Stories of the Rabbi 10

Mark 6:30 – 56 The 12 Learn to minister, and Jesus takes a little walk.

I. Returning from ministry Vss. 30 - 31

a. Between 6:7-13 (where Jesus sends the 12) this passage is the story of how John was martyred.

i. This is Mark’s way of stating that following Jesus and ministering in His name has a cost.

b. The 12 returned and reported everything they had done (vs. 13)

i. Preached repentance.

ii. Drove out demons.

iii. Anointed sick.

iv. Healed the sick.

c. The 12 were starting to understand what it meant to minister in the name of Jesus.

i. All of them had this experience, even Judas.

ii. The Holy Spirit had not yet been given, so the 12, not knowing who Jesus was and what He was about to do on the cross, could minister using just the name of Jesus.

iii. The name of Jesus has power and authority despite one’s state of belief or disbelief (Judas, for example).

d. Ministry has a physical toll as well. Vs. 31 Jesus implores them to rest after their missionary experience.

II. Feeding a crowd of people. Vss. 32 – 44.

a. Vss. 32-34 People have followed the disciples back to Jesus, so they try to sail to a different location on Galilee.

b. They were met with a crowd -even though they needed rest, they followed them to their landing spot. Vs. 33

i. Have you ever felt like this? Have you grown weary of ministry or life events, desiring rest, and yet find yourself ministering through that weariness?

ii. How do you handle these situations?

c. Jesus had three actions at this point Vs. 34

i. He saw the people – he saw their need

ii. He had compassion – He loves those who seek Him – like a shepherd who looks after a flock of sheep.

iii. He began teaching – not healing, not delivering, but teaching. Why?

1. To understand healing, deliverance, etc., one must enter into The Kingdom of God – that is, the presence of Jesus.

2. People need to hear the Good News – Gospel euengelion, which is the coming (and now arrival) of the Kingdom of God.

d. Need to feed the folks vss. 35 - 44

i. The people had physical needs now that Jesus was meeting their spiritual needs.

ii. The 12’s solution to the problem was to send them away Vss. 35-36.

iii. Jesus reflects on the ministry he entrusted them in vss. 7-13 “You do it” Vs. 37a

iv. Vs. 37b – The disciples looked at their circumstances and not at the source of their power (who was standing right in front of them) – to be fair, there was no circumstance in the Bible to indicate that ordinary people could do extraordinary things, but consider what they had just accomplished when Jesus sent them out to do ministry.

v. Vs. 38 – consider what God has entrusted to you.

vi. Vss. 39-44 – Jesus takes what we have, what he has entrusted to us, and multiplies it exponentially. Remember, this scene is in the context of the disciples needing rest. Instead, they have a whole day of ministry. But Jesus has given them the strength to persevere through their weariness and participate in a HUGE miracle. God will always provide a way through our circumstances despite the lack of resources (whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual).

III. Take a walk, Vss. 45-56 (see also Matthew 14:22 – 33 and John 6:15 - 21)

a. Vss. 45-46 Mark uses the word euthys meaning “immediately” – this is one of Mark’s favorite transition words to indicate a scene change in the story

i. He dismissed the crowd

ii. He sent the 12 off to one of their home bases - Bethsaida (John 6:16 says it was Capernaum– both are very near each other)

iii. He isolated Himself to pray – why? Read John 16:15

b. Vs. 47 – 48 – Jesus, although on land, saw the 12 struggling with the boat in the middle of the lake. So he went out to them.

i. Jesus sees our needs and moves towards us in our time of struggle

c. Vs. 49 – 52 They were afraid when the disciples saw him.

i. Sometimes, we are afraid when Jesus speaks and acts in our circumstances because we do not recognize Him. Have you ever felt like this?

ii. They had just witnessed a great miracle with the feeding of the 5000, yet they could not understand this miracle (Mark states they had hard hearts).

1. Oftentimes, when we are in the middle of challenging circumstances, we forget to look back at all that God has done for us. This is why the Jews constantly reviewed the Passover story because they needed to remind themselves that God saves, God provides, and God is present.

d. Matthew 14:28 – 32 has additional details.

i. Peter, recognizing Jesus, calls to Him and asks if He could walk to Him

ii. While looking at Jesus, he also walks on the water

iii. When he sees the waves, he starts to sink

iv. Jesus goes to him and gently chastises Peter

v. They go back to the boats

e. Observations on Peter’s walking on the water

i. When Peter ignored His circumstances and focused on Jesus, he did what Jesus was doing.

ii. Peter began to sink when he focused on his circumstances and took his eyes off Jesus.

iii. Even though Peter was sinking, Jesus went to him – notice they went back to the boat – did they walk back? Did Jesus elevate Peter back to the miraculous?

iv. Notice also that only Peter got out of the boat. Rag on Peter if you want, but he had the faith to get out while the others stayed in

f. Back to Mark 6:53-56 – They ended up at Gennesaret

i. The people again found Jesus, and the 12.

ii. They recognized Him.

iii. They ran to Him.

iv. They came from all parts of the region.

v. They brought the sick to Him.

vi. They begged to touch even the tassels of His Tallit. (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/530124/jewish/Tallit-The-Jewish-Prayer-Shawl.htm)

vii. All who reached out and touched Jesus were healed.

g. How does the return of the 12, feeding the 5000, walking on water, and healing of the crowds all tie together?

i. Jesus wants us to look to Him in faith and not dwell on our circumstances (hungry people, a storm, the waves, great crowds). When we act in the name of Jesus (ministering in the name of Jesus, multiplying resources, walking on water, healing great numbers of sick people), we can do what he did. He calls us into His Kingdom, where the miraculous is ordinary, and His presence is near.