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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Jesus has just been teaching the people and feeding 5,000 men. We saw how Jesus satisfied these men and women. They were taught and fed and filled and satisfied.
That is our task as Pastors and Teachers of the Word of God. We are in Mark Chapter 6 and verse 45. Jesus sent the disciples off in a boat to make their way to Bethsaida, while Jesus went to pray. There was another wind blowing trouble on these waters. Jesus saw the trouble and difficulty the disciples were in and Jesus left His time of prayer and walked down the hillside and kept on walking on the water to the disciples in need. Is this not like the Church at times - rowing so hard and getting nowhere? Even the disciples' hearts were hard and hardened. That is a strange and challenging comment. Verse 49 - When they saw Him they were terrified. He deals with the immanent and dangerous situation. Verses 45 to 56 - Mark does not tell us that this is where Peter walked on the water - is this a sign that Peter says - No, do not write that. That was when I failed. Jesus speaks three powerful sentences. Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid. Jesus is there in the midst of their storm. They did not understand, and their hearts were hardened. Mark - why did you not omit that? The previous sentences I really like - but these words not quite so much! Jesus healed all who touched Him. Jesus does not heal all who are prayed for, for healing, today - and I do not have answer to the question why! Miracles do not convince faith. They can help faith to grow. The lessons of miracles a short lived. These disciples see Jesus feed 5,000 men - probably around 20,000 people altogether - but apart from satisfying temporary hunger there was no great harvest of faith. Verse 55 - Soon people were being brought to Jesus. They were interested in what they could get from Him - they wanted health. That is understandable - but Jesus Christ had and has more to offer than health - important though that is. Everybody misunderstood Jesus. Jesus did not just come to heal - but to forgive - and save and rescue people from their sin and sins. There are various unplanned situations in Chapter 6 - but Jesus was able to cope with each situation. The Galilean Ministry is almost over. Jesus will soon leave to the north and east firstly and then for the south - for Jerusalem - to be arrested and crucified. Do not misunderstand Jesus - who Jesus was and is. Know Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and follow Him as closely as you can, and serve Him as faithfully as you know how.Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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