New Testament Studies: Mark (7): Chapter 6 v1 to 56 -- David Pawson

Summary

The video script presents a profound exploration of Jesus' ministry as narrated in Mark's Gospel, chapter 6. It delves into the various reactions and misunderstandings that Jesus faced, highlighting the human tendency to take offense and the limitations of familiarity. The narrative underscores Jesus' compassion and wisdom, as he heals the sick, teaches profound lessons, and performs miracles such as the multiplication of loaves and fishes. The summary also touches upon the disciples' mission, their dependency on Jesus, and the importance of recognizing the supernatural in everyday acts of service. The video concludes with a reflection on the balance between planned and spontaneous acts in ministry, and a prayer for understanding and open-mindedness towards Jesus' true nature and mission.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Gospel of Mark chapter 6 depicts Jesus encountering disbelief and rejection in his hometown, highlighting the challenge of being a prophet in one's own country.
• 🧙 Jesus demonstrates his divine power by healing a few and marveling at the unbelief of his people, emphasizing the spiritual barriers that can impede his miracles.
• 🚣‍♂️ Jesus sends out his disciples two by two, granting them authority over unclean spirits and instructing them to rely on the hospitality and generosity of others during their mission.
• 🦅 King Herod's fear and superstition upon hearing of Jesus' works lead to the mistaken belief that John the Baptist has been resurrected, reflecting the confusion and misconceptions about Jesus' identity and purpose.
• ⚖️ Herod's decision to behead John the Baptist, influenced by his wife Herodias, showcases the tragic consequences of political and personal corruption intertwined with religious authority.
• 🍞 The feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish illustrates Jesus' compassion, resourcefulness, and the supernatural multiplication of limited resources to meet the needs of the masses.
• 🚣‍♂️ Jesus' command for his disciples to embark on their own to find peace signifies the importance of solitude and rest in ministry, as well as the trust he places in them.
• 🌪 Jesus' act of walking on water to comfort his distressed disciples demonstrates his divine nature and serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and ability to calm the storms of life.
• 🤲 The people's desire to touch the 'fringe of his garment' for healing reflects the faith and the physical manifestation of their belief in Jesus' divine power to heal.
• 🌐 Jesus' ministry, as portrayed in Mark's Gospel, is a blend of planned activities and spontaneous encounters, teaching us to be prepared for both and to be responsive to the needs of others.
• 🙏 The prayer at the end of the transcript is a call for an open mind and heart to truly understand Jesus, to follow his teachings, and to minister in his name without misunderstanding his purpose.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of the people in Jesus' hometown when he began teaching in the synagogue?

The people in Jesus' hometown were astonished by his wisdom and the works he performed. However, they were also skeptical because they knew him as the carpenter, the son of Mary, and were aware of his family connections, which led them to take offense at him.

Why was Jesus unable to perform mighty works in his hometown?

Jesus was unable to perform mighty works in his hometown due to the people's lack of faith and their familiarity with him, which bred contempt. Their unbelief placed a limit on his ability to work miracles among them.

How did Jesus instruct his disciples when he sent them out on their mission?

Jesus instructed his disciples to travel light, not to take extra staff, bread, bag, or money. He also told them to stay in one house when they entered a place and to shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against any place that did not receive them.

What was the reaction of King Herod when he heard about Jesus' works?

King Herod was disturbed by the news of Jesus' works. He was confused about Jesus' identity, with some suggesting he was John the Baptist raised from the dead, others that he was Elijah, and others that he was a prophet like the old prophets.

Why did Herod order the execution of John the Baptist?

Herod ordered the execution of John the Baptist because John had publicly condemned Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, which was unlawful. Herod, influenced by Herodias, wanted to kill John, but hesitated due to his fear of the people, who considered John a righteous and holy man. The opportunity to kill John arose during a banquet when Herod, under the influence of his guests and a promise made to Herodias's daughter, granted her request for John's head.

How did Jesus demonstrate his compassion for the large crowd that followed him to a lonely place?

Jesus demonstrated his compassion by teaching the crowd many things, recognizing that they were like sheep without a shepherd. Even when his disciples suggested sending the crowd away to find food, Jesus instructed them to feed the people, which led to the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish.

What was the significance of Jesus walking on water, as described in the script?

Jesus walking on water was a demonstration of his divine power and authority. It was also a means to reassure and encourage his disciples, who were distressed by the rough sea conditions. This act was meant to strengthen their faith and trust in him.

Why did the people in Gennesaret recognize Jesus and bring the sick to him?

The people in Gennesaret recognized Jesus because of his previous works and miracles. They had seen him heal others and thus brought the sick to him in the hope that they too would be healed, demonstrating their faith in his healing abilities.

What was the mistake of the people who only sought physical healing from Jesus, as mentioned in the script?

The mistake of the people was that they misunderstood the purpose of Jesus' mission. They sought physical healing and blessings without recognizing his true mission, which was to offer spiritual salvation and forgiveness of sins, not just physical healing.

How did Jesus' ministry involve both planned and spontaneous acts, as described in the script?

Jesus' ministry involved a mix of planned acts, such as teaching in the synagogue and sending out his disciples, as well as spontaneous acts that arose in response to the needs of the people he encountered, like healing the sick and multiplying the loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000.

What is the lesson for Christians regarding the use of resources and the concept of God's mathematics, as mentioned in the script?

