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by Sandy Shaw
Jesus is constantly on the move – travelling quite a bit in these Chapters in Mark’s Gospel. We move onto Mark Chapter 6.
Jesus was so misunderstood, and Jesus continues to be misunderstood. Did Jesus become lonely? He was popular to a degree. His popularity was quite limited.
We may have been taught that Jesus was quite nice to everybody – and that is not true – and we may have been taught in early days or heard that everyone was quite nice to Jesus and that was so wrong too.
I do not remember hearing some of the passages we are read when we read through the whole of a book. This is why it is important to go through a whole book – a whole Gospel – a complete letter – chapters from the Old Testament – and set in their proper context. People need to know what is in the Word of God. They many not accept it or believe it, but it is our task to preaching and proclaim it and teach it.
We can become familiar with what is partial, and not the whole truth.
Some people did not like what He did and what He said. Is this not the carpenter?
Verse 5 - He could not do any miracles there – except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was able to help some people.
Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.
Verse 6 – He then left Nazareth, and Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. There was no lengthy training course. He sent them out with authority.
Verse 8 - We hear a lot about austerity today. Jesus sent them out in austerity – but with necessary power.
Travel light – and travel quickly. Do not take much with you – sandals yes, but no second set of clothes. Accept the hospitality that is offered you.
And they preached that people should repent.
Verse 13 - They set people free, and saw people healed.
Verse 14 – News of what was happening reached King Herod. Herod had a guilty conscience. He comes from a rotten corrupt family, and he is quite frightened. Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, and Herod thought that this was John risen from the dead.
John had attacked what was wrong and John preached against the way of life of King Herod. Herodias detested John’s preaching, and she wanted to kill John. Herodias’ daughter danced and Herod was so pleased at this big party he said that he would give her anything she asked.
Verse 24 – Mother, what shall I ask for? Herod had to save his face. He had to have John killed. Jesus speaks of Herod as “that fox”. He had very strong things to say at times.
The disciples spend a brief time resting. “Come apart and rest a while”. If we do not come apart we will come apart.
Verse 34 – It is at this stage in Jesus’ Ministry that Jesus sees people as sheep without a shepherd.
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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