Day Six - Mark 6

In Mark 6 Jesus returned to his hometown where he received a less than warm welcome. Granted, in verse 2 we read that “many who heard him were amazed,” but there were others who questioned the authority of Mary’s boy to teach them in the synagogue. Although some were amazed by what they had heard, Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.

The disciples continued to learn from Jesus and he sent them out in twos into the surrounding villages. Through the power of Jesus, they drove out demons and anointed and healed the sick. They returned to Jesus keen to report back on “all they had done and taught” (Mark 6:30). He invited them to get into a boat to find q quiet place to rest, but the growing crowd had other ideas. The people ran ahead of Jesus and were waiting as the boat came into the shore. Keen to spend time alone with Jesus, the disciples urged him to send the people away but “he had compassion on them because they were like a sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). When asked to feed the crowd, the disciples protested wondering how they could afford to buy enough bread. Again, despite all the miracles they had witnessed, they failed to understand who was before them. Jesus took two small fish and five loaves of bread and fed the thousands that gathered to listen to him teach. It was through his power alone that the small offering was multiplied.

“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat” (Mark 6:45) while he remained on the shore and retreated to the mountainside to pray. As the night moved on the wind began to grow and the disciples strained at the oars struggling to keep control of the boat. Through the storm, they saw what they thought was a ghost walking toward them on the water.

Immediately Jesus spoke not them.

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Mark 6:50

There’s that word again, immediately, found so often in the action-packed Gospel of Mark. Despite everything they had witnessed they still didn’t grasp who Jesus was. They hadn’t understood the miracle of the loaves and fish but they were amazed, another of Mark’s favourite words, by Jesus’ presence on the water.

Something to think about…

In which challenging situation do you need to hear the words of Jesus?

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Mark 6:50

Kay Moorby