The Shepherd-King Appears

Preaching Outline

In our current series, “Urgent”, we have been studying Mark’s incredible account of the life and ministry of Jesus. He is on a mission to show us the Suffering Servant, Messiah Jesus. In our upcoming text we could easily gloss over it as a bit confusing if we did not slow down to understand the political and theological background that informs this rich text. Mark, through Peter’s witness, is writing this gospel to the Church in Rome facing resistance, danger, and persecution for their faith in Jesus. This is why Mark 6 comes as a beautifully crafted message of hope and perseverance to believers struggling under political, social, and spiritual persecution.

Background, Historical Context

The early Churches most common image representing Jesus was that of Shepherd. This changed over time, but the reason you saw images of Jesus as Shepherd was because of the “tradition” and biblical theme of shepherd being a central metaphor for understanding God’s relationship to His people in the Old Testament. This then becomes Jesus becoming that great Good Shepherd over the flock.

This theme can be traced through these major texts in the Old Testament:

Psalm 23, Jeremiah 23:1-8, Ezekiel 34, Zechariah 10:2-12

Slide - 1: We will be focusing in on chapter six today but this is a brief overview of Mark 6-8:21.

Slide - 2: Here are the themes of the Good Shepherd through the Old Testament.

Here are the themes we will see appear across the texts mentioned above and including ours.

Our text breaks out into weird stories if you do not see them as woven together to paint a picture of Jesus the Good Shepherd in contrast to the bad shepherds.

Jesus sends our the disciples by twos. Mark revisits the execution of John the Baptist and why it happens. The disciples come back to gather around Jesus. Jesus gets off a boat and encounters a crowd. He teaches then feeds the crowd. Then, forces the disciples back on the boat and disperses the crowd. How are these all centrally tied together? So, lets take a look.

Slide - 3: Bullet Point #1

"In our text today Jesus shows through His actions that He is the Good Shepherd who calls us to flee the shepherds of death and recline with Him, the Shepherd of life.”

This shepherd has come to care for a lost, confused, and desperate flock offering Kingdom Life. He does this in a way that shocks and confuses our human sensibilities and at the same time leaving us in awe of Him. Come, follow the voice of the Good Shepard and flourish under His care."

Slide - 4: The Shepherd in the face of political opposition and danger. (Mark 6:7-29)

Mark connects the ministry of Jesus’ disciples with the political “air” that they would have been breathing. They ministered in great danger.

Mark revisits the killing of John from chapter 1 to remind us that Jesus faced great opposition in His ministry. He was likely followed as political rivals never let movements/movers go unobserved. They faced murderous levels of danger at every turn, something the believers in Rome would connect with.

Josephus tells us that Herod had arrested John because he feared he would use his popularity to enact a rebellion against Herod.

This story becomes the backdrop and starting point for Jesus’ counter-cultural strength and response.

In this honor/shame culture the disciples would have returned (6:30) to stand with Jesus and await his response as the news and reality of Jesus’ movement co-leader and relative was killed. What would Jesus do?

Slide - 5: The Shepherd Gathers His Sheep in Response

What would Jesus do? How would he respond? What would be done? Should we march? Herod would have had spies in the group as well. Herod was “watching”.

The Shepherd sees that everyone is awaiting his response. They are afraid. They do not want Herod as their King, they do not want to serve Rome. What would Jesus do now that his other leader in this new movement has been killed?

Jesus has compassion and speaks. Jesus the WORD of God, the Great Shepherd teaches them. Oh, how we wish we would have a recording of these great enrapturing words.

Here we see Jesus BEING the Good Shepherd for this lost flock. Mark, reminding His readers that this was Jesus’s mission. To gather the lost flock of Israel.

Slide - 6: Bullet Point #2

Amid the demands and expectations of violence and retribution, Jesus reveals the heart of the Good Shepherd. A heart of compassion for His lost and confused sheep.

Slide - 7: The Good Shepherd’s Banquet of Life

Jesus responds and gives words of life through teaching. This teaching is so enrapturing that He speaks all day. His flock is hungry.

He then has everyone sit (recline, as in recline at a meal) in groups to have a meal.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:3b)

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23: 5a)

How did Jesus respond to Herod’s banquet of death? How did Jesus respond to violence and threat? Jesus offers to life.

Herod offered a banquet to the rich and powerful. The ruling class.

Jesus offers a banquet to the common folk.

Herod’s spies would have been there, watching this Jesus to see what He would do. Jesus gives life through words and miracles.

Jesus PRESENTS a meal, like what most women would have been expected to do. Jesus connects with and represents all kinds of people.

Jesus looks up to heaven, and like/unlike God in the wilderness Jesus gives to His flock invoking Christological understanding by Mark declaring Jesus is the Covenant God.

Slide - 8: Bullet Point #3

Jesus brings His meal of life to us. He invites us to recline at His table of honor. He does this with our and His enemies swirling around us. Our Shepherd-King comes for us and gives us life in Him knowing the cost it could bring Him.

Slide - 9: The Shepherd King

His disciples wanted a response. They sensed the power of the crowd.

John notes that the crowd was ready to march on Herod.

Jesus is a different kind of King. He does not respond in violence.

What would Herod have thought? (Luke 23:13-15) Maybe Herod was softened by this? Like Pilate he never found reason to charge Jesus.

Slide - 10: Bullet Point #4

Jesus powerfully disperses the crowd after giving them life. He uses His power to not respond in violence. He does not bow to the systems of this world but offers a new Kingdom reversing expectations. Jesus the Shepherd-King has come.

This Shepherd-King has come and so how do we respond?

Slide - 11: Are We Following the Good Shepherd?

The New International Version Chapter 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The New International Version Chapter 1

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Summary: The political intensity that Mark focuses on through the retelling of John the Baptist's execution sets the stage for this contrast of shepherds. Building on the Good Shepherd tradition and theme throughout Scripture Mark shows how Jesus acts as the Good Shepherd in contrast to the evil shepherds under God's judgment. This response by Jesus to the murderous threats and political upheaval gives life to a needy and desperate flock while demonstrating the values of the Kingdom that this Shepherd King is bringing. Jesus, the Shepherd-King appears challenging us to respond to Him and His call to recline with Him at His table.