The lesson for Christians is to be considerate, organized, and efficient in the use of resources, even though God has infinite resources. 'God's mathematics' refers to the principle of giving away to gain, emphasizing that when you share what you have, you can experience an increase in blessings.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Mark's Gospel and Jesus' Teachings

This paragraph introduces the setting of Mark's Gospel, specifically chapter 6, where Jesus returns to his hometown. It describes the initial astonishment of the locals at his wisdom and works, their offense upon recognizing him as the local carpenter, and their disbelief despite his miracles. The paragraph also details Jesus sending out his disciples two by two, giving them power over unclean spirits and instructing them on the essentials for their journey. It concludes with the apostles returning to Jesus and his subsequent teaching and miracles among the people.

05:00

🍞 The Feeding of the Five Thousand

This paragraph narrates the miraculous event of Jesus feeding a large crowd with just five loaves of bread and two fish. It describes how Jesus instructed the people to sit in groups and, after giving thanks, he miraculously multiplied the small amount of food to satisfy over five thousand men, with twelve baskets of leftovers. It also touches on Jesus' post-miracle activities, including sending his disciples ahead, praying alone, and walking on water to reach his disciples in a storm.

10:03

🌍 Jesus' Travels and the Misunderstandings He Faced

The paragraph discusses the geographical movements of Jesus during his ministry, emphasizing the political fragmentation of Palestine at the time and how it influenced Jesus' travels for security and teaching purposes. It also delves into the misunderstandings and loneliness of Jesus, highlighting the lack of recognition and acceptance he received from those who knew him since his youth. The paragraph further explores the attitudes people had towards Jesus and the incidents that demonstrated these attitudes.

15:04

🙏 The Challenge of Familiarity and Faith

This paragraph explores the theme of familiarity breeding contempt, using the example of Jesus' hometown, Nazareth, where his miracles were not recognized due to the locals' familiarity with him. It discusses the impact of faithlessness on Jesus' ability to perform miracles and challenges the reader to reconsider their expectations and beliefs in their own religious contexts. The paragraph also introduces the concept of learning through doing, as Jesus sends out his disciples to preach and heal, thereby multiplying his ministry.

20:05

🤝 The Ministry of the Twelve Apostles

The paragraph focuses on Jesus sending out the twelve apostles two by two, emphasizing the austerity and authority with which they were sent. It illustrates the importance of learning through experience and the power of teamwork. The narrative includes the apostles' initial timidity and eventual success in preaching, healing, and casting out demons, highlighting the transformative nature of their experiences and the growth of their confidence in performing Jesus' works.

25:06

🏰 Herod's Reaction and the Death of John the Baptist

This paragraph details King Herod's response to Jesus' growing influence and the events leading to the death of John the Baptist. It paints Herod as a superstitious and fearful ruler, whose guilty conscience led him to believe that Jesus was a resurrected John. The narrative recounts John's imprisonment and execution, provoked by his public denouncement of Herod's marriage to his brother's wife, Herodias. The paragraph also highlights the moral and spiritual lessons to be drawn from John's martyrdom.

30:07

🛶 The Compassion and Miracles of Jesus

The paragraph describes Jesus' compassion for a large crowd that followed him, likening them to sheep without a shepherd. Despite seeking rest, Jesus addresses the crowd's spiritual needs by teaching them. It then recounts the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, emphasizing Jesus' careful organization and the abundance that resulted from the meager resources at hand. The narrative also touches on the disciples' lack of understanding regarding the supernatural nature of Jesus' miracles.

35:08

🙏 Prayer and Discipleship

This paragraph highlights Jesus' practice of prayer amidst growing challenges, including his popularity and the hostility it was attracting. It describes an incident where Jesus walks on water to reach his frightened disciples in a storm, bringing peace upon his arrival. The narrative also reflects on the nature of ministry, emphasizing the importance of planning and being open to spontaneous opportunities to serve others in Jesus' name.

40:08

🕊 Conclusion and Prayer for Understanding

The final paragraph summarizes the Galilean ministry of Jesus, noting its end and the approach of Easter, symbolizing increasing hostility towards Jesus. It acknowledges the potential for misunderstanding Jesus' mission and prays for an open mind to truly understand him. The prayer requests guidance to avoid hostility, resentment, and defensiveness, and encourages a desire to follow, learn from, and minister in Jesus' name.

Keywords

💡Prophet

A prophet is a person who is believed to speak for God or to have insight into the divine. In the script, Jesus is referred to as a prophet, highlighting his role as a messenger and teacher. The concept is significant as it underscores the spiritual authority and divine connection attributed to Jesus, which is central to the narrative.

💡Unbelief

Unbelief refers to a lack of faith or confidence in something, particularly in a religious context, the lack of faith in God or divine miracles. In the script, the people's unbelief in Jesus' divine power is mentioned, which limited the miracles he could perform in his hometown. This concept is pivotal as it reflects the theme of doubt and the consequences it can have on spiritual experiences.

💡Disciples

Disciples are followers or students of a religious teacher, often committed to spreading the teacher's teachings. The script discusses Jesus' disciples, who are sent out in pairs to preach, heal, and cast out demons. The disciples symbolize the extension of Jesus' ministry and the beginning of the Christian church's mission work.

💡Miracle

A miracle is an extraordinary event that surpasses human understanding and is attributed to a divine agency. The script recounts the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, where Jesus feeds a large crowd with minimal food. This miracle demonstrates Jesus' divine power and compassion, and it is a key element in showcasing his ability to provide for the people's needs.

💡Healing

Healing refers to the process of curing or becoming healthy, both physically and spiritually. In the script, Jesus is depicted as healing the sick, which is a testament to his divine power and his mission of compassion. The act of healing is a recurring theme that illustrates the benevolence and redemptive nature of Jesus' ministry.

