Mark 6:53-56

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53 When they had crossed the lake, they came to shore at Gennesaret and tied the boat there. 54 When they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 55 They ran everywhere in that area and began to bring sick people on mats wherever they heard he was. 56 And everywhere he went—into towns, cities, or countryside—the people brought the sick to the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his coat, and all who touched it were healed. ~ Mark 6:53-56

Today, we come to our conclusion of our study of Mark 6. In this chapter we have seen the Lord Jesus heal the sick, feed the multitudes, teach the people, and, rescue the disciples from a storm. 

In v.53 of today's passage we read, "When they had crossed the lake, they came to shore at Gennesaret and tied the boat there."

The Lord Jesus and His disciples came ashore at Gennesaret, which is not that far from where they started that day at Bethsaida. Gennesaret, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, was a fertile, flattened farming area. The area was analogous of the people there, full of faith. There, we are given today another contrast. It is a contrast between faith in the people who lived there and the fear that was in the disciples.

In v.54-55 of today's passage we read, "54 When they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 55 They ran everywhere in that area and began to bring sick people on mats wherever they heard he was."

The people of Gennesaret immediately recognized the Lord Jesus when He arrived, and they were quick to show their faith by bringing the sick to the Lord Jesus for Him to heal them. 

In contrast, the disciples struggled during the storm, even though they cast out demons and healed the sick, they couldn't feed the people. I find it comforting that Jesus never gave up on His disciples. I find it comforting that He never gives up on me, for often I find their lack of faith to be my story.

When the Lord Jesus doesn’t work in our lives the way we want, we must remember He’s doing something more than we can see with our eyes. He is always working to reveal Himself to us more than anything else. This is what this life is really all about: Learning to believe more in Him and thus be defined by Him.

In the middle of the night, in the middle of the sea, in the middle of the storm, when the winds of the world are pushing against us, we must be vigilant to look for Him to give us a glimpse of Himself. When we come to His word, we must be bent on seeing Him with our hearts. 

God's word is like a pane of glass designed to enable us to look through and see Him. When we see Him and touch Him with our hearts, we will be healed of our myopic approach to life that so often causes us to live distant from Him.

In v.56 of today's passage we read, "And everywhere he went—into towns, cities, or countryside—the people brought the sick to the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his coat, and all who touched it were healed."

Judaism held that men should wear on their robes four tassels or corners. They called it the hem of the garment, literally the tassels of the robe. And so, from this and other Scriptures we know the Lord Jesus, like any male adult Jew, would have worn that kind of a robe with those kind of tassels that marked Him as someone under the covenant.

Again, we read at the end of v.56, "They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his coat, and all who touched it were healed."

The story of the woman with the flow of blood for twelve years must have reached the people there in Gennesaret because the people there followed the example of that woman who had spent all her money in order to find healing. Of course, that didn't happen until she met the Lord Jesus. Here, in today's passage, "all who touched it were healed."

I often wonder about those who have experienced His grace in this way. I wonder, did the physical healing lead them to spiritual healing? Did the physical meals lead them to recognize the Lord Jesus as the bread of life? This was and is the point to the miracles of the Lord Jesus. His ultimate goal in our lives is that we enter into a personal relationship with Him where, on a daily basis, we are learning to look for Him with our hearts. And, when we see His heart for us, we grow in our adoration of Him. We also grow in our trust in Him, even though He might cause or allow difficult moments to come into our lives.

Mark 6:46-52

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46 After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray. 47 That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on the land. 48 He saw his followers struggling hard to row the boat, because the wind was blowing against them. Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and he wanted to walk past the boat. 49 But when they saw him walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost and cried out. 50 They all saw him and were afraid. But quickly Jesus spoke to them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind became calm. The followers were greatly amazed. 52 They did not understand about the miracle of the five loaves, because their minds were closed. ~ Mark 6:46-52

Today, we continue in our study of Mark 6 where the disciples of the Lord Jesus are being taught by the Lord. As pointed out before, a disciple is a learner. And, like the disciples, the greatest lesson we will learn as followers of Christ is He is the secret to our success. We cannot begin to understand today's passage until we see that our God-given trials are designed to help us to conclude more of Him and less of me.

In v.46 of today's passage we read, "After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray."

Essential to ministry is prayer. Essential to anything worth while is talking to God about it first. After the Lord sent the huge crowd back to their homes, He went up into the hills to pray. Prayer is the breath of the Christian life and because almost nothing decays so fast in the fallen human heart as the desire to talk to God. Therefore, we must make it our habit to talk with the Father about all things. Nothing is more vital than prayer, and few things are more vulnerable to neglect.

The disciples of the Lord Jesus had been successful in ministry. And, right on the heels of that success, they discovered they could not feed the 5000 men on the side of a hill next to the Sea of Galilee. It was in that moment they were at their best, but, they felt differently. They felt like losers. We are at our best when we are most convinced that we need God. We are at our best when we are most dependent upon the Lord.

In v.47-48 of today's passage we read, "47 That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on the land. 48 He saw his followers struggling hard to row the boat, because the wind was blowing against them. Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and he wanted to walk past the boat."

Right on the heels of yet another miracle performed by the Lord Jesus, the disciples found themselves in another intense trial. This test, like all of our trials, was designed of the Lord to deepen the disciples intimacy with Himself. And, this time He was not with them in the boat. He had sent them out alone, and He went up into the hills to pray. In like manner, the storms in our lives are made up of these same two elements: trouble, and the seeming absence of the Lord.

