wouldn’t have been too far. The houses were stacked together. The streets were incredibly narrow. It wouldn’t take too many people to create a congestion.

I have some pictures of synagogues from two separate villages there.

This is Capernaum. I don’t know if this is the same village where these things happened. Could be, but we don’t know for sure… But these villages were all very similar. This 2nd synagogue is in Magdal. So, there you have it…

Now let’s pick up in v 33; Look at the words that characterize her: Fear, Trembling; Falling down before him. This is what was said of Jairus – he fell down before Jesus. She has been exposed. She is healed, but the Lord stops the caravan and everyone kind of steps back.

You know what? That probably describes all of us. Some of us, our problems are exposed to the world and we cry out to Jesus with their full awareness. But, for others, their problems are hidden and unoticed.

Can I just stop for a moment here? I wonder if the people around knew this woman. Maybe. Probably. But, with all eyes focused on Jesus and all attention on him, no one noticed this unclean woman slipping in on Christ. In some ways this is good. For one reason, people focused on Jesus are not busy judging those around them. That could be another application for today: People focused on Jesus are not busy judging those around them.

She stands there – exposed, guilty. But look what Jesus says: rd v 34;

There isn’t time to even notice that Jesus was headed somewhere to do something for someone. If this had been me, I would have said: Ok, what was I doing? No so with Jesus – He knew. His movement was interrupted. He questioned who touched him. It gets quiet as everyone looks at this out of place woman. His words of forgiveness and healing haven’t even left the thoughts of those listening when messengers come to tell Jairus. Rd v 35;

So desperate was this man for his daughter that he left her there in her sickness seeking the favor of the only one who could heal her. Now, it was too late. She was gone.

There comes a time when you don’t need to ask for something anymore.

Ill.: King David knew this. Do you remember the story of his sin with Bathsheba and how she became pregnant? A child was born and David was told this child would not survive. ¹⁶ David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. ¹⁷ And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. ¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. The servants feared to tell David of his son’s demise. If he acted like this while the child was alive, what would he do when he found out that his newborn son had died? David noticed his servants acting differently and knew something had happened. They told him the truth, “He is dead.” ²⁰ Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. ²¹ Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” ²² He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ ²³ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

She’s gone now. There comes a time to stop asking. Can I bring her back again? No. I will one day go to her, but she will not return to me.” Jesus must see this because he says, Do not fear, only believe. This is the same word he used with the woman he had just healed. Belief and Faith are the same word. One is a verb and the other a noun, but the same meaning. This woman’s actions – demonstrating her belief – had brought her healing. This man’s belief in Christ – it would accomplish the same thing.

Taking his garden buddies with them, they headed off to Jairus’ home. When they arrive, there is a commotion. Each time this word appears in the NT it is translated uproar or tumult. It is used to describe crowds that are causing trouble – getting ready to riot. I wonder why Mark used this word. Were people angry? When a child dies, it is different in many ways than that of someone much older who has lived a full life. Whatever his reasoning, we get the idea that there is a very loud commotion going on outside of the home with loud weeping and wailing.

Jesus, ever in control, tells them all that they don’t understand the situation inside. That’s why they’re behaving the way they are. They think they know – but they don’t really.

Another application: Don’t ever accept your situation as final until Jesus speaks to your situation. He is the one who really knows what’s going on!

And when Jesus let’s them in on the truth – And they laughed at him (v 40a); rd v 40b-43;

Mark doesn’t tell us about this mom and dad. I can’t really even begin to understand what they might be feeling. How can one express a gratitude for such a blessing? My guess is that there are no words that can communicate that kind of thanksgiving. How do you put to words, how can you describe what happens in a heart when one was at the lowest point a human can go and snatch them from such despair and grief? And what heights of joy they must now be feeling! The Gk word here is the word we get ecstatic and ecstasy. The picture this word paints is most literally, to come out of your chair! Oh, and then he says – don’t tell anyone what happened here and give her something to eat!

Conclusion: Don’t tell anyone! That would be tough!

I have a couple of thoughts that come to mind.

1. Once, during a sermon, I shared the story of my mom and her healing from cancer. I was really young; it was one of my first sermons. Right after the sermon was over this man came up and asked me why God healed my mom, but let his mom die.

The answer was and is, I don’t know. I certainly can’t say that either one of those ladies (our mothers) deserved what they received.

• Struggles should lead to praise.

I’d like to have a time of praise and worship and give folks a chance to respond to what God may have been doing in hearts. I’m thinking of David’s response: he cleaned himself up, went in to worship – and then got something to eat. If there has never been a time in your life when you encountered Christ – I offer him to you today. I can’t promise you the healing these people received, but I can promise you that Christ will do in your life what you need. He cares for you far more than you’ll ever know.