💡Austerity

Austerity means a simple way of living with minimal comfort or luxury. The disciples are sent out by Jesus with austerity, carrying no extra provisions or money. This concept is important as it emphasizes the reliance on faith and the necessity of humility and self-sufficiency in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

💡Authority

Authority is the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. Jesus gives his disciples authority over unclean spirits, allowing them to cast out demons and heal the sick. This keyword is significant as it demonstrates the empowerment of the disciples and the divine backing of their mission.

💡Herod

Herod is a reference to Herod Antipas, a ruler mentioned in the script who is depicted as being disturbed by Jesus' growing influence. Herod's character is used to illustrate the political and religious opposition Jesus faced, which is a critical aspect of the narrative leading to his eventual crucifixion.

💡John the Baptist

John the Baptist is a significant religious figure who prepared the way for Jesus' ministry. In the script, his beheading at the request of Herodias is recounted, highlighting the conflict between religious integrity and political power. John's fate serves as a cautionary tale and underscores the risks faced by those who speak truth to power.

💡Faith

Faith is a strong belief or trust in something, especially a religious context. In the script, the people's faith in Jesus' healing abilities is contrasted with their initial unbelief. The concept of faith is central to the message, as it is portrayed as a necessary component for experiencing God's miracles and blessings.

💡Ministry

Ministry refers to the work of a religious professional or the service to others in the name of religion. The script details Jesus' ministry, including teaching, healing, and sending out his disciples. The concept of ministry is integral to understanding the script as it represents the mission and purpose of Jesus and his followers.

Highlights

Jesus' return to Nazareth where he faced skepticism and rejection from those who knew him as a carpenter and doubted his wisdom and miracles.

The limitation of Jesus' power to perform miracles in his hometown due to their lack of faith.

Jesus sending out the twelve disciples two by two to preach, heal, and cast out demons as an extension of his ministry.

The disciples being sent with austerity, relying on the hospitality and generosity of those they visited.

The granting of authority to the disciples to perform exorcisms and healings, marking a significant moment in the early church's ministry.

Herod's superstitious reaction to Jesus' ministry, mistakenly believing Jesus to be John the Baptist resurrected.

The tragic execution of John the Baptist as a result of Herod's guilt and manipulation by Herodias.

Jesus' compassion for the large crowd that followed him, likening them to sheep without a shepherd, and choosing to teach them.

The miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish, demonstrating Jesus' divine provision.

Jesus' instruction to his disciples to gather the leftover fragments after feeding the multitudes as a lesson in efficiency and God's abundance.

The disciples' lack of understanding about the supernatural nature of the loaves and fishes miracle.

Jesus' withdrawal to a solitary place to pray, highlighting his practice of seeking divine guidance amidst growing challenges.

The calming of the storm and Jesus' demonstration of divine power by walking on water to reach his distressed disciples.

The people of Gennesaret recognizing Jesus and bringing their sick to him for healing, showing the spread of his reputation.

The contrast between the faithless response in Nazareth and the faith-filled response in Gennesaret due to familiarity with Jesus' works.

The spiritual lesson on God's mathematics of giving - that by giving away, one gains, and by trying to keep, one loses.

Jesus' ministry being a mix of planned and spontaneous acts, showing his adaptability and responsiveness to human needs.

The prayer for open minds to truly understand Jesus, to follow him, and to minister in his name without misunderstandings.

Transcripts

Mark's gospel chapter 6.