The storm arrived when the disciples were at the most vulnerable spot on the lake, in the the middle of it. And, as the storm blew in, at the darkest moment in the night, the Lord Jesus came to them walking on the water. Long before the disciples saw the Lord coming on the water, He saw them in their struggle. We often ask, "Lord where are you in this?," while we are in the middle of our trials. It is imperative that we struggle with such questions. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

When the disciples saw the Lord Jesus, they were scared, thinking He was a ghost. At the end of v.48, "He wanted to walk past the boat." The Lord would have gone past the disciples, but He did not. If He had, the disciples would have been given a more staggering view of God. But that didn't happen, because their fear in the moment was greater than their faith in the Lord Jesus. We miss out on much that God has for us because He, in our view, is smaller than our storms. To see Him from that more staggering vantage point, we must avail ourselves to much greater risks. Vulnerability is a must in these contexts.

In v.49-50 of today's passage we read, "49 But when they saw him walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost and cried out. 50 They all saw him and were afraid. But quickly Jesus spoke to them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."

The Lord Jesus reassured the disciples with these words, "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." The most repeated command in the Bible, "Don't be afraid", is held up with up along with the name of God, "I AM". "It is I" is the equivalent to "I AM" in the Old Testament. The contrast could not be more clear. The definitions of this world and the definitions of God are not in concert. The setting that dark night on that scary lake screams out, "Which is bigger, our storms or our God?"

It was at this point that the Lord Jesus got into the boat with the disciples, and, the disciples were absolutely blown away! It was not until the disciples heard His voice that they truly recognized Him. To that point, they were fearful because they depended solely on what they saw with their eyes. When the Lord Jesus spoke they recognized His voice. It was the Lord Jesus who said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me."

For the disciples, this was a total failure. For the second time, their eyes were opened in a new way. What we think is failure is often seen differently by God. Trusting in the God of the Bible is never a mistake because He uses every ounce of our pain and seeming failure for our good and His glory. 

In v.51-52 of today's passage we read, "51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind became calm. The followers were greatly amazed. 52 They did not understand about the miracle of the five loaves, because their minds were closed."

There are times when the Lord Jesus who gives us His promises and He sends us into awful situations. And, those situations are designed to hone our heart's to see Him more clearly. As a result, we see Him more clearly than we did before. And, at this point we find ourselves believing His promises more strongly because it is only in the midst of those horrible times that we discover the substance of His words. That night on that dark sea, the disciples initially concluded the wrong thing about the Lord, but, eventually they saw the Lord for who He was. The passing of time was necessary. Their failure was necessary. This is how He works with us, as He trains our hearts to see Him more deeply and more devotedly. 

The Lord Jesus Christ, this holy God, stands in contrast to this unholy world where we live. Because of sin, we live in a world of death. Most of our lives are spent trying to get what we don’t have and trying to repair the damage of our brokenness. But the only cure for our brokenness is a revelation of a holy God who lacks nothing and who has promised to supply all our needs. It is on this basis of His promises and in the context of our trials that this process happens. We must be in the habit of trusting Him and watching Him as He works on our lives on a daily basis. And, as a result, we will discover that He is not only changing our ability to see Him, but, most importantly, we will discover He is changing our hearts. 

Mark 6:39-45

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39 Then Jesus told his followers to have the people sit in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred. 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and, looking up to heaven, he thanked God for the food. He divided the bread and gave it to his followers for them to give to the people. Then he divided the two fish among them all. 42 All the people ate and were satisfied. 43 The followers filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. 44 There were five thousand men who ate. 45 Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida across the lake. He stayed there to send the people home. ~ Mark 6:39-45

Today, we continue our study of Mark 6 where the Lord Jesus was about to miraculously feed somewhere between 5,000 to 25,000 people. In the middle of all the ministry that was taking place, including teaching and healing the people of sicknesses, the disciples were being trained by the Lord Jesus on what it means to be His followers. And, as we come to Mark 6:39, the Lord Jesus was about to do something the disciples could not do, feed a very large crowd of people.

In v.39-40 of today's passage we read, "39 Then Jesus told his followers to have the people sit in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred."

Previously, after the Lord Jesus commanded the disciples to feed the massive crowd, Andrew said, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" The disciples located in the crowd a little boy who had a prepared lunch. The word "loaves" is the word we translate "biscuit." And, the fish were sardines. 

According to Matthew's account of this story, in addition to 5000, there were also women and children in the crowd. This is what causes most to believe that this crowd could have been up to as many as 25,000 people, and they only had five biscuits and two sardines.

It was at that moment the Lord Jesus ordered the disciples to have the people to sit in groups of fifty and a hundred. And, in an instant, the massive crowd transitioned from a milling crowd to very ordered people. The picture of satisfied wholeness was being painted.

In v.41 of today's passage we read, "Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and, looking up to heaven, he thanked God for the food. He divided the bread and gave it to his followers for them to give to the people. Then he divided the two fish among them all." 

Before giving the food to the people, the Lord Jesus gave thanks to His Father for the provision. I heard an atheist the other day express his gratitude and I thought, "To whom is he grateful?" The English word "gratitude" derives from the biblical word "eucharistos," which comes from two Greek roots: "eu" meaning "good" and "charizomai" meaning "grace." According to the Bible, at the heart of gratitude is a response to the overwhelming grace of God.

This brings up a very important question: "Where did we get our definitions of all things? The answer is not so obvious to many, but, the origin of all good definitions is God. This is why He has given us His word, the Bible. Think of it: Where do we go to get the best definition of love? Of course, we go to Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians and chapter 13. This is where we went wrong in the first place: we allowed someone other than the God of the Bible to define things for us. And, largely, Christianity is being in a relationship with God through which He increasingly defines things for us.

In v.42 of today's passage we read, "All the people ate and were satisfied."

From just such a small amount, thousands were satisfied. The Greek word translated "satisfied," means to be "gorged." These people had never tasted anything like this. We find satisfaction in this life when we discover our true God-given purpose for being here. As long as we pursue our own ideas of what will satisfy us, we never find it. 

In v.43-44 of today's passage we read, "43 The followers filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. 44 There were five thousand men who ate."

