Mark 5-6
Jesus and the Twelve cross the lake to find a man possessed by many demons -- Legion. The evil spirits are fully aware who Jesus is. Mark tells the story with emphasis on the demon's shouts. Jesus' words of 5:8 are given almost as an explanation for the screams of Legion.
A herd of 2000 pigs likely wouldn't have been found on the Gallilee side of the lake! Why the spirits wanted to go into the pigs is confusing, especially given the quick death of the herd.
After the story gets back to town, the townspeople come out and see the crazy guy sitting dressed and right as rain. Then they see around 2000 head of hogs floating in the lake. Both of these were incredible sights. It was too much for them and, quite unlike Jesus' usual experiences, the people begged Jesus to leave them! Jesus complied. He didn't let the man come with Him, instead sending him back to his family as a witness.
Upon arriving back on the other side of the lake, the crowds gathered again. Jarius came to Him, begging Him to save his 12 year old daughter. Jesus immediately responded, but on the way a woman with a bleeding problem touched Jesus to be healed. She did have great faith as the Master would tell her. But somehow Jesus felt healing power go out from Him. Maybe that's just the easiest way that the author could phrase it. But Jesus knew that there had been a miracle, so He stopped to find out. The disciples thought Jesus was crazy when He asked, in the midst of a tight crowd, "Who touched me?" Jesus' purpose was not to scare the woman to death, but to explain that she had been healed, not by some magic, but because of her faith.
The delay had cost the live of Jarius' daughter. At least that was the thought. But Jesus thought differently. Taking only Peter, James and John from that point, Jesus went in, spoke words of hope and was laughed at. He kicked out the crowd and took in only the child's parents and the Three. He took her by the hand and told her to get up, which she did -- immediately. Jesus again cautioned them not to say anything -- as if that was going to work. Although it sounds like the parents couldn't figure out much to do at that point. They were overcome with shock. It could be that Jesus was being lighthearted at this point when the stunned parents looked at Him and He told them, "Don't just stand there. Get her something to eat." All is celebratory. I have to wonder about those who had laughed at Jesus a few minutes prior.
A trip back to Nazareth only brought scoffers to see Jesus. Remembering Him as the carpenter and recalling his siblings who still lived among them, they couldn't accept that this Jesus, whom they had watched grow up, could be Messiah. 6:3 states that they "took offense at him." Here we are given the names of Jesus' four step-brothers, including one named Judas. We also see that Jesus "could not do" many miracles there because they lacked faith in Him. This is pointed out by Word of Faith teachers. But this really doesn't say that Jesus was unable, but that circumstances prevented it. How so? More than likely no more than a couple of people even came to Him to be healed! It's ironic that Jesus had so much trouble dealing with the crowds, but in His hometown the crowds are not a problem. Still the real ministry is done where the crowds are.
The sending out of the Twelve is mentioned only briefly, as are Jesus' instructions. I find it a stretch to use these instructions as hard and fast rules for missions work. Jesus has tailored these words to fit the time, the assignment and the culture.
At 6:14, Mark notes the circumstances of John the Baptist's execution. He transitions into it by talking about the theories of who Jesus actually was. We see these come up around Peter's confession elsewhere. Here, Mark works his way toward the Baptist's story. Although John had intrigued Herod, the ruler was too fast with his mouth and too slow with his brain. Making a promise to grant anything, Herodias' daughter asked for John's head on a platter -- to please her mother. Herod felt obligated to honor his oath instead of his fear. The whole affair with Herod and Herodias was scandalous, even for the ruling class. Herod likely knew that John was right about the marriage being wrong as we know that he thought of the Baptist as righteous and holy. (6:20).
At 6:30 we have the Twelve returning from their missionary journey and Jesus trying to pull them away from the crowds to debrief and to rest. But the crowds followed. Or more accurately ran ahead to where they were going. 6:34 is a great depiction of Jesus' feelings for these people. "He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."
The need for food is realized and instead of sending them away to buy food, Jesus shocks the disciples when He tells them to give the people something to eat! They immediately start tallying a bill, realizing that it would take a fortune to buy them all food.
The people were gathered in 100s and in 50s. No explanation is given for that. What must have been going through the disciples' minds as they divided up the people for a meal they were sure wouldn't even feed two, let alone 5000 men and their families. It has been pointed out by many that having twelve baskets leftover meant that each of the disciples who had little faith would have been carrying one of the baskets. I don't know that this would necessarily be true, but it is interesting.
Jesus sent the disciples ahead on the boat while He dismissed the crowd. Perhaps Jesus was trying to get the twelve to realize and better understand what had just happened. But Jesus also got some "alone" time for prayer. After dark, Jesus could see that the disciples were having a struggle getting the boat across because of the windy conditions, presumably making large waves. Then later, Jesus went out "to them" walking on the lake. But in 6:48, the text says that He was about to pass them when they saw Him walking and thought it was a ghost. Was Jesus going to the disciples and if so, why was He about to pass them by? Was He planning on letting them see Him?
In any case, He immediately spoke to them to calm them. We get no record of Peter's walk on the water with Him, which is curious considering Mark probably got much of his background information for the writing of this Gospel from Simon Peter. Was Peter ashamed of this moment or was the omission Mark's idea? We don't know, but we are told that the wind died down once Jesus was in the boat.
I'm not sure what 6:51b-52 means when it reads, "They were completely amazed for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." What did the loaves have to do with their amazement at the water walk? Were the twelve simply overwhelmed by all that had happened in the past few hours?