he went away from there and came to his

own country and his disciples followed

him and on the Sabbath he began to teach

in the synagogue and many who held him

were astonished saying where did this

man get all this

what is the wisdom given to him what

Mighty works are wrote by his hands is

not this the carpenter the son of Mary

and the brother of James and Joseph and

Judas and Simon and are not his sisters

here with us

and they took offense at him and Jesus

said to them a prophet is not without

honor except in his own country and

among his own kin and in his own house

and he could do no Mighty work there

except that he laid his hands upon a few

sick people and healed them

and he marveled because of their

unbelief

and he went about among the villagers

teaching and he called to him the twelve

began to send them out two by two and

gave them authority over the unclean

spirits

charge them to take nothing for their

Journey except as staff no bread no bag

no money in their belts but to wear

sandals are not put on two tunics

and he said to them where you enter a

house stay there until you leave the

place

and if any place will not receive you

and they refuse to hear you when you

leave shake off the dust that is on your

feet for a testimony against them

so they went out and preached that men

should repent and they cast out many

demons and Anointed with oil many that

were sick and healed them

King Herod heard of it for Jesus name

had had come known

some said John the baptizer has been

raised from the dead that is why these

powers are at work in him but others

said it is Elijah and others said it is

a prophet like one of the prophets of

old but when Herod heard of it he said

John whom I beheaded has been raised

for Herod had sent and seized John and

bound him in prison for the sake of

herodias his brother Philip's wife

because he had married her for John said

to Herod it is not lawful for you to

have your brother's wife

and herodis had a grudge against him and

wanted to kill him but she could not for

Herod feared John knowing that he was a

righteous and holy man and kept him safe

when he heard him he was much perplexed

and yet he had him gladly

but an opportunity came when Herod on

his birthday gave a banquet to his

courtiers and officers and the Leading

Men of Galilee

for when herodia's daughter came in and

danced she pleased Herod and his guests

and the King said to the girl ask me for

whatever you wish and I will grant it

and he vowed to hear whatever you ask me

I will give you

even half of my kingdom and she went out

and said to her mother what shall I ask

and she said the head of John the

baptizer

and she came in immediately with haste

to the king and ass saying I want you to

give me at once the head of John the

baptizer on a platter

and the King was exceedingly sorry

but because of his Oaths and his guests

he did not want to break his word to her

and immediately the king sent a soldier

of the guard and gave orders to bring

his head

he went and beheaded him in the prison

and brought his head on a platter and

gave it to the girl

the girl gave it to her mother

when his disciples had it they came and

took his body and laid it in a tomb

the apostles returned to Jesus and told

him all that they had done and taught

and he said to them come away by

yourselves to a lonely place and rest a

while

for many were coming and going and they

had no leisure even to eat they went

away in the boat to a lonely place by

themselves now many saw them going and

knew them and they ran there on foot

from all the towns and got there ahead

of them as he landed he saw a great

throng and he had compassion on them

because they were like sheep without a

shepherd

and he began to teach them many things

and when it grew late his disciples came

to him and said this is a lonely place

and the hour is now late send them away

to go into the country in villages round

about and buy themselves something to

eat but he answered them you give them

something to eat

and they said to him shall we go and buy

200 Denari worth of bread and give it to

them to eat

and he said to them how many loaves have

you go and see

and when they had found out they said

five and two fish

then he commanded them all to sit down

by companies upon the green grass so

they sat down in groups by hundreds and

fifties

and taking the Five Loaves and the two

fish he looked up to heaven and blessed

and broke the Loaves and gave them to

the disciples to set before the people

and he divided the two fish among them

all and they all ate and were satisfied

and they took up 12 baskets full of

broken pieces and of the fish

and those who ate the loaves were 5 000

men

immediately he made his disciples get

into the boat and go before him to the

other side to bethsaida while he

dismissed the crowd

and after he had taken leave of them he

went into the hills to pray

and when evening came the boat was out

on the sea and he was alone on the land

and he saw that they were distressed in

rowing for the wind was against them and

about the Fourth Watch of the night he

came to them walking on the sea

he meant to pass by them but when they

saw him walking on the sea they thought

it was a ghost and cried out for they

all saw him and were terrified

but immediately he spoke to them and

said take heart it is I have no fear

and he got into the boat with them and

the wind ceased and they were utterly

astounded for they did not understand

about their loaves about the loaves but

their hearts were hardened and when they

had crossed over they came to land at

ganeserate and moved to the shore when

they got out of the boat immediately the

people recognized him and ran about the

whole neighborhood and began to bring

sick people on their pallets to any

place where they had he was and wherever

he came in villages cities or country

they laid the sick in the marketplaces

and besought him that they might touch

even The Fringe of His Garment and as

many as touched it

were made well

now I'm sure you'd like to hear Mr

Bamford sing to us again

you know

when I saw this

[Music]

cross

on which the

prince of Glory

died

my richest

[Music]

and poor content on

All My Pride

foreign

[Music]

death of Christ my God

[Music]

I

sacrifice them

to his

[Music]

heart

[Music]

his hands his feet

down

[Music]

did

such a love

and the sorrow

[Music]

your forms compose

[Music]

my soul

my life

I am

[Music]