Surely it was not a coincidence that there were twelve full baskets of the broken pieces of bread and also fish. The basket here is the Greek word that refers to a traveling food bag that one would carry his meal in. There were twelve baskets because there were twelve disciples. The Lord Jesus knew how much to create so that everybody was totally satisfied, and then, there were leftovers. The Lord Jesus was yet training His disciples about satisfied wholeness.

In v.45 of today's passage we read, "Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida across the lake. He stayed there to send the people home."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the very antithesis of all other leaders we have known in this world. He sees the hungry people and He is moved to intervene. But, we can not access His involvement in our lives and His blessings until we are in a personal relationship with Him.

The feeding of the five thousand foreshadowed the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper which ultimately points us to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb found in Revelation 19. At that Supper, we will realize the goodness of the Lord in every possible way. It will be then that we will know what it means to live in a world where righteousness reigns, and, we will truly be satisfied.

Sadly, the last picture in today's passage is that of the Lord Jesus sending the people back to their homes. And, we know that in the days that followed this great miracle, the people forgot what happened and they rejected the free gift of salvation the Lord Jesus came to offer the willing.This happened because they chose not to be grateful to the Lord and to be defined by Him.

Mark 6:35-38

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35 When it was late in the day, his followers came to him and said, “No one lives in this place, and it is already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the countryside and towns around here to buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We would all have to work a month to earn enough money to buy that much bread!” 38 Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” ~ Mark 6:35-38

Today, we return to our study of Mark 6 where the Lord Jesus has just expressed His compassion toward the huge crowd that had made such a huge effort to run around the Lake eight miles to get to where the Lord Jesus and His disciples had gone. 

We are told by Matthew, the Lord Jesus saw the crowd as sheep without a shepherd. Sheep need a shepherd. They will die without a shepherd. They can’t feed themselves, nor can they protect themselves. There are times when they somehow end up on their backs and are unable to get back on their feet. They are always in the need of someone to clean them and pick the bugs and the thorns out of their wool coats. They must be led to safe places and protected. Sheep are very dependent animals.

In several Old Testament passages, God pictures Israel as sheep without a shepherd. This is the way the Lord Jesus viewed the crowd that day on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, and so, He taught them first. Then, even though there were many obstacles, He eventually fed them.

Human suffering hurts the Lord. This is what gets Him deep down in His gut. Since He is merciful, He feels for and with us when we reach those times of our greatest pain and need. He feels the pain when and where we feel pain. He has compassion on our souls, and, He has compassion for our physical needs. But, He is most concerned about our spiritual needs, and, this is why He allows us to venture off into scary situations. He is skillful at using the trials of our lives to hone our heart's ability to see Him more clearly and to know Him more deeply.

In v.35-36 of today's passage we read, "35 When it was late in the day, his followers came to him and said, “No one lives in this place, and it is already very late."36 Send the people away so they can go to the countryside and towns around here to buy themselves something to eat.” 

The disciples came to the Lord Jesus and suggested the crowd be sent away. But, the very large crowd was very hungry. Many have estimated that this crowd was as large as twenty-five thousand people, maybe even more than that.

The place where they were that evening was desolate and lonely. No one lived there. It was an isolated place. And, the crowd lacked the capability of feeding itself. In the eyes of all, except the Lord Jesus, it was an impossible situation. It is in these contexts that God shows His uniqueness.

In v.37-38 of today's passage we read, "But Jesus answered, 'You give them something to eat.' They said to him, 'We would all have to work a month to earn enough money to buy that much bread!' Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five loaves and two fish."

We do well to be aware of the needs that are around us. The two greatest commands in the Bible are: Love God and love people. It is at this point where ministry truly begins. Most often people do not care what we know until they know that we care.

To their credit, the disciples recognized the need around them. When we have been trained by the Lord Jesus, we will recognize the needs of others around us. The sensitivity of the disciples to the needs of others had been heightened when the Lord had sent them out on their overnight treks throughout the villages in the area. This is why they not only recognized the needs of the people, but this is also why they brought the needs to the Lord Jesus.

After the Lord told them to take care of it, they expressed they were not up to the impossible task. Previously, the disciples had healed the sick and cast out demons of those who had been possessed. Due to how many people were there this particular day, the disciples admitted it would require a years wages to feed the crowd. The disciples saw the situation as an obstacle instead of an opportunity. Sometimes the Lord puts us in impossible situations in order to open our souls to the greatest of possibilities which come on the heels of us being convinced that we must have His intervention.

The Lord Jesus sometimes calls us into a lonely place, knowing full well that we will not have enough resources to meet the need at hand. This is a part of His curriculum for us in a given period of time. The wilderness is not necessarily a desert. It may be a lonely place but it is never without its purpose. And, it was Springtime which obviously factors into the whole point of the lessons being taught.

Clearly, we have come to a turning point in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. The Lord at this point was now expanding His ministry beyond Galilee into new areas. Consider that the villages of Capernaum and Bethsaida had populations of no more than 2000 people. Out in this wilderness, the Lord Jesus fed at least 5000, probably up to 25,000, which was a task that was totally impossible for the disciples. This was so by design. We are at our best when we are most dependent upon the Lord. Stay tuned to tomorrows message as we will consider how this story rolls out.

Mark 6:30-34

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30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught. 31 Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.” 32 So they went in a boat by themselves to a lonely place. 33 But many people saw them leave and recognized them. So from all the towns they ran to the place where Jesus was going, and they got there before him. 34 When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. ~ Mark 6:30-34

Today, we return to our study of Mark 6 where the Lord Jesus has been training the disciples in His ways. In addition, the Lord Jesus has been preaching the Gospel and healing the sick. The disciples had just returned from their overnight witnessing excursions into the nearby towns and villages, and, they were eager to tell the Lord Jesus about their ministry. They were also in great need of rest. 

In v.30-32 of today's passage we read, "30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught. 31 Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.” 32 So they went in a boat by themselves to a lonely place."

