Mark 6:32-44 God's Faithfulness & Jesus' Compassion - Five Thousand Fed

The people saw them going and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; ^send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages 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 spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” And He *said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, ^and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

This miracle of Jesus is reminiscent of the Father feeding the Israelites with manna from heaven at the time of the Exodus. This story starts with Jesus’ compassion on a people who were like sheep without a shepherd. Second, Jesus commands his disciples to feed the people. Then Jesus gives the Father thanks for the provisions. Finally, everyone had their full and there were left-overs. The lesson learned is that God is faithful, over small things and big needs as well.

Daily Prayer: Father, I thank you for your faithfulness in my life. You cause the sun to shine every morning and rain to fall on everyone. You not only give us those things that we need, but you desire to give us the desire of our heart if only we will love you. Open up heaven and shower your blessing on us today. In Jesus name I pray Ame

Mark 6:7-13 The Authority Of The Disciples - The Protection Of The Master

And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” They went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

When we studied Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus commanded them to “go out” and proclaim the gospel and promised them that He will be with them always. These verses echo that command to the twelve disciples and Jesus’ promise to “be with them.” Another name for our Savior is the Prince of Peace. The peace that Jesus gives or withholds cannot be copied by the world. Whosoever does any wrong to these, His disciples, has also done it to Jesus. For this reason, those who listen to His words, as given to his followers, Jesus will reward with His peace. But if anyone brings opposition to these, His representatives, will surely have to deal with the Master Himself.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, as You know, I am constantly praying for the peace that only You can give. The world is hungry for this same peace. Some have found it and have been content. Others seek it. Let Your peace be found by the world by coming to You through Your representatives. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Mark 6:1-6 A Prophet Is Not Honored In His Own Hometown

Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief.

Sometimes people feel the need to pick-up and start over. You may have felt that way sometimes. In the case of Jesus, though, it wasn’t because He needed to start over, but because He felt that He was judged by his own relatives in a way that identified him with his earthly father, Joseph, instead of His Father God Almighty. When compared to the former, he could never be more than the son of a carpenter. When compared to the latter, He could be no less than the Son of God. But this was a symptom of their lack of belief. Jesus could go to other towns and be received as a Messiah, or at least a prophet. But among his relatives, he was not received as the one sent by God, not realizing that when they rejected him, they were likewise rejecting the One who sent Him.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes we say with our lips that we believe, but when we feel life’s troubles pressing in on us, we often times try to fix it ourselves instead of seeking You as our Good Shepherd, Strengthen our faith in You and lessen it in ourselves. This is for Your honor and our own good. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Mark 5:35-42 We Must Come To Jesus By Faith

While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded.

True Faith is belief in the ability of the object of your faith. In this instance, Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the object of one’s faith and it is possible because nothing is too hard for God. Even if we find ourselves lacking in faith, we must come to Jesus and ask Him to grant us the faith we are lacking so that we may place our trust and belief in Him..

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to you not on my merit, but Your merit on the cross and Your goodness. Grant me this day an abiding faith in You for all my needs. I pray this in Your Holy Name Amen.

Mark 5:25-34 Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace

There was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you, and you say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

In Jesus’ day, his miracles were a sign that whoever can do the surreal, is from God. When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, he did not withdraw His earthly power. In this and others, Jesus makes someone whole. Why? She came to Him in an act of faith. But we did say that Jesus made them whole, not only was an agent of a healing miracle. Jesus goes on to address her as daughter.

How long do you think it has been since this suffering woman was called that? She had received, as a loving father, the gentle touch that heals.

Daily Prayer: Father, Your touch is tender and renders wellness to those who come to You. Some may say, but I still suffer. This is because they lack the faith to be made well. Father, give us the faith that we lack so that we may freely come to You with our despair, knowing that You will make us whole. In Jesus name I pray Amen