when we get to about chapter 6 in Mark's

gospel you need an atlas in one hand and

your Bible in another

because our Lord is constantly on the

Move now he's traveling all the time

moving from this side of the Sea of

Galilee to another side and back again

moving out of Galilee altogether

and this is not aimless wondering when

you see the atlas you realize why he

kept on the move

because Palestine in those days was

divided up into little kingdoms little

territories the Romans controlled this

bit

Herod controlled this bit Philip

controlled that bit the Greeks

controlled the other bit and on the Sea

of Galilee there were in fact three

sections of shore belonging to different

rulers

and therefore whenever he crossed over

to the other side it was to get out of

one territory into the other

it was for purposes of security he was

playing for time he needed more time

with his disciples to teach them many

things and so he kept moving out of

various territories and so as soon as he

came to the attention of a ruler who

would do him harm before his time he

simply got in a boat crossed over to the

other side sometimes it was for purposes

of leisure to escape from the crowd but

he never went anywhere without a reason

now I suppose if there were a

competition for the most misunderstood

men

Jesus would win that competition

and as I read the central chapters of

Mark it strikes me that nobody really

understood him

and therefore he was terribly lonely

must have been

sometimes you feel lonely because you

feel nobody understands you

but bear in mind that Jesus was more

misunderstood than anyone else that of

course is why he died on a cross because

he was so misunderstood

now there are six incidents here and in

most of them we see misunderstanding

in most of them people take up an

attitude towards him that is wrong even

when he is popular

and we'll study these attitudes as we go

through the six incidents

one of the things that you have to

unlearn in life is the picture of Jesus

you may have picked up in Sunday School

I certainly had it as a boy and I

presume that's where I may have got it

because you cannot tell little children

the whole truth about Jesus

but I got a picture of Jesus as somebody

tremendously popular

somebody liked by everybody somebody

terribly nice

and everybody as soon as they met him

regarded him as nice and so wherever he

went people would just come to him and

they'd make friends with him straight

away I'm afraid this is far from the

truth

there came a day only three years after

he began his ministry when he said the

world hated me

and we see something of these different

attitudes coming out in this chapter six

take the first incident I suppose the

most severe critics of any men are those

who've known him as a boy

those who've mixed with him in ordinary

life

and one day he came back to Nazareth

that required courage he'd been there

once before and they tried to murder him

when he did

it says something for the compassion of

Jesus that even though they tried to

murder him on his first visit he wanted

to come back and give them another

chance and so he came

and he came back to the people who'd

known him since he was that high

people had known him as a little boy

with no shoes running around the streets

climbing the hills around the town

people who'd taken him that furniture to

be repaired and ordered doors and window

frames from him they knew him and he

came back now

as the most famous man in the nation

and they took offense at him they were

resentful

in their case the old proverb came true

familiarity breeds contempt

this is one of the most awful things

that can happen to someone

to become so familiar with things of God

that you don't see them anymore

sometimes I wish

that some of us had a period outside

Church

to come back into it hungry and fresh

when you've gone to church every Sunday

twice Sunday and Sunday out you can

become familiar with holy things

and not see that God is near

some young people maybe have been

brought up since they were so high

within Sunday school and church and

they're so familiar with it all that

they don't see anything other than the

Butcher and the Baker and the

Candlestick maker and their wives and

children sitting is not this the

carpenter this familiarity with people

and yet God can be in them and God can

be using them and we miss it because

we're just too familiar

and familiarity bred contempt they could

not accept the words of his mouth or the

works of his hands

those hands should have stuck to hammer

and chisel

they almost resented him getting in

their eyes too big for his boots

and what they were saying is he's only a

working man who does he think he is now

he only makes tables and chairs who does

he think he is

coming back like this with a great

following and with this reputation he's

just got a bit too big for his boots

and Jesus said there's only one place a

prophet is not honored and that's right

there where he belongs

that must have hurt a bit

but the thing that strikes me most is

their faithlessness and the limit this

imposed upon his power

it doesn't say he did know Mighty work

there it says he could do no Mighty work

there there was a blockage

he could not pour out his power in that

place and so no doubt they said to each

other after it gone while all this fuss

about him we didn't see anything

I don't know what the where the others

have got these big ideas about this

Carpenter from because he did nothing in

our church in our synagogue

don't we realize that if God is not

acting in our place of worship

it's not his fault

could it be written over our churches he

could there do no Mighty work because

they didn't expect it

they didn't believe it could happen

let me challenge my own heart and yours

we think of some difficult person we'd

love to see them a Christian we prayed

for them and then we gave it up because

they didn't seem to get any nearer we

just couldn't imagine them a Christian

just couldn't imagine it what you a

Christian

can't imagine it and he could do no

Mighty work because of their unbelief

their faithlessness was the real

blockage and their familiarity led to it

they'd become so familiar with him that

they didn't expect it of him

and you can become so familiar with

church with the Bible that you just

don't expect things to happen anymore

and they don't

the tragedy to me is what they missed

what they lost

only a few sick people only a few sick

people there could say he healed me and

he blessed me and he helped me and it

was very wonderful it's all right

there's just a girl been uh taking faint

at the back would you like to help her

out

all right

fine only a few sick people could say

this and the rest they said nothing

happened nothing happened in our church

when Jesus came

now let's turn to the second incident in

chapter six here it says he left

Nazareth and he began to move around the

villagers teaching

and he called to him the twelve and

began to send them out two by two our

Lord was wanting to multiply his

ministry to go to places he couldn't

reach by himself to reach people that

were Beyond him and so he decided to

send others to do the same work and this

was the beginning of the ministry of the

church

I want to point out one of two things

about this ministry and the first is

this

the way you learn to do the things of

Christ is to do them

the way I learned to swim was the hard

way I remember standing on the edge of

the swimming pool at school

and there we were trembling with the

water before us and the PE instructor

came along behind and did this I

understand it's not the best method now

and that they don't use it now but

that's how I learned to swim

pushed in at the deep end quite

literally and you somehow managed to

reach the side it is the hard way

but you learn things by doing them and

Jesus knew that the disciples would only