All of mankind's problems emerge out of the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden which resulted in mankind being separated from a personal relationship with God. Returning to God is the key to all of life. When Adam and Eve rebelled, they were separated from the very source of life, truth, purpose and meaning. The enemy would lead us to believe the Lord has cast us off due to our sinfulness and subsequent brokenness. This is not so. 

God desired to provide for us a personal relationship with Himself so much that He sent His Son to pay the debt created by our rebellion and sinfulness. This, of course, is not for His benefit, for He is holy and lacking nothing. He desires this for our benefit. And, like the disciples, we do nothing of real value until we return to the Lord Jesus.

Believe it or not, the greatest risk for falling or stumbling for the Christian is right after experiencing great success in something. When we are successful there is the danger and tendency to believe that the success came from our own efforts and not from God. When we see great accomplishments in and through our lives we tend to start relying on ourselves and not on God. This, as a result, robs glory from God because ultimately everything that happens in our lives is the result of His loving and sovereign care over us.  

It is clear the Lord Jesus recognized this as a period of great danger for the disciples. This is why He hurried them away from their successes. Our greatest threat is not found in defeat but from victory. In defeat, at least we’re humbled and forced to look to God and depend upon Him. Success makes us look in the mirror at self, but our struggles are more likely to make us look to God. When we have success, we can easily over-inflate or overestimate ourselves. When we do this, we subtly go the way of the enemy without even knowing it.

In addition, the Lord knew the disciples needed to eat and to get some much needed rest, so that they could process what had happened in and through them. In all of this, the Lord was training them to become learners. The word "disciple" means "learner." We cannot be disciples of Christ without learning of and from Him. All leaders must first be disciples. The moment we stop learning, is the moment we stop leading. 

The Lord Jesus sent out these low educated men who did not by any means understand the fullness of the message they were preaching, and, who really had no idea of what they were doing. In spite of this, the Lord Jesus sent them out and the message made them a success. 

In v.33-34 of today's passage we read, "33 But many people saw them leave and recognized them. So from all the towns they ran to the place where Jesus was going, and they got there before him. 34 When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things."

 
The people were so hungry they ran eight miles around the northern end of the lake to get to the Lord Jesus. In fact, they ran so fast that they arrived at the other side before He and His disciples got there, even though He had taken a boat to make the four mile trip across the lake. Sadly, most of the people were they hungry for the wrong thing. This is our deliberation each and every day. We must be careful that we are hungering for the Lord and His culture which is largely discovered in His Word. But the process of developing this hunger for the Lord is not so easy. It involves a lot of patience, time and pain.

Our appetites dictate the direction of our lives. However, we most often do not recognize what it means to hunger for the Lord. Our hunger for Him is missed because it comes in that empty feeling that we all know. When we learn, through this sense of longing, to reach out to Him, it is then that we are learning what it means to hunger for Him. 

The problem comes when we frantically start looking to the wrong things to fill up this emptiness. When we do so, we sadly discover we have missed a golden opportunity to refine our ability to hunger for Him. But, this does not have to be the end of the story. 

Resisting the desire to free ourselves from the emptiness and the loneliness, and through the emptiness and loneliness we learn to cry out to Him for His presence in our lives is the first step in growing in this way. And, the more we do it, the more of a habit that it will become. And then, we will discover what it means to hunger for Him.

Mark 6:17-29

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17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. 21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!” 24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” 25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” 26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb. ~ Mark 6:17-29

Today, we return to Mark 6:17-29 where we read about the story of John the Baptist's death. Herod Antipas put John in jail because John identified him as an adulterer for marrying his brother's wife Herodias. 

In v.17-20 of today's passage we read, "17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, 'It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.' 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him."

Herod Antipas had John the Baptist placed in a prison which was located down in the desert by the Dead Sea. Herod owned several palaces throughout his province and this was just one of them.

It was Herod's birthday, but, for the Jews of that time, birthdays were not all that important. However, for the Romans, birthdays were a huge deal. And so, the Jew, Herod, wanted a big birthday party which turned out to be a huge men's night out in the fullest sense of the word. It was a bunch of men together, and you can only imagine what the setting was like for this celebration.

In v.21-25 of today's passage we read, "21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. 'Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.' 23 He even vowed, 'I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!' 24 She went out and asked her mother, 'What should I ask for?' Her mother told her, 'Ask for the head of John the Baptist!' 25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, 'I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!'"

 

The daughter of Herodias, according to Josephus the Jewish historian, was a girl named Herodias Salome. She was the almost seventeen year old daughter of Herodias and Herod Philip. While at Herod Antipas' birthday party, Salome danced before Herod and his guests. She so pleased the drunk "King" that he vowed to give her up to half his kingdom for her dancing. In response, after consulting her mother who obviously held a grudge, Salome asked for John the Baptist’s death. 

In v.26-29 of today's text we read, "26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb."

Herod Antipas deeply regretted the drunkened vow he made that evening to Herodias Salome. For it, John the Baptist paid with his life. This came as the result of holding this supposed leader to account for his sin of adultery. When we speak the truth to people, they have a choice to receive the truth and be made better by it, or, to reject it and suffer the consequences of a life more defined by sin. Sin will always take us to places we later regret. Sin, also, will always take us further down that road of wretchedness than we could have ever imagined or desired.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10 we read, "For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death." 

There's a huge difference between worldly and godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow results in remorse, but, godly sorrow results in repentance. Worldly sorrow ushers us close to the wisdom of God and then dashes us against the rocks, whereas, Godly sorrow invites wisdom over for our remaining days on this earth. 

Worldly sorrow is so deceiving. We have all experienced those moments when we were so sorry that we got caught in our choice to entertain a certain sin. But, we weren't sorry before we got caught. There was no remorse at all in our lives before the gavel dropped and we had to pay the court. This is the difference between remorse or regret, and repentance.