By the end of the boat ride, the crowds recognized Jesus and the healing ministry resumed.
A herd of 2000 pigs likely wouldn't have been found on the Gallilee side of the lake! Why the spirits wanted to go into the pigs is confusing, especially given the quick death of the herd.
After the story gets back to town, the townspeople come out and see the crazy guy sitting dressed and right as rain. Then they see around 2000 head of hogs floating in the lake. Both of these were incredible sights. It was too much for them and, quite unlike Jesus' usual experiences, the people begged Jesus to leave them! Jesus complied. He didn't let the man come with Him, instead sending him back to his family as a witness.
Upon arriving back on the other side of the lake, the crowds gathered again. Jarius came to Him, begging Him to save his 12 year old daughter. Jesus immediately responded, but on the way a woman with a bleeding problem touched Jesus to be healed. She did have great faith as the Master would tell her. But somehow Jesus felt healing power go out from Him. Maybe that's just the easiest way that the author could phrase it. But Jesus knew that there had been a miracle, so He stopped to find out. The disciples thought Jesus was crazy when He asked, in the midst of a tight crowd, "Who touched me?" Jesus' purpose was not to scare the woman to death, but to explain that she had been healed, not by some magic, but because of her faith.
The delay had cost the live of Jarius' daughter. At least that was the thought. But Jesus thought differently. Taking only Peter, James and John from that point, Jesus went in, spoke words of hope and was laughed at. He kicked out the crowd and took in only the child's parents and the Three. He took her by the hand and told her to get up, which she did -- immediately. Jesus again cautioned them not to say anything -- as if that was going to work. Although it sounds like the parents couldn't figure out much to do at that point. They were overcome with shock. It could be that Jesus was being lighthearted at this point when the stunned parents looked at Him and He told them, "Don't just stand there. Get her something to eat." All is celebratory. I have to wonder about those who had laughed at Jesus a few minutes prior.
A trip back to Nazareth only brought scoffers to see Jesus. Remembering Him as the carpenter and recalling his siblings who still lived among them, they couldn't accept that this Jesus, whom they had watched grow up, could be Messiah. 6:3 states that they "took offense at him." Here we are given the names of Jesus' four step-brothers, including one named Judas. We also see that Jesus "could not do" many miracles there because they lacked faith in Him. This is pointed out by Word of Faith teachers. But this really doesn't say that Jesus was unable, but that circumstances prevented it. How so? More than likely no more than a couple of people even came to Him to be healed! It's ironic that Jesus had so much trouble dealing with the crowds, but in His hometown the crowds are not a problem. Still the real ministry is done where the crowds are.
The sending out of the Twelve is mentioned only briefly, as are Jesus' instructions. I find it a stretch to use these instructions as hard and fast rules for missions work. Jesus has tailored these words to fit the time, the assignment and the culture.
At 6:14, Mark notes the circumstances of John the Baptist's execution. He transitions into it by talking about the theories of who Jesus actually was. We see these come up around Peter's confession elsewhere. Here, Mark works his way toward the Baptist's story. Although John had intrigued Herod, the ruler was too fast with his mouth and too slow with his brain. Making a promise to grant anything, Herodias' daughter asked for John's head on a platter -- to please her mother. Herod felt obligated to honor his oath instead of his fear. The whole affair with Herod and Herodias was scandalous, even for the ruling class. Herod likely knew that John was right about the marriage being wrong as we know that he thought of the Baptist as righteous and holy. (6:20).
At 6:30 we have the Twelve returning from their missionary journey and Jesus trying to pull them away from the crowds to debrief and to rest. But the crowds followed. Or more accurately ran ahead to where they were going. 6:34 is a great depiction of Jesus' feelings for these people. "He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."
The need for food is realized and instead of sending them away to buy food, Jesus shocks the disciples when He tells them to give the people something to eat! They immediately start tallying a bill, realizing that it would take a fortune to buy them all food.
The people were gathered in 100s and in 50s. No explanation is given for that. What must have been going through the disciples' minds as they divided up the people for a meal they were sure wouldn't even feed two, let alone 5000 men and their families. It has been pointed out by many that having twelve baskets leftover meant that each of the disciples who had little faith would have been carrying one of the baskets. I don't know that this would necessarily be true, but it is interesting.
Jesus sent the disciples ahead on the boat while He dismissed the crowd. Perhaps Jesus was trying to get the twelve to realize and better understand what had just happened. But Jesus also got some "alone" time for prayer. After dark, Jesus could see that the disciples were having a struggle getting the boat across because of the windy conditions, presumably making large waves. Then later, Jesus went out "to them" walking on the lake. But in 6:48, the text says that He was about to pass them when they saw Him walking and thought it was a ghost. Was Jesus going to the disciples and if so, why was He about to pass them by? Was He planning on letting them see Him?
In any case, He immediately spoke to them to calm them. We get no record of Peter's walk on the water with Him, which is curious considering Mark probably got much of his background information for the writing of this Gospel from Simon Peter. Was Peter ashamed of this moment or was the omission Mark's idea? We don't know, but we are told that the wind died down once Jesus was in the boat.
I'm not sure what 6:51b-52 means when it reads, "They were completely amazed for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." What did the loaves have to do with their amazement at the water walk? Were the twelve simply overwhelmed by all that had happened in the past few hours?
By the end of the boat ride, the crowds recognized Jesus and the healing ministry resumed.
posted by rev-ed @ 3:34 PM
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