learn to preach by preaching

they would only learn to deal with

Demons by dealing with demons and so he

sent them out to do it

one of the difficulties we have as

Christians is that we want to have a

training course before we do everything

and if you announce a training course on

evangelism houst house visitation people

will come but you know the best way to

learn house to house visitation

go down your road and knock on the doors

that's the way to learn

it's by far the best school it's the

school of experience whose colors are

black and blue but it's still the best

way to learn

and Jesus Took these 12 and he said now

you must multiply my Ministry I want you

to go out and do what I'm doing

I want you to preach I want you to heal

I want you to cast out demons and he

sent them out with two things first of

all he sent them out in austerity

I remember Dr Billy Graham telling some

of us that the most embarrassing and

challenging thing ever said to him was

this when he was going to India he met a

group of Indian Christians before he got

there and he asked their advice he'd

never been to India before and he said

to them all now you tell me how I should

behave when I come to India tell me

these things so I don't offend people

and put my foot in it and one dear old

Indian looked at him and said Dr Graham

I hope you won't mind my saying this

but every Indian expects to see the

signs of austerity in a holy men

and Dr Graham said that was the most

challenging thing that had ever been

said to him

Jesus sent these men out and he said

don't take even a change of clothes

don't take any money

don't take a bag

don't take any food

just go out as you are travel light

travel quickly but get out into those

Villages you will have to depend on

being received to live

you'll have to depend on their

Hospitality I send you out with

austerity

now that would mean a number of things

of course but above all it would mean

that they would be utterly dependent on

the success of their mission to go on

with it

that was a very sharp Challenge and out

they went the other thing he gave them

was Authority austerity and Authority

were the two marks of a missionary sent

by Jesus and he gave them authority to

cast out demons and to heal the sick now

I want you to imagine two of them going

down the road James and John they're

just hoping they won't meet anybody

possessed or ill

and they're creeping down the road into

this strange Village and

the thinking how do we begin

they've never done it before they've

seen Jesus do it but that was Jesus

they've never done it before

and so they come to a village and there

suddenly shrieking at them as a

demon-possessed men and James and John

think well we could just go down this

street and we could start preaching down

there and James says will you try this

one and I'll do the next and John says

well no I'm not sure how to do it can

you imagine their hesitations they must

have been terribly frightened terribly

timid and then one of them would say in

the name of Jesus

and it would be done

can you imagine now the excitement with

which they Rush onto the next man can

you imagine the eagerness with which

they go on now it has worked and it says

they came back after that mission just

thrilled and saying it works it works

even the demons are subject to us in

your name

I have known this again and again people

have gone out timid frightened to speak

in uncongenial circumstances and they've

come back and they've said it works it

works

I'll never forget when I was 18 years of

age

a converted bookmaker took me out one

night at about half past nine and he

just put me in the middle of a pub

parlor and said speak to them

speak to them

in canak Chase in Staffordshire

and that's how I began speaking

and it's the only way to learn and Maya

are you timid and Afraid when you start

but you come back rejoicing

I'll never forget that night because in

that Pub I met a boy who had run away

from a bostal Institution

a lad whose life was all mixed up

and at midnight that night we finished

up kneeling together in a little church

in Staffordshire and he came to Christ

and he went home and he told his parents

that night he went in at about 1 30 in

the morning and they were asleep but he

burst into their bedroom and he woke

them up

and he told them and

his parents got out of the bed and knelt

by the bed and thanked God for it

that's how it began just thrown out

and that's the only way to begin to go

out but you notice they went out two by

two two by two it's great to have at

least one person with you that you can

see you've got the Lord that you can't

see but to have another that you can is

a great help and so they went out two by

two there's something quite profound in

that we're not meant to be

individualists

Were Meant to work together as a team

were meant to go out in little parties

in little groups and Were Meant to work

together and help each other

so this was the second thing

he sent out his Partners his colleagues

his substitutes as it were to be

representatives for him

now the news of this Mission began to

spread

ripples of the news spread out far and

wide Not only was one man preaching and

healing and casting out demons 12 were

13 where including Jesus incidentally

Judas was you need to remember that they

were all out missioning and the Ripple

spread south to a castle high on a rock

overlooking the Dead Sea

and they're living in that castle of

most Barren Dreadful place a place that

was never taken

high on the Rocks the barren rocks

looking down on that Dreadful dead scene

below was a castle called macarus

and living in that castle was a dreadful

men

a puppet King of the Romans and Herod

who lived there controlled the strip of

land up the Jordan and the whole of

Galilee and Herod heard that a man and

12 men were beginning to turn his

kingdom upside down and were beginning

to have crowds go after them and Herod

was worried

not because of the military threat but

because Herod had a guilty conscience

and well he might have had

if you read the history of the Herod

family you read a history of incest and

murder the like of which you'll never

read again it is almost impossible to

drop the family tree

because Herod for example married his

niece and his sister-in-law

herodias

Salome was married to her uncle and

Grand uncle

and through murder and incest this

family became one of the most notorious

families of all time

they finished with the last Herod being

eaten up by worms a fact mentioned in

the New Testament now this man when he

heard of this he was frightened

and he came to a most incredible and

superstitious idea he said that must be

the man whose head we chopped off a

month or two ago

now he must have been in a pretty bad

state to think that this was the man

whose head he'd seen on a plate in his

own dining room

and yet he came to this superstitious

idea

I must now remind you of the terrible

story of John's end

those who think that to become a man of

God is to make life easy and comfortable

should read the story of John

the greatest man who ever lived said

Jesus

the greatest man

this man didn't keep his mouth shut and

lost his head

for doing so

I've been told sometimes by people who

mean well

and who perhaps may be right in their

criticism as I have done it but I have

been told by people who keep to the

positive don't ever attack anyone or

anyone else in the Pulpit don't ever

attack

just you preach the positive side

well that's a much safer way but

sometimes we are called upon to attack

what is wrong

as well as to Proclaim what is right

whatever it may cost and John was a

preacher like that he didn't just preach

the Kingdom of Heaven and the glories of

the coming time repent and believe he

attacked and he said there's a man

governing this country in which I

baptize a man who is illegally married