There is a contrast here between the way of "king" Herod and the real King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The real King serves others, not Himself. The real King saves the willing of heart not by arming them, as many would have wished, but by letting the rulers of this world do their worst to Him. He didn’t slaughter His enemies; He allowed them to slaughter Him.

The prison house where John the Baptist was held before his death is still there to this day. The fortress was named after the Greek word machaera, which means a sword. It was the fortress of the sword, the place where John the Baptist was beheaded with a sword. This is what unnerves us about being sold out to the Lord. We somehow think there should be nothing bad that happens to us. But, think of it, how often have we quoted John down through the years? "Less of me and more of Him."

John the Baptist's followers buried John, because, they knew, a burial is a statement of faith in a resurrection. The idea of placing a body in the ground illustrates the victory Christ has gained over sin and death. We can not have the resurrection without embracing the reality of death.

In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 we read, "42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies." 

The word "cemetery" means "resting place." The picture is that of the seed resting. When the seed is put in the seed bed, it is done so as a statement of faith that we believe in the resurrection that is soon to happen at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian's faith. This event, which occurred almost two thousand years ago, is the best attested fact in human history. It was predicted in the Old Testament and by Christ Himself. During the forty days following His resurrection, the Lord Jesus showed Himself to be alive from the dead by "many infallible proofs." He appeared at various times and places to many people who told others what they had seen. On the basis of this fact, we have much to look forward to in the future.

Mark 6:14-16

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14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.” 15 Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.” 16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.” ~ Mark 6:14-16 

Today we return to our study of Mark 6 where the message of the gospel is the main theme. There are two reasons the disciples had success in their overnight ministry trips: the gospel was front and center, and, Herod was preoccupied with his fear. This is the way God always works. Opposition to the Gospel in one place serves to advance it in another.

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, 'This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.'"

Herod Antipas was a "tetrarch" which means "a ruler of a fourth." Herod was the king or ruler of Galilee and Perea, which is that country just east of the Jordan River. It is known as present-day Jordan all the way down to the Dead Sea. 

Herod Antipas wanted to be recognized as king, but Augustus, the Roman ruler, refused him the title. Herod’s father, Herod the Great, was the king who was ruling when the Lord Jesus was born. When Herod the Great died, the Roman emperor divided his kingdom into four parts. One part was given to Herod Antipas.  

Herod Antipas actually thought the Lord Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. But the Scriptures tell us that John the Baptist did no miracles!  And, Herod was a Sadducee and they did not believe in miracles. Herod had really bad theology because he was not known for reading the Old Testament Scriptures in order to be defined by them.

In order to be defined by the God of the Bible, we must be in the Word regularly. This means that we not only need to read it, but, we must be read by it, as well. And, when we are read by the Word, we will be defined by God as we give way for His will to be done in and through our lives. This is not what saves us, but, it may be used of God in the lives of others that may end up saved themselves.

Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded, because John the Baptist spoke convicting words to him. Herod Antipas was already married, but, he took a liking, while he was in Rome, to his half brother Philip's wife Herodias, and seduced her away from her husband. Herodias was the daughter of his half brother Aristobulus, so, she was actually his niece that he married. And, since John the Baptist told Herod he was guilty of adultery, Herod had John beheaded.

As a result, Herod Antipas was haunted by what he had done. Whenever a man does an evil thing, everyone becomes his enemy. Inwardly, his thoughts return to the wicked thing that he had done. Inwardly, he was guilt-ridden, and outwardly, he lived in the fear that he will be found out.

Herod did demand, however, that his subjects call him “king”. He ruled from 4 A.D. to 39 A.D. He was run off to what is now known as France by the Roman emperor for demanding to be made a king in 39 A.D.

Mark refers to Herod as king, but, Herod falls woefully short of what would be expected of the Jewish king.  Herod, an insecure ruler, was always on the alert for any threats to his rule. This underscores mankind's deepest problem: insecurity. Granted, sin is our deepest problem, but sin's lack will always lead us to be insecure and to make insecure and immature decisions.

It is the holiness of the Lord Jesus that addresses this problem that all mankind shares. The Greek word for "holy" means "complete" or "whole." Holiness means wholeness, lacking nothing. God desires for us that we live a life of wholeness. The Lord Jesus came to this sin-filled world in order to make broken people whole. His calling on us is the application of His life to ours.

In v.15 of today's passage we read, "Others said, 'He’s the prophet Elijah.' Still others said, 'He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.'"

Some thought the Lord Jesus to be the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, because of the prophecy in Malachi 4:5, which reads, "Before the coming of the day of the Lord, God will send Elijah the prophet." That is the very reason to this day at Passover, Jews keep their door open and an empty chair in case Elijah would come back to their Passover meal.

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead."

All of this brings us back to Herod's mistaken understanding of the Lord Jesus. A faulty understanding of the meaning of things comes from our lack of an understanding that is defined by the Lord. This is why it is so important for us to be defined by the Word of God, the written and the living Word of God. It is not about obedience so much as it is about being defined by God. When we have His culture growing in us, we will see things as they are. Most lack a proper understanding of the nature of things, and, are therefore, deceived due to the fact that they are not being defined by God. 

We were created by God who knew each one of us even before we were in our mother’s womb. Our true identity corresponds with how He created and defined us to be. When sin entered into the picture, we were thwarted from living out of a God-given identity. To live the abundant life the Lord Jesus died to give us, we must be defined God. He has been known to re-write our narrative after all of our trauma, loss, and hurt. This only happens as we allow Him to do so. 

Today, we do well, to read God's Word, asking Him to define us by His way of thinking. This will not mean we will become sinless. It does mean God will begin healing the hole in our souls that causes us to seek validation from the wrong sources. When we allow Him to define us, we will grow in the confidence that is not circumstantial. We will grow in the wholeness that ushers us to Him who unfailingly gives meaning and purpose to the willing soul.

