Mark 8:1-10 Jesus Feeds The Four Thousand

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 “And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Devotional
This passage is paralleled in Matt. 15:32-39 and occurs chronologically after Jesus fed the five thousand near the eastern hilly shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. Now this occurs in Decapolis in the land of the Gentiles. For Jesus’ having healed a man there who was brought to Him now has a huge multitude begin to follow Him and these all continue with Him three days and so they having nothing to eat the Lord has compassion on them.

Though Jesus previously miraculously fed a great multitude of five thousand this occurrence has some distinctions in contrast to the previous occurrence. In the feeding of the five thousand the Jewish Passover was at hand and thus Jesus intentionally uses that incident to reveal that He is the embodiment of it, first to be broken as the bread is broken and distributed freely amongst them, then to have His blood shed as a sacrifice for the sins of world, thus through that incident Jesus manifests Himself as God’s Manna sent from heaven to feed people Spiritually to give them Spiritual life. “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 Therefore it was the Spiritually realities that underlie that miraculous act that Jesus was clearly emphasizing and portraying to them, testing both His disciples and them so that their hearts and the depth of their faith might be revealed to them (Read John 6:26-69).
As well this time the disciples do not ask Jesus to send the multitude away to buy bread for themselves as they did before when He presented them with the situation, after just one day, since Jesus again initiates, but this time He says to the disciples: 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 “And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” Vs. 2-3
Jesus then is again demonstrating a heartfelt concern for those who seek to follow Him. What is different is there are no towns or villages nearby as in the feeding of the five thousand which took place near Bethsaida where the multitude could’ve been sent away to buy bread for themselves. So the situation in that sense is far more direr. What isn’t different is the disciple’s hardness of heart which seems to be blinded to the possibility that Jesus can feed these folks just as He did in the other incident. Maybe in some ways we are seeing the progression of faith that Jesus builds in His disciples as He spiritually feeds them? For the disciples respond to Jesus by saying …“How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” vs. 4 Yet for Jesus to feed this multitude as He has already demonstrated is nothing. What is needed is our faith and our willingness to enter into His Work in the world. Are you then willing to enter into Christ’s labors with Him? The disciples, though not unwilling to enter into God’s labor were unsure on how the need was going to be met, and thus they handcuffed themselves. For they were looking at it from a perspective of what can they do to meet the need, rather than what Christ can. But Jesus doesn’t work that way. If He did He would raise up for Himself a couple of Bill Gates type philanthropy workers and seek to build His Kingdom that way. But Jesus doesn’t work that way. He works through ordinary people with ordinary lives, abilities and resources and does extraordinary things. So that God receives the glory, not man (Consider 1 Cor. 1:26-31). Therefore Jesus responds to the disciples question by saying …“How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” Vs. 5 Notice Jesus doesn’t say how much money is in the money box; as the disciples reasoned in the feeding of the five thousand, that they didn’t have enough money to buy bread so all the multitude could eat (John 6:7). Instead Jesus says to the disciples how much bread do you have on hand? Not what you will have when you retire or acquire “enough”.
But what do have on hand right now that you can use to build His Kingdom? Time, talents, resources, personal connections, you name it, for you know. What can you give to the most worthy cause in the world? That is for the salvation of it, from the sin within it, and the death that results from it (Rom. 6:23). God has given everybody something. Even our fears and failures God can turn into good for His kingdom when we trust Him to do what we can’t. In feeding of the five thousand incident it was a faith filled boy who provided five loaves and two fish (John 6:9) which became the catalyst that Jesus chose to work through when the disciples despairing, thought they could do nothing; for they were only seeing a crises before them, rather than the possibilities. Yet Jesus met the entire need so that everyone could eat, and still there were twelve baskets of left over fragments; the significance of which we won’t get into right now. So now Jesus is asking His disciples to trust to Him with what they have, so that He might multiply it.

So with the disciples giving to Jesus the seven loaves He commands the multitude to sit on the ground. And with that He takes the seven loafs gives thanks and in His hands (don’t miss this) Jesus breaks the bread and gives it to His disciples who then distribute it to the crowds (vs. 6), similarly with the fish (vs. 7). First our lives and resources go into Christ’s hands then He distributes them through His disciples so that all the need is met. That is how the early church functioned (Acts 4:32-36; 6:1-7). Now we don’t have to dogmatically follow that pattern (and become cult like), nor do we give blindly and without discernment and accountability. But we do have a clear Biblical model of co-operative faith working together, which is so much better than individuals striving apart to achieve the same goal.