and who is outraging public decency

and he said this publicly

and he made an enemy The Day He said

that not the man himself but his wife

Hell hath no Terror like a woman's

burned said Shakespeare and herodius

didn't like it one bit wherever she went

now people pointed at her and said

living in sin wherever she went people

looked at her as at a dirty woman and

she didn't like it one bit and she hated

this preacher and she said we'll kill

this preacher

now she at least managed to persuade her

husband to put him in the dungeon and

you can still see to this day The

Dungeons and the iron uh Loops in the

wall to which John the Baptist would

have been tied it's still there that

terrible place

but you know even though he's he was

stopped in his preaching down in the

dungeon every time they had a feast up

above herodious thought on the man below

when you've got a guilty conscience you

can't forget things

and every time she tried to be gay

upstairs down below her conscience in

the dungeons speaking

and she hated it

and there came a day

when Herod had all his Pals in for

entertainment

and he had one of his own relatives do

what only a woman of the streets would

do normally

and she danced in an erotic and obscene

way

and Herod must have been drunk

because he said my that was a dance I'll

give you anything

even my Throne as Queen

that's what the phrase half the kingdom

means

when an Eastern potentate said I will

offer you half my kingdom when he said

it to a woman he meant I will make you

my queen and herodia sitting there

he was saying I'll get rid of hair and

you can be the queen in her place ma

that was a dance I'd love to have a

queen who could dance like that for me

and this man said this and he said I'll

give you anything and she went and she

had a consultation with her mother can

you imagine the hatred a woman can have

to say I'd rather have a man's head

than anything else that's what I would

ask for what an evil woman

it shows her scale of values

and over the rest of the scene one just

wants to draw a veil

the head carried in the greatest man

who's ever lived a man of God a preacher

who had fearlessly preached the word of

God for years

a man who'd lived in the desert a man

had a hard life that was how he ended a

woman's malice

now Herod you see

had this strange mixture he liked to

hear the preacher

and yet he didn't like it

he was typical of so many men

they enjoy A good sermon and yet don't

like it if it gets near the bone this

was Herod he was a man of superstition

why because he was a man of sensuality

and the two invariably go together

once you have given yourself to

Sensations you lose your sins

once you've begun to live a life like

this you can't think straight and he was

a man he enjoyed John's preaching and

yet he didn't enjoy it but he kept him

in the dungeon and had him up every now

and again to preach and then put him

away again as a man who listens to a

preacher and has his conscience stood on

Sunday night but puts it away again in

the dungeon till next Sunday night Herod

was so like many others

Herod was the man who misunderstood

and John the Baptist was killed

because Herod had to save his face

do you know what Jesus thought of Herod

we know what Herod thought of Jesus

Herod thought Jesus was this man with

his head back on

an incredible idea but he thought that

do you know what Jesus thought of Herod

Herod said that Jesus said of Herod that

fox

that fox

this isn't gentle Jesus making mind that

Herod Now we move on to the next

thing Jesus moves out of herod's

territory he crosses the sea

he's hoping to get a bit of peace and

quiet

but sometimes a boat has to tack across

that sea against a country wind and the

crowd saw him going and they saw the

direction of the boat and they ran round

it would take them perhaps or five or

six miles

walking but they got there before the

boat and hear Jesus seeking rest and

quiet is faced with a crowd

now any ordinary man would have said

it's my day off any ordinary man would

have said look I've been preaching I've

been working I've been with you I must

have some rest but Jesus no

Jesus saw them and he said you know it's

just like a flock of sheep look at him

now what do sheep need from a Shepherd

we know in the Middle East that the main

need they have is for food

the chief need of a Shepherd or a pastor

is to get food to feed on

that's the first need and so he didn't

feed them he taught them

his compassion was for their minds that

needed food and so he taught them

now there comes this great miracle the

miracle of multiplying the Loaves and

the fishes now I'm not going to look at

the miracle

it was a miracle it was a creative act

but I want to look at the consideration

Jesus showed

consideration number one he said to his

disciples we ought to meet their need we

ought not to pass them on to somebody

else that shows tremendous consideration

now notice his carefulness he said the

first thing to do is to find out what

we've got

I've got a little visual aid here it's a

tin of sardines which some of you have

seen before one of these days I'll eat

them there it is

sardines From Galilee

because from Capernaum in those days

this was a real tasty export sardines

they didn't put them in tins then but

they salted them and assaulted sardine

was a tasty little morsel

and they had two sardines that's all

the length of that tin

and they had Five Loaves and they were

not loaves as we understand them two

pound or one pound they were just little

rolls quite thin and flat about the size

of a pancake maybe just quite small

five rows two little fish

by the way on that um box there's a

picture of a mosaic from tabga on the

shores of Galilee a church is built

there now and in the floor they've

discovered a very old Mosaic dating back

many many centuries of the Loaves and

Fishes

that's all it was

the disciples said it's not even worth

sharing that

and Jesus said there's enough

you give them to eat notice that he

began to organize it properly our Lord

was not foolish even though he had

infinite resources he organized them

into groups

into groups of a hundred into groups of

50 into groups all over the Green Grass

and then he said now we'll do it

properly and then began something that

only Can Be Imagined he took one of the

fish in his hands and he broke it and

there's seemed twice as much so I gave a

bit to a disciple and he broke it again

it went on breaking

and as he went on breaking more came

now only God could do that only God can

create something out of nothing men

can't do it

then he took the little bread and he

broke it and gave some and went on

breaking

and the disciples held out their hands

and then their arms and filled it up and

they walked to these organized clumps of

hundreds and fifties all of the green

grass the scene is is devastating

and then not only did he assess the

resources they had and used them not

only did he organize carefully so that

it was well managed

but thirdly he said now gather up what's

left over now here is a lovely little

dig at the disciples

what could they gather it up in

their own food baskets

now there's a very subtle touch here

each of the disciples carried a basket

and carried food in it when they went on

a journey or when they went on the boat

and he said use your baskets it was a

subtle way of saying your baskets are

empty aren't they

you've been behind a rock somewhere well

I've been preaching having your food

that's what had been happening

and when he said you give them something

to eat they did not dare say we've had

it

and they just had 12 empty baskets it's

a lovely touch

Jesus said to this crowd have you any

consideration for them you're willing to

share your food with them and they

didn't dare say they hadn't got any left

they simply said eight months wages

wouldn't buy enough for this lot so