Mark 6:7-13

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7 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes. 10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. 11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” 12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. 13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. ~ Mark 6:7-13

Today, we continue our study of Mark 6 where the emphasis is on the message of Christ. This chapter divides into three sections: the first is found in v.1-20, the second in v.21-34, and the third is in v.35-43. The emphasis on this first section is on the fact that the unbelief of the people limited the work the Lord Jesus could do in that area.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits."

The Lord Jesus sent out the disciples in twos, partly for the accountability. But, also, as the Scriptures have established, it is by the mouth of two witnesses that every word is established. The Lord Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. So two witnesses were enough to substantiate the message. The disciples were there to witness the event and supply the name and the power of God and their mutual testimony to the people of that place. 

The disciples knew, based on what the Lord Jesus has told them in Mark 4:15, that "Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching" from some. However, in Mark 3:27, they had also heard the Lord Jesus say that He had bound the "strong person," meaning Satan himself. They had watched the Lord Jesus preach, cast out demons, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. By teaching them, while using His parables, the Lord Jesus had taught them to expect rejection but to believe that the kingdom of God is moving into the hearts of men, regardless of how things might appear.

Putting up an image or the appearance that we have it all together is dangerous. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we are often tempted to put up the image that everything is good, and, choose not to be real. It is dangerous to lead people to think that we have no troubles. In fact, I have discovered that my troubles advance the gospel. Especially, if I walk with Him each day. And, when I do not walk with Him, those opportunities are often missed.  

The Lord Jesus orchestrated the disciples’ transition from being spectators to being participants. Based on the parables and on the rejection the Lord Jesus received in some places, the disciples had been prepared to expect the worst. Some would "hear the word and accept it," while others would "not receive" or "listen" to the disciples. 

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes."

Without provisions, the disciples would be dependent on the hospitality of the people in the villages they visited. The Lord Jesus’ instructions forced them to believe in Him to open doors.  Often, God chooses leanness for us, so that we will not mistake the origin of His provision. We must be careful to recognize His curriculum for our lives.

In v.10-11 of today's passage we read, "10 'Wherever you go,' he said, 'stay in the same house until you leave town. 11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.'"

Hospitality was huge in biblical days. A traveler back then, didn't have to look for a hotel when he arrived in a town. It was the responsibility of the town to show hospitality and to give what was necessary for those who were traveling. A stranger was always invited into the people's homes for a night of two. 

To "shake the dust off of their feet" meant if the people refused the free gift of salvation, the disciples were to make a statement of what will happen to those who refuse to believe in the grace of the God of the Bible. As the Lord Jesus would later say in John 3:17-18, "17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son."

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God."

Now, when the disciples went out, they went out with the gospel to inform the people; "Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus will not be separated from God for eternity, but, will have everlasting life." That was the message these disciples took to these towns around Galilee. And, their trips were only overnighters, so they did not need any supplies. They were to trust the Lord as they went. As a result, they saw the Lord open doors, and they walked through those opened doors, and, they shared the message of the gospel with the people who were receptive to them and the gospel. It was a message of God's love and salvation. It also included telling the people to repent or to change their mind about salvation, that it was a free gift for those who had long tried to earn God's favor. This enabled them to enter into that which God had in mind all along, a personal relationship with Him.

 
The seeming ineffectiveness of the Lord Jesus in His hometown was overshadowed by the disciples’ effectiveness in the surrounding villages. Sometimes, embracing the Lord Jesus involves facing the rejection of people we love. If we follow Him, however, rejection always has the ability to turn into an opportunity. He orchestrates our transition from being spectators to being participants, sharing His mission with us, sending us into a resistant but needy world.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil."

Miracles accompanied the gospel message in order to authenticate the message. Also, in the Old Testament, olive oil was a symbol of God’s presence. When someone of note was anointed, they were anointed with oil which was symbolic of God's blessing and presence. This was a reminder to all present that they weren’t the source of the power, they were just the channel of it. And by that simple symbol, they, in a familiar way, passed the glory back to the Lord. 

Mark 6:1-6

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"1 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. 4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief." ~ Mark 6:1-6

Today, we transition into Mark 6 which has as its emphasis the message of Christ. This chapter divides into three sections: the first is found in v.1-20, the second in v.21-34, and the third is in v.35-43. The emphasis on this first section is on the fact that the unbelief of the people limited the work the Lord Jesus could do in that area.

After healing the woman with the twelve year issue of blood, and, raising from the dead the twelve year old daughter of the synagogue ruler, the Lord Jesus has traveled back home to Nazareth, from the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee which was about 22 miles away. 

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "1 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?"

The people of Jesus’ hometown naturally had difficulty with this "hometown" boy. In fact, on that first Sabbath the Lord Jesus had returned home, the townsfolk let Him know what they thought about Him. Literally, they were perplexed by the Lord Jesus for they had always known Him to be a lowly carpenter. They had no idea that He could be the Savior of the world.

Interestingly, the church going folks should have recognized the Lord Jesus for who He was since there are so many passages in the Old Testament that tells us about Him. Yet, the people there in Nazareth were not in the habit of looking for God through the Scriptures. Thus, when the Lord Jesus began His ministry, they mislabeled Him as a lowly educated person. 

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him."

The Greek word translated "carpenter" literally means a craftsman. This was typically somebody who was a blue-collar worker. In ancient times a carpenter was somebody who could build anything from a chicken coop to a home. Since most of the buildings were made of stone, it is believed the Lord Jesus was primarily a stonemason. 

The hometown folk did not see the Lord Jesus as a Rabbi,  for He did not jump through the hoops of their system. The people saw Him as a man who worked with his hands. After all, He got His hands dirty. They thought He could not be the Messiah because He did not fit their definition of Messiah. And, they had been "deeply offended" just a few weeks earlier when He subtly claimed to be the Messiah after His reading in the synagogue.

 

The Lord Jesus refused to allow the flawed perception of sinful man to define Him. He set a real good precedent here for you and me. Sadly, most people are defined too much by what others think rather than what God thinks. The Lord Jesus illustrated for us well what it looks like to be defined by the Father in heaven. We are best defined by Him when we obey His word.

