Mark – Page 6 – Be Still…

Mark 6:7-13 – Sent!

Read Mark 6:7-13

I’m glad they were able to wear sandals! I’ve always tried to picture how it would feel to walk around barefoot in the hills of the Judean wilderness. Shoes were a luxury, considering there would be no change of clothes. But it was Jesus who called them. Jesus would not put them in harm’s way.

The disciples should be honored. Jesus thought they were ready. They might have questioned that themselves, but Jesus’ matter-of-fact declaration was sending them out to continue the work they’d all been doing together under Jesus’ leadership. Now they would have to fend for themselves and seek guidance directly from the Father. Jesus would be elsewhere, cheering them on from afar.

Mark 6:1-6 – Not Welcome

Read Mark 6:1-6

Have you ever felt unwelcome because of your faith? Have you ever kept your faith a “secret” for fear of being excluded from a group? I’m not suggesting this is what this passage is talking about all at, but it helps get into the right frame of mind to feel the rejection.

For Jesus, that rejection was from people who knew him, had watched him grow up, and who he had learned from. Jesus returned to his hometown, Nazareth. Some might expect Jesus would have been welcomed as the “hometown hero.” We see that kind of attitude today for athletes, entertainers, and other people who have become “famous.” Their birthplaces are often recognized as “places of interest.”

Mark 5:35-43 – Trust Jesus

Read Mark 5:35-43

I love a happy ending, don’t you? We first met Jairus, the girl’s father, in our last reading. Do you think he felt pushed aside or marginalized when Jesus got sidetracked with the woman who had touched his garment? Our passage starts with news of the passing of Jairus’ daughter. Jairus’ emotions had to be all over the place.

Thankfully, Jesus overheard the news. We’re not told how Jairus was responding to the message, but Jesus’ words had to have been a bit confusing. Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Do you think Jairus even heard Jesus? I can just imagine a father’s wailing cry after hearing his precious daughter had died.

Mark 5:21-34 – Faith Healing

Read Mark 5:21-34

What surprised you in today’s reading? Was it that a religious leader who publicly recognized Jesus’ healing power or was it how a woman was healed by simply touching Jesus’ garment? Jesus’ ministry is packed with amazing moments of seeing God at work among his people.

Let’s focus on the woman who has been afflicted for twelve years. Could she even remember what it was like to not be bleeding? Can you remember what you were doing twelve years ago? Take a moment to do the math. While you certainly won’t remember what you had for dinner twelve years ago tonight, try to place yourself in that moment of your history. I was leading Vacation Bible School in a church where my husband was serving. Many of the kids attending that year are grown up with children of their own!

Mark 4:30-34 – Mustard Anyone?

Read Mark 4:30-34

Jesus continues to use seeds to describe the kingdom of God. This is the third time he uses seeds in his analogies. That tells me that seeds would be something understood universally by many people. For me, when I first read the parable of the mustard seed, I had no idea how tiny those seeds were. It wasn’t until I was doing a children’s sermon years ago that I actually saw a mustard seed up close. You might just need a magnifying glass!

How fitting that Jesus would give the mustard seed such attention! Jesus was a master at making hard topics understandable. We can all picture something huge growing out of something small. Jesus says that’s what the kingdom of heaven is like.