Mark 6

In the previous chapter we read about Jesus healing a young Gentile man overwhelmed with some massive demonic oppression. We also heard of a tremendous healing of a twelve year old Jewish girl, who was actually dead, and was given life again by the Lord. These were two of the amazing deeds that Jesus had performed in other places, but now He came to his hometown of Nazareth, and He was treated in a strange way. People could not seem to believe that this man who they thought they knew, the one they thought of as a carpenter and the son of Mary was teaching with such amazing wisdom, and healing with such tremendous power. We are told that they took offense at him. Jesus understood this as a normal thing for a prophet to be treated with disrespect in his hometown and among the members of his family. It had apparently been determined in the councils of God that the ministry of Jesus would display the importance of faith. Where faith was not present in some way, then there would be no healing, and this would be a sign of something important for us to learn. Jesus accepted this way of doing things as a part of His ministry, and that must be why we are told that He could do no mighty work there. It is interesting that we immediately hear these words, "except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them." We are also told that He found their unbelief something to marvel at.

Jesus did not come here only for His brothers or for His friends and acquaintances in Nazareth. Their rejection of Him and His ministry did not deter Him from the task before Him. He continued with His teaching and miraculous signs of the life to come, and He sent out the twelve to do these very things throughout Israel. We are told that He gave them authority over unclean spirits, but He did not give them great possessions. They too would need to display this kingdom faith in their service, and God would provide for them.

These amazing works caught the attention of Herod, who had reluctantly ordered the death of John the Baptist because of a devious plot by his wife and her daughter. When he heard about Jesus, he became convinced that John has risen from the dead, and was doing these amazing things. He was certainly interested in what Jesus was able to do, but not in order to bow the knee to him. He did not want to worship the Son of God any more than a previous Herod wanted to offer worship to the child Messiah so many years before. There is no fear of God here, and there is no love for the Word.

Though rejected in His hometown, and despised by a murderous King, Jesus continued to display His power and to proclaim His message. As His disciples returned from their travels, reporting on what they have said and done, Jesus moved them to a desolate place for them to rest. As might be expected at this point, it was very difficult for Jesus and the disciples to be alone. Though they were in an isolated spot, there were thousands of people following them. He had compassion on them and taught them, but they soon needed to eat. Our Lord used His disciples again to extend the bounty of His kingdom and to feed the hungry, and he had more food left over at the end of the meal than He had started with at the beginning, and everyone was satisfied.

Later that night, after dismissing the crowd, Jesus again displayed His amazing mastery over creation by walking on the water. He saw His friends in their need from afar, and met their need with His presence. They saw Him in His authority over the rough seas, and they were terrified. He calmed their fears, came into the boat with them, and the wind ceased.

Wherever He went, He began to be recognized as one who could heal, and everyone brought the sick on their beds, desperate for even some small contact with Him. The chapter ends by the simple statement that as many as touched even the fringe of His garment were made well.

This quick survey of a variety of actions on the part of the Lord reminds us of His divine power. But it is striking in the way that these are presented that the one who has this power so beyond the abilities of men is also displaying something of, dare we say, human weakness. Yes, He is able to heal everyone, to walk on the water, and to feed thousands. Yet He is presented as one who must deal with events that seem different from what appeared to be His own plan. He is rejected by those who thought that they knew Him from His youth, and though He can explain their reaction to Him on one level, on another level he marvels at their unbelief. A powerful king acknowledges His miracles, but we are reminded that this king was successful in ordering the unjust execution of the prophet who was the forerunner of the Messiah. He does not do everything by Himself, though it is apparent that He could do so if He wished to. He uses His disciples to teach, to heal, to feed people in a way that is beyond them. He seems to intend to walk past the disciples on the sea at night, but then changes His course. He wants to teach about the kingdom, but He is everywhere harassed to heal, which He willingly does.

This is hard to fathom. He has the power of divinity all over Him, but the mark of humanity is there as well. He could have brought about the kingdom by His own efforts, since He was lacking nothing in wisdom and ability, but He uses others who are ordinary people and sends them forth with very little training. He can change the course of the winds, but all kinds of people seem to change His course, in a way. This is the Jesus who saved us from our sins by giving His life on the cross for us. He is fully God and fully man. He cannot be intimidated by intimate friend or by powerful foe. He will not be discouraged from His purpose or stopped by what may seem to be lacking. Yet He has exercises meekness in the midst of His power. This is the Lamb of God, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the only Savior. Our difficulty in understanding Him probably not only says something about Him, but also something about us. This is the Jesus who has accomplished our redemption. It is our greatest blessing to be known by Him, and to pursue forever the joy of knowing Him more fully.