In v.4 of today's passage we read, "Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."

Whereas the people in the hometown of the Lord Jesus were astonished by His teaching, they remained in their unbelief regarding His identity. And, although faith in the God of the Bible is tremendously powerful, unbelief is equally as powerful. The power of unbelief was and is so great that it cast all humankind into a separated state with reference to God. And, its impact will also extend throughout all eternity for those who resist the luring of God to believe in Him.

In v.5-6 of today's passage we read, "5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief."

In this moment, the Lord Jesus accentuated the people’s inability to believe. It was unbelief in the God of the Bible that brought the curse upon all of humanity. And, it is unbelief in the Son of God that catapults people into eternal hell. When we are defined by our unbelief in the God of the Bible, we will be defined by something else. Most are most often defined by their fallen understanding of life.

The Lord Jesus could not work any miracles in Nazareth because the people lacked faith in Him. There is a very serious relationship between His work in this world and our faith in Him. Indicated here is the idea that the Lord Jesus desired and would have done much more, but the people's lack of belief in Him prevented it. In fact, "He was totally blown away by their unbelief."

In the same way that faith is contagious, unbelief is contagious. 

Adam and Eve failed to enter into God's promise because of their unbelief. The world at large failed at the preaching of Noah, only eight people got into that boat. The results of the Flood was an incredible example of the power of unbelief. Pharaoh hardened his heart against God in unbelief and the firstborn of his household died. When our view of the Lord Jesus fails to bring us to our knees, we painstakingly fall short of His power.

Mark 5:35-43

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35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of the synagogue leader. They said, “Your daughter is dead. There is no need to bother the teacher anymore.” 36 But Jesus paid no attention to what they said. He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 Jesus let only Peter, James, and John the brother of James go with him. 38 When they came to the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus found many people there making lots of noise and crying loudly. 39 Jesus entered the house and said to them, “Why are you crying and making so much noise? The child is not dead, only asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. So, after throwing them out of the house, Jesus took the child’s father and mother and his three followers into the room where the child was. 41 Taking hold of the girl’s hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (This means, “Young girl, I tell you to stand up!”) 42 At once the girl stood right up and began walking. (She was twelve years old.) Everyone was completely amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell people about this. Then he told them to give the girl something to eat. ~ Mark 5:35-43

Today, we return to our study of Mark 5 where the Lord Jesus has just healed the lady with the twelve year old bleeding problem. She had waited twelve years, whereas, Jairus' only waited for a short while, but, for Jairus, the waiting felt like a lifetime. 

In v.35-36 of today's passage we read, "35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of the synagogue leader. They said, 'Your daughter is dead. There is no need to bother the teacher anymore.' 36 But Jesus paid no attention to what they said. He told the synagogue leader, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe.'"

While the Lord Jesus was healing the lady with the issue of blood, news reached Jairus that his daughter had died. The delay had proven deadly. And, at that moment Jairus was advised to not trouble the Lord Jesus anymore. However, the Lord Jesus encouraged Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe." Literally, the Lord Jesus said to Jairus, "Stop fearing; keep on believing." That is to say, "You came with faith, you trusted that I could do this, stop your fearing. Maintain that level of faith that you had. Keep believing."

At this point, the words of Psalm 55:4-5 best described Jairus. It reads, "My heart is in anguish within me. Horror has overwhelmed me. Fear and trembling come upon me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me." 

No doubt, Jairus went numb, and, his greatest fear was his present reality. The cure for our fears is faith in the God of the Bible. When we are devastated like Jairus was that day, it is because we lack faith in the God of the Bible. But, when we exercise our faith in Him, our fears are kept in check. 

We can only imagine what the remaining walk was like for Jairus as they approached his house. I am sure he thought to himself, "Could it be that a miracle can still happen?" Real faith entertains such. It doesn't guarantee the Lord will do what we want, but real faith entertains it, especially when the Lord specifically promises it.

In v.37-38 of today's passage we read, "37 Jesus let only Peter, James, and John the brother of James go with him. 38 When they came to the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus found many people there making lots of noise and crying loudly."

This is the first time in Mark's Gospel the Lord Jesus revealed He had an inner circle. He allowed Peter, James, and John to join Him as He went into the little girls room, along with her parents. But, before He entered the house, the Lord Jesus encountered the people mourning the death of this little girl. Middle Eastern funerals were loud events with lots of wailing and screaming. Because they buried their dead very quickly, they only had a short opportunity to show how much they really loved her.

In v.39-40 of today's passage we read, "39 Jesus entered the house and said to them, “Why are you crying and making so much noise? The child is not dead, only asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. So, after throwing them out of the house, Jesus took the child’s father and mother and his three followers into the room where the child was."

The contrast was so very evident between the hopelessness of the mourners and the hopefulness of the Lord Jesus. Faith in the God of the Bible is the greatest antidote to our fears. But, when we are in the middle of the intense pain, it is hard to navigate in the arena of hope. But, believing that God is sovereign and that He works in every detail of our lives is the only correct way to navigate our lives in this world, whether He chooses to perform a miracle or not.

Death is not what it appears when faith in the God of the Bible is present. Death is merely temporary, and, is nothing more serious than going to sleep. It is only on this side of the curtain that is death our enemy. Just beyond the curtain, the monster turns out to be our friend. The label death is still on the bottle, but the contents are eternal life. Death is our friend because it reminds us that heaven is as near as a heartbeat. 

In v.41-43 of today's passage we read, "41 Taking hold of the girl’s hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (This means, “Young girl, I tell you to stand up!”) 42 At once the girl stood right up and began walking. (She was twelve years old.) Everyone was completely amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell people about this. Then he told them to give the girl something to eat."

