Laying Hold of the Kingdom

 Joe & Janice moved into a new neighborhood. Next morning as they ate breakfast, Janice saw her neighbor hanging wash on the line. "That laundry isn't clean," she said. "Maybe she needs better laundry soap." Joe remained silent. For weeks, each time her neighbor hung her wash to dry, Janice made the same comment. Each time, Joe remained silent. One morning, Janice was surprised. Hanging on the line was a nice clean wash! "Joe, look! She learned how to get it clean. I wonder what she used." Joe said, "I got up early this morning & cleaned our windows." Until Joe washed the windows, she couldn't see clearly. No one in our verses sees clearly, either. They all have eyes. They see Jesus heal. They hear him teach. But all they see is what they want from Him. No one sees who He really is. But notice this. However clearly each one sees, they come. And Jesus gives each one what they want. Let's look at our story. In Mk 6:7-13, Jesus sent the Twelve out to teach, preach, & heal. Mk 6:13 says the disciples' healing is θεραπεύω. Therapeutic (clinical) healing. While they're on their mission, Herod kills John the Baptist. Mk 6:30-34, 53-56 picks up the story when they return. 30aThe apostles gathered around Jesus. They're eager to 30breport to him all they'd done & taught. But they don't come alone. They've been successful! People noticed! Crowds follow them, now, too. One group after another comes for healing. As people are healed & leave, more arrive. 31aMany people are coming & going! 31bThere are so many, Jesus & His apostles don't even have a chance to eat! Yet everyone needs sabbath time to eat, sleep, & be refreshed. Even Jesus! At the end of a long day, 31cJesus said, "Come with me by yourselves to a (lit.) wilderness place. Let's get some rest." That's our 1st lesson. Worn out? Even the Son of God needs time to eat, rest, & pray. Are we stronger? Of course not! Even if we're in fruitful ministry, we have to take care of ourselves. Only then can we keep taking care of others. 32They went away by themselves in a (fishing) boat, heading to a wilderness (lit.) place on Lake Galilee's W side. <map; possibly from near Aish to area between Genesar & Migdal> In the wilderness, God refreshes & woos His people. It's quiet. Few distractions. God's people. Alone with God. Dependent on God. In a wilderness, God provides. It happened for the Exodus people. 40 years of miraculous food. 40 years of shoes & clothing not wearing out. Jesus is starting His new exodus for God's people. Want a time of refreshment with God? Head to the wilderness. A place where we're alone with God. Completely dependent on Him. God still meets His people in our wilderness. However, 33amany who see them leaving recognize Jesus & His disciples. They also see where their boat is headed. So, 33bthey ran on foot from all the towns & got there ahead of them. When 34Jesus landed, He saw a large crowd. Plans for rest? Frustrated. Gone with the crowd that keeps arriving. That brings us to our next lesson. How would we react? Needed rest-not happening. Wouldn't we be frustrated? Not Jesus. 34bHe had compassion on them. Why? 34cThey're like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are needy. They can't live without a shepherd. They're apt to wander off. When one wanders off, others follow. They're hard-wired to follow each other. If one in front walks off a cliff, guess what! Even worse, they're defenseless to predators. And on their own they can't find good pastureland. Without a guide to new pastures, they'll starve. (Still sound like sheep we're talking about?) Regardless, the Good News is that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He has compassion for His sheep. Always. He guides us, nourishes us, & leads us to good pastures. He also teaches us. 34dHe began teaching them many things. He taught till late in the day. The crowd was mesmerized. But it was too late to send for food. Jesus had his disciples gather what people had brought. Among some 5,000 people, all they'd thought to bring was 5 loaves & 2 fish. Jesus blessed it, divided it, & gave it to the disciples to feed the crowd. Just as God provided more than enough to the Exodus crowds, Jesus too provided more than enough! After all had eaten, Jesus sent His disciples back to the E side of the lake. He went up a mountainside to pray. As he prays, He watches them struggle against the wind. For hours, they struggle! By evening, they've only made it to the middle of the lake! Jesus prayed on into the night. About 3am, Jesus walks across the storm-tossed water out to their boat. That's another lesson. Nothing can keep Jesus from coming to His own--no storm, no rough water, no wind, no waves. Nothing. Nothing can separate us from Jesus or from His love. Finally, 53aThey finished crossing over. 53bThey landed at Gennesaret & anchored there. They started from the west side of Lake Galilee. They were headed towards Bethsaida, on the northeastern shore. The next morning, after being rescued by Jesus from their nightmare at sea, they anchored off the shore of Gennesaret. That's far to the south on the western (opposite) side from where they had headed! That's how strong the winds were. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They're looking for Him. They sent word to sick friends & family. 55They ran throughout that whole region & carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. Jesus is here! He can heal! So can His disciples! 56aWherever he went-into villages, towns or countryside-they placed the sick in the marketplaces. In the streets. Anywhere to get them close. 56bThey begged Jesus to let them touch even the edge of his cloak. As soon as they did, 56cAll who touched him were healed. Word spread. He doesn't even have to stop. He doesn't even have to notice you. Just touch Him & be healed. One more thing. When Jesus heals, it isn't just clinical. It isn't just healing from disease, infirmity, or deliverance. That's all included. But when Jesus heals, it's more. In Mk 6:56, the Greek for healed is σῴζω. Saved. Yes, they're healed physically. But Jesus also saves them! Because they come, He gives more than they ask for. He saves them. They're healed. But their names are now in His Book of Life! All because they came. All because they touched Him. That brings us to the main lesson today. Jesus says it explicitly, in Mt 11:12. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the KoH has been forcefully advancing. Forceful men (& women) lay hold of it. It's clear that God does all good. But if we want something from God, it's also clear that we can act. People wanted healing. Jesus gave them that & so much more. He gave them eternal life. So, what is it we want from Jesus? He's good. If we're asking for good things, won't He give them? So, what does it mean to be "forceful"? I've prayed this scripture over & over this week. What does it mean to lay hold of the Kingdom? In what I believe is His answer, the Lord keeps pointing me to Jesus' words in Lk 18:2-8. Faith means to keep praying until He gives us His answer. Don't give up. What is it to lay hold of the KoH forcefully? Keep touching God in prayer until He answers. Pray P.U.S.H prayers. Pray Until Something Happens. That's what people keep doing in our story. They don't see Jesus clearly. But they come! They keep coming. They do anything they can to touch Him. They don't give up. They keep trying to touch Him until they receive the answer to their prayer, their healing. That's what we're to do for what we're asking for. Keep praying. Keep trying to touch Jesus until He answers our prayer! But notice. They didn't just seek an answer. They sought Him. We should just seek an answer. Seek Him! Touch Him! As we seek 1st His Kingdom (Him) & His righteousness, all these things we need-the things we're asking for-they'll will be added to us! Amen? Laying Hold of the Kingdom - Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Page 1 of 1