Read Mark 6 here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+6&version=NIV
Mark is back to his old ways! We have so many stories here- we have at least 5. At the beginning we learn Jesus had sisters. And he’s frowned upon in his hometown. A prophet is always rejected at home- it’s an interesting thought. I have a good relationship with my family so I must not have the gift of prophecy? Or is your job as a person of God to challenge people deeper in the faith and that includes your family? Often I’m harder on others than my own family I suppose when it comes to faith and try to keep a work life balance. I often end up praying more with congregation members than I do my own family. I need to work on creating a stronger faith culture with those I’m closest too.
Then he sends out the 12 in pairs. We learn of John the baptist’s death- which then leads into the story of the feeding of the 5000, the walking on water, and there’s more discussion about Jesus healing people with his cloak.
What does all of that say? I love that these stories are all connected. In the other synoptic Gospels it’s more clear that Jesus goes to mourn the death of his cousin and then the more than 5000 show up and rather than turn them away- he has compassion on them and feeds them. How awesome is that? He could have let other people’s problems take care of his problem. Don’t feed them- then Jesus gets private time to mourn and of course 5 loaves of bread and a couple fish. If served properly may have take care of the 12 or at least Jesus. But that’s not the Jesus way. The Jesus way is to bend over backwards for others in compassion. He spent more time with them because he knew their need. Then he prays, grieves, and escapes the crowd in the most epic way possible. He sends the disciples one way- misdirection- he goes another to pray- then he walks on water in a wind storm to get back with the disciples. He even does the “I’m just going to walk by you guys” move. He makes it to the boat the wind dies down. He makes it to land.
Of course the crowd follows. The folks who heard about the demon possessed man who had been healed show up. And Jesus walks away to take a nap right? Nope. Jesus heals. He knows the crowds will get bigger. But he doesn’t care. He cares about the people. He cares about you! It doesn’t matter if you make fun of him and say nothing good can come from Nazareth or that carpenter family. He still heals. Kill his best friend, and don’t give him personal time nor space to grieve? He’ll light up the barbeque and give others a fresh made tilapia sandwich. You can’t stop the healing power of Jesus. He cares. He cares about you more than you will ever know.
Marking It Up 