It was at this point that the Lord Jesus went into the room where the dead little girl was, alone with her parents, Peter, James and John. And from this moment on, Peter's account of this episode is woven throughout Mark's account. Even the very language the Lord Jesus employed at the bedside of the little girl is repeated, for Peter never forgot those words. 

In v.41, we read, "Taking hold of the girl’s hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!." 

According to Numbers 19, a dead body was considered unclean. Like the woman before, the Lord Jesus came into contact with the dead, and by doing so, He availed Himself to death. Of course, this would not be the only time He did this. Then, He commanded the twelve year old to stand on her feet. Like the woman before, in that moment He restored the little girl to community. It was His touch that raised her to life. Death departs in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

According to v.42, "... the girl stood right up and began walking. (She was twelve years old.) Everyone was completely amazed."

This little girl not only had life, she had all the normal strength of a twelve-year-old. This is the way it is in every single of the miracles the Lord Jesus ever performed. Every one of His miracles were complete miracles.

The Lord Jesus could have healed this little girl from afar. But, had He, His personal touch of compassion would be missing in this story. And, it is obvious this is one element that He accentuates in this chapter. And, to underscore the fact that she was alive, the Lord Jesus told the people to get her something to eat.

The two main characters in this narrative belong together, yet they were as far apart as they could have been. Jairus would have had nothing to do with a woman whose condition excluded her from the synagogue. Yet, they are brought together in this story by their suffering, their desperation, and, by their faith in the God of the Bible. It is good to be desperate, because when we are desperate, we are more willing to throw ourselves at the feet of the Lord Jesus, begging Him to bring His kingdom to bare in our lives.

Mark 5:30-34

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30 At once Jesus felt power go out from him. So he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His followers said, “Look at how many people are pushing against you! And you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus continued looking around to see who had touched him. 33 The woman, knowing that she was healed, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. Shaking with fear, she told him the whole truth. 34 Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace; be healed of your disease.” ~ Mark 5:30-34

Today, we return to the presentation of Mark of the Lord Jesus and His earthly ministry. We find ourselves in Galilee and the Lord Jesus is interacting with a crowd of people there, helping the sick and delivering the message of forgiveness from God.

In v.30 of today's passage we read, "At once Jesus felt power go out from him. So he turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my clothes?'"

There were many there that day in the crowd pressing against the Lord Jesus. And, this woman had been watching the Lord Jesus touch people all day, and whenever He touched them, the people got better. So, naturally, she thought, "If he can touch people and they get better, I bet it'll work in reverse. If I touched him, I'll be better."

So, she set as the point of contact the very edge of His robe. And, when she touched it, her faith in Him activated the possibility into fact. She was healed. And, she and the Lord Jesus felt it, immediately. The Lord Jesus always notices our touch of faith. 

In v.31 of today's passage we read, "His followers said, 'Look at how many people are pushing against you! And you ask, ‘Who touched me?’"

Unaware that this woman had been healed, the disciples were baffled by this question of the Lord Jesus. Since they lacked full understanding of the events of that day, the disciples were clueless. This is what gets us into trouble most of the time: our lack of knowledge and understanding. In fact, throughout the Scriptures we see this played out over and over again. This is why faith in the God of the Bible is so crucial.

Our daily lives are like a puzzle. Many of the pieces that are put into place are done so painstakingly. The fruits of the Spirit are of utter necessity for us to see the unfolding of His daily plan in our lives. One of the fruits of the Spirit that is most important during our times of trial is patience.

According to Proverbs 14:29,"Patient people have great understanding." I have discovered that my impatience stems from my lack of understanding. Patience always hitches a ride with understanding. Patience is a fruit of His Spirit, and, it hangs from the tree of Galatians 5:22. 

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to wait. The key to patience is deep faith in the sovereign control of God in this world. Whether we are waiting for that special person or that dream job, when we take our small mustard seed of faith and wait around for God to place another piece on our puzzle, we will begin to notice the tapestry that will come forth. This has happened in my life so often, and sadly, I have failed at waiting far more than I have succeeded at being patient.

In v.32 of today's passage we read, "But Jesus continued looking around to see who had touched him."

The Lord Jesus looked around to see this woman. He is relentless, and His pursuit of the heart made alive to Him is dogged. For so long, the only reason anyone ever looked for this lady was to avoid her. But, on that day, the Lord Jesus was different from those who lacked understanding.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "The woman, knowing that she was healed, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. Shaking with fear, she told him the whole truth."

Like Jairus, this ailing woman fell down before the Lord Jesus, and proceeded to identify herself to Him and to tell Him her story. In Isaiah 10:4 we read, "Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain." This was her story, up until she met the Lord Jesus. And now, she was bowing before the God of all creation. We can not stand before our foes until we have learned to bow before our God.

Worship is not something we do one hour on Sunday. Worship is a product of the frustration of not knowing what will happen next in our lives, and, waiting on the Lord to act in our lives. When we get to this point, we discover that we are being defined by the Lord, and in essence, we find ourselves worshipping Him because we are being defined by Him.

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace; be healed of your disease."

The Lord Jesus commends this worn out lady's “faith”. In healing her, the Lord Jesus restored her to the community. That day, the Lord Jesus saw not an outcast but a daughter. He saw not her uncleanness but her faith. Many people in her world didn’t have the time for her, but the Lord Jesus held off an urgent mission and an important man in order to look for her. This lady chose to believe that His power to heal her was greater than the people's ability to alienate her. 

Like this unnamed woman, we often discover that our sorrow erupts from a deep place inside us. Most of our lives we’ve been excluded by others, but not so with the Lord Jesus. He has always included us in on His work in this world. There have been times when we have ached deeply for acceptance. He is the only One who is aware of such aches and He accepts us just as we are. He loves us too much to allow us to remain as we are, but make no mistake, He loves us just as we are. He calls us sons and daughters. He sees what others do not. He sees in us the quality He values most ... He sees vulnerable faith, and, when He sees it, He is pleased.