And with that everybody ate and was filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. The significance being that is what they started out with! What at the start looked like it would cost them everything in reality cost them nothing. In the Book of Ecclesiastes it says:

“Cast your bread upon the waters,

For you will find it after many days.” Ecc. 11:1

Where’s your bread in your storehouse gathering mold (consider Luke 12:15-48) or is it in the Lord’s hands where He can multiply it and distribute it so that others and yourself will be filled by Him. The passage concludes by saying that those who ate were about four thousand (vs. 9). As well it states that Jesus sent the multitudes away, something that Jesus frequently did, either personally greeting people or bidding them a farewell. Even with large crowds, Jesus was a Man of gracious hospitality; a Man who delivered His Kingdom message with tact and grace so that all might believe and be saved. And so with the people’s departure Jesus immediately got into the boat with His disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha to minister there (vs.10). Now serving Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of heaven begins by first entering into it. And this anyone can do when they believe in Jesus Christ crucified and raised from dead so that their sins can be forgiven and they can be brought into a everlasting relationship with God the Father through faith in Him. For the Scripture says: “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Rom. 10:9-13

Have you called on the name of the Lord? Sincerely and truthfully, knowing that there is nothing you can do to save yourself from your sins? God isn’t out to condemn you for admitting to Him what He already knows about you. But He is out to change you, first by providing atonement for your sins that is what Jesus’ crucifixion accomplishes. He saves you from His judgment against your sins. Then He transforms you. That is what the Holy Spirit does, conforming your character to Christ’s. Not your personality, but your moral and spiritual character to Jesus Christ’s. Who when He became flesh became the perfect embodiment of what humanity should be like. That is God’s salvation plan for humanity, for everyone who repents of their sins and turns to God through faith in Jesus Christ, God by the Holy Spirit makes them a new creation In Christ and thus apart of God’s new created order to be physically established with Christ’s return. For now the Kingdom of God is as Jesus said within you, within everyone who believes in Him and has believed in ages past is already apart of Jesus Christ’s eternal Kingdom. The alternative is to remain willfully unbelieving, spiritually dead in ones sins and trespasses separated from God because of them and one day if one dies in that degenerate state to spend an eternity in hell, where Jesus said the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:43-48). But that is not the will of God for anyone, no matter what you have done, that is not God’s will for you, for “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Therefore while the Lord delays His return don’t delay your decision, be ready for the Lord Jesus Christ’s return by accepting Him and His offer to pardon your sins and change you here and now. For when He returns or you die, it will be too late as Jesus revealed in His parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). That is why the Scriptures say today is the day of salvation, for God will not hold back fulfilling His Word for anyone. Not tomorrow, but right now is the appointed time to invite Jesus Christ into your life while there is still time. You may want to pray a salvation prayer, like Billy Graham uses or you may want to pray something from your own heart. It doesn’t matter what matters is that you invite Jesus Christ into your heart and life and then chose to follow Him in obedience to the gospel that is all that matters. This life is a moment, a fleeting moment, and then it’s gone. Don't waste yours on nothing. Prepare for eternity today by making your decision for Jesus Christ.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 7:31-37 Jesus heals in Decapolis

31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Devotional
From the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon Jesus now moves into another Gentile region, Decapolis, into the very heart of it. It was from this region that early on multitudes came to follow Jesus. And it was in this region as well that Jesus after healing the demon possessed man who lived amongst the tombs in the region of Gadara; went and told it everywhere in the region of Decapolis what Jesus had done for him. Decapolis was after all a region comprising of at least ten major cities, (of Greek polis city states), Gadara being one of them. Located mostly on the eastern side of the Jordan River it circumvented about ¼ of the southeastern section of the Sea of Galilee running as far north as Damascus of Syria and south to modern day Ammon in Jordan. Its union was that it was the hub for originally Greek than Roman culture, thought and political life in what was otherwise Semitic lands. In other words in Jesus’ time this was the epicenter of Roman culture in occupied Israel. If Jesus had a “Jewish only” agenda His visiting this region which was thoroughly Greco-Roman in thought and culture would have quickly quelled that. But as we will see Jesus didn’t preach Moses and the Law but the Kingdom of Heaven which encompasses every tongue, tribe and nation which exercises in faith in God exclusively through Him. So it will be that while Jesus is in the region of Decapolis near the Sea of Galilee that they will bring to Him a man “…who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.” Vs. 32
Jesus’ response is not to heal the man in the presence of them all. Rather He takes the man aside. Away from the multitude; than Jesus puts His fingers in the man’s ears and spat and touched the man’s tongue. Then Jesus looked up to heaven, and sighing He says to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Vs. 34 Now with Jesus words immediately the man’s tongue was loosed from its impediment and his hearing was restored and the man spoke plainly (vs. 35). I’m not sure why Jesus touched both the man’s ears and tongue before He spoke since it was His Word which made the man well. It may have been He did so because that is what they requested; that Jesus lay His hands on the man to heal him. And really it doesn’t matter. Jesus healed by both personal touch and by personal Word sometimes combing the two, sometimes not. Now with the man’s healing Jesus plainly commands them that they should tell no one. Yet the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it (vs. 36). Now at certain times Jesus did not want His miraculous works revealed. At least not until He had fulfilled His purposes with His death on the cross than resurrection. In three instances this occurs: the first being after Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount and a leper came to Him requesting to be healed, (Matt. 8:1-4) which Jesus graciously did but after doing so He commands him to tell no one, but rather go and “…show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Mark 1:44 Thus Jesus wanted him to be His living witness of the Power of God through Jesus Christ to transform lives, not to the crowds, but to the priests, who should have known and believed, but in reality did not. Yet that man went out and proclaimed it freely and so Jesus could no longer go into the town openly but instead He had to stay in the country and people came to Him from every quarter (Mark 1:45). The next instance is when Jesus raises a little girl from the dead. Yet Jesus keeps the astonished parents who were eye witnesses to it from telling others (Mark 5:21-43). Finally we have the instance here which the people who brought Jesus the man when they saw how He healed him the Scripture says: And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Vs. 37
Jesus truly opens the ears of the deaf and loosens the tongues of the mute. Both then and now of men and women everywhere of every culture and background who hear His voice through His Word. As He draws people to Himself, speaking to our hearts and souls and minds, saying:

"Look to Me, and be saved,

All you ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22

Than Jesus looses our tongues so that we might confess Him as Lord and declare His righteousness and sing God's praises, and His alone. Since He "...Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25

What are you looking too? Is it Jesus Christ, God's only Son, crucified for your sins remission and raised from the dead for your justification before God the Father when you believe in Him and confess Him as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10). Or are you looking to yourself, trusting your own righteousness to make you approved before God the Father? Yes, God loves those who follow righteousness (Prov. 15:9) but He cannot bear the self righteousness who trust in themselves rather than God (Prov. 16:5; Luke 18:9-14). For in God's sight there is none who are righteous, no not one (Rom. 3:10). If there were then there would have been no need for Jesus Christ to have to suffer and die in our place so that God might save us by His crucifixion for our sins (Gal. 2:21). As the prophet Isaiah says in foretelling of the Lord Jesus Christ's crucifixion:

 "But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Our peace with God comes at a cost and that cost can only be paid by Christ. Read the Bible and look into God's commandments, than examine your own heart and life, and see that you are like all others, sinful. Maybe not to the same degree as others, nonetheless we are all guilty of sin before God as the Scriptures says "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23
Who then is going to pay the debt? We can't, since God has shut all of humanity under sin making self redemption impossible. Nonetheless God did not leave us without hope, rather so that He might have mercy on all who believe, He gave us His Son so that whoever looks to Him crucified and raised from the dead He might not only remit our sins, Jesus Christ having paid the penalty for them on the cross, He might also transform our person here and now by Christ's Power through His Spirit dwelling within us making us fit for and apart of the Kingdom of heaven here and now. Eternal life is not something you get when you die, it's something God gives you and places in you by His Spirit dwelling within you here and now, the moment you believe (Eph. 1:13-14). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Do you have eternal life? Are you sure you know that you are ready to stand before God the Father when you die? Will Jesus Christ be your Righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21) and Advocate (1 John 2:1) on that day, or will you stand alone clothed only in you're sins and transgressions?
If you're not sure, make sure, right now ask the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart. If you believe, invite Him in and tell Him you trust Him and only Him by His death on the cross for your sins remission for you want to repent of your sins. And His Spirit, the Holy Spirit will help you do so. For no one can cleanse themselves from their sins and change their inner person, which is corrupted by sin, only Christ can, and this He does by His shed blood, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Heb. 9:22 Then by His Spirit dwelling within us He changes us to more and more to reflect His likeness through the fruits of the Spirit, which are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23 Whether God's or mans. "For if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new." 2 Cor. 5:17

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 7:24-30 Jesus Heals a Syro-Phonecian Woman's Daughter

24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

Devotional
Jesus having taught the disciples in Galilee that defilement does not come from the outside; from not observing the commandments of men, which cannot purify the heart and soul from its sins. But rather what we say, for the things we say is often a reflection of the sins within us. Now moves into a region of the Gentiles. Northwestward, roughly fifty miles along the Mediterranean coast to Tyre and Sidon, metropolises and their surrounding regions in what is modern day Lebanon. If you remember early on in Jesus’ ministry many Gentile people having heard of His mighty works had already come to Him from this region, as well as Idumea (ancient Edom) and regions beyond the Jordan (Mark 3:8). Thus early on Jesus had quite an eclectic following, seeing He did not discriminate against anyone based on nationality (John 4:1-42), gender (John 11:5), occupation (Matt. 8:5-13), reputation (Luke 7:36-50), or really anything else (Luke 8:1-3), which made the Pharisees at times very hostile towards Him (Matt. 9:9-13).

So it will be that while Jesus is there, in the land of the Gentiles, in the regions of Tyre and Sidon with the twelve Apostles. That Jesus having entered a house did not want it to be made known, yet it becomes known. In fact the Scripture says He could not be hidden (vs. 24). Now Jesus entered the house of a foreigner, with the twelve Apostles’ in a foreign land. Not a big deal unless you are a Jew living under the Law. Yet this is not the first time Jesus had done something “controversial” like that. For Jesus freely entered the homes of both the Pharisees (the Jewