ONE MORE STORM AT SEA

MUSINGS- October 15, 2018

ONE MORE STORM AT SEA

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away. After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, "It's a ghost!" and they began to scream. All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he said, "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!" He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were astounded. (They didn't understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)

Once more Jesus send his disciples across the sea. If you'll recall, the last time he was with them, when the storm arose, and they were terrified. He called them cowards for their lack of faith. (Mark 4:35-41)

This time, after feeding and teaching the 5,000, here stayed behind to pray. The disciples were alone and battling the sea and the wind.

Here is the part I've overlooked every other time I've read this passage: from his view point on the mountain, Jesus could see that they were having trouble. That was in the evening. However, he waited until early morning to take his stroll through the waves. And then ... and then, "He wanted to pass by them."

It appears to me that, though he was watching over them, it was his intent that they continue to struggle under their own power ... or use the power here had given them. The author said that they still did not understand, that their minds were closed.

How many storms in our lives do we have to go through before our minds are opened and we understand what Jesus had been teaching us?

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2018 October 14 Sunday

2018 October 14 Sunday in Liberty Hill and Cedar Park, Texas

63° that reached 86 under make sunny skies.

It was a usual Sunday morning with breakfast at church. We sang in the choir for the nine o'clock service. Pastor Saint did an excellent, thought provoking sermon on Mark 10:17-31. We also had a guest soloist on the harp. I'm sorry I don't remember her name. While she played the sanctuary was dead silent except for the harp. No children making noise, no one whispering, no rustling of papers, nor clearing of throats. Everyone was captivated by the beautiful music.

After church and Sunday school, we drove to Cedar Park for prescriptions and a few groceries.

It was a day of rest.

G’nite y’all!

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

HANGRY

MUSINGS - October 14, 2018

HANGRY

Mark 6:35-44
When it was late, his disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it's already late. Send the people to the closest farms and villages to buy themselves something to eat." Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend about a year's wages on bread to feed them?" He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread and two fish." Then he ordered all of them to sit down in groups on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the people. He also gave pieces of the two fish to everyone. All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets with bread and fish. There were 5,000 men who had eaten the bread.

Just a few verses back we read that Jesus and the disciples had no time to rest or to eat. I think they were becoming hangery. Recent commercials by Snickers have made great use of the ideas of being so hungry that you become angry. Maybe they needed a candy bar.

Here is the scene. The disciples, with stomachs growling, come to Jesus and say, "it's late and THE PEOPLE are tired and hungry. Send them away." The disciples didn't want to appear self centered before the Master. So instead of saying that THEY we hungry and tired, they appealed to his concern for THE PEOPLE. "Send them away."

Jesus turned the tables in them and said, "YOU feed them." This was the work for which Jesus was training them. "Feed my sheep," Jesus would later repeat to Peter three times. (John 21:15-18) Out of the thousands who followed him, Jesus hand picked twelve for special training. These were the ones who would continue his work once he was gone from the Earth. "You feed them."

"But we can't."

"What do you mean, 'you can't'? Have you tried? Have you looked? What do you have?"

How often have we come to Jesus and said, "We have nothing with which to help."

He whispers back, "Nothing? Have you looked? Have you tried? You bring what little you have and I will multiple it!"

Maybe all you have is a dollar, a smile, a shoulder to cry on, an arm to lean on, a word of encouragement, a few tools, a gallon of gas, or a loaf of bread. Whatever you have, give as if you are giving to Jesus. He can turn a little into more than enough. They can be twelve baskets left over.

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williamsu