there's no point in in even beginning

but their baskets were empty and after

the whole crowd is fed Jesus said now

gather up the fragments that remain and

they finished up with 12 full baskets

their own

have you not discovered that to be

utterly true that even though you feel

the little you could do would not help

anybody when you did it and helped

someone you found yourself with more

blessing left over yourself of course

you did God's mathematics are not ours

they're not the mathematics my

daughter's learned at school

God's mathematics are what you give away

you gain

what you try to keep you lose God's

mathematics

two fishes Five Loaves God's mathematics

says give them away

and you'll have enough to eat yourself

what have you got that you could share

with somebody else is it so little that

you often say well I'm not going to

share it it's too little then share it

and see what happens to it

so our Lord's consideration comes

through as well as his compassion there

is no excuse even though we have a god

with infinite resources there is no

excuse for not being considerate

for assessing your resources properly

for organizing properly the distribution

and for being careful so that none is

wasted and even though Our God has

cattle on a thousand hills even though

Our God has infinite resources the

church must always be very business-like

and efficient in its use of God's

resources

but the disciples still did not

understand one thing about the loaves

what did they not understand they didn't

understand that the only hands that

could go on doing that

must be God's hands

they didn't understand that this was

something Supernatural they thought it's

something wonderful but they didn't see

it was something Supernatural their

hearts were hard

and I suppose that Justice said do that

again

this is our instinctive reaction to

something marvelous do it again let's

see if they're summing up your sleeve do

it again let's see you do that

instead of thinking about it and saying

how did he do that

who did that

and so they missed the next opportunity

they had to see the truth now the next

attitude we come across is their

hardness Jesus now does insist on rest

and quiet sends the disciples away on

their own and now he goes up into the

hills to pray why does he pray because

problems are piling in thick and fast

he's too popular with the crowds they

want to make him King

he has made already some serious

religious enemies

he knows now that Herod is disturbed

about him and that probably spells his

death

and so he goes up into the hills to pray

I want you to imagine the scene here is

a little boat that the disciples set off

in

and it's set off about five o'clock at

night

and at three in the morning it was still

stuck in the middle of the lake

so severe was the wind and they were

rowing Jolly hard and Jesus up in the

hills saw them

and he thought that they would be

encouraged if they saw that he was still

around and so he walked down the hill

and walked straight out on the water

that should not surprise us

it shouldn't have surprised them

somebody who can take Loaves and Fishes

and multiply them can surely walk on

water

somebody who has Supernatural power can

do anything they shouldn't have been in

the slightest surprise we should not be

just surprised at anything that happens

anything that God does but we are

and when we get an answer to prayer we

talk to each other in shocked surprise

do you know that prayer we pray less

Saturday or last Thursday it's been

answered

the very way we say it shows that we

were surprised why should we be

surprised when anything Supernatural

happens and so Jesus walked by them on

the water he just wanted to let them see

him

and then he realized they were scared

stiff

that they were frightened

and so he had to go to them

and the same thing that we discussed

this morning happened again and as soon

as Jesus got in with them somehow it was

all right it was all come

I could spiritualize that a bit but I

must leave it there I just know from my

own experience but sometimes when you're

very frightened sometimes when you're

pulling Jolly hard and getting nowhere

just to get Jesus near

just to have him aboard is to bring

peace and come I could see a picture of

the church in those disciples rowing

Jolly hard and not making any progress

because Jesus was not on board

that's why

and it may be we could learn something

from that so he came to the other Shore

again and we come to the last reaction

why so many sick people because Tiberius

was a health spa and people came to it

from all over to take the waters

and now we find the opposite of the

beginning in Nazareth familiarity

produced faithlessness

but here familiarity produces Faith why

because they have seen him not mending

chairs but mending bodies

and they recognized him

and so they said come on get the sick

bring them he's back again bring them

and perhaps they brought the sick on the

very beds that he had made

as he moved around the Villages

but the Jesus who made beds makes bodies

one day he's going to make a whole new

universe and without him the stars were

not made without him nothing was made

that was made and those hands that could

multiply Loaves and Fishes could also

heal and make a new

but I want you to notice

that they still just wanted health

the tragedy is that the demand was for

what they could get from him nobody came

and said what could we give to him

nobody came and said let's let's follow

him let's let's help him with his

mission they all came and they said we

even get health from him

and so they misunderstood him

they thought he just came to heal but he

didn't he came to forgive and he came to

bring men to God

to sum up this chapter which is only as

it were a kaleidoscope a glimpse of the

many things that he did I am struck with

this

that the ministry of Jesus was a mixture

of what he planned and what he didn't

plan

things he deliberately decided to do and

things that arose quite spontaneously

and I pray that my life and yours may

have this same pattern about it that

there may be some things we plan to do

for others in the name of Jesus but that

there may be many occasions when an

opportunity arises that we didn't plan

we meet somebody whom we didn't expect

to meet we find ourselves in a situation

that we didn't expect to be in and that

there we can be this same calm helpful

Jesus

that he can be in us meeting their need

that we can go out maybe two by two men

and wife working together for the Lord

Friend and Friend working together

but going out and being open to the

needs of men

we're just seeing now the end of our

Lord's Galilean Ministry

it has now ended

maybe just two years two years and a bit

and it's over

very soon he will leave Galilee

very soon he will have gone

he will have gone because he didn't come

just to be a Healer he came to be a

savior

and as we come nearer and nearer to

Easter the thunder clouds gather the

darkness thickens the hostility grows

and Jesus becomes the most unpopular man

in history

the man about whom they're going to say

crucify him away with him

out of this world how did it all happen

well we shall see as we study Mark's

gospel let us pray

I have no father we realize that our

attitude to Jesus May well be

a misunderstanding

there is so much that we need to know so

much that we need to learn and we thank

you for this opportunity of looking

afresh at stories we've heard for many

years and we ask for an open mind that

can see Jesus as he really is

help us never to be hostile help us not

to be resentful or suspicious help us

not to be on the defensive because we

have a guilty conscience help us not to

seek Him purely for physical blessings

or when we are at the end of our tether

but help us to follow him to learn from

him and then to go out and minister in

his name we ask it for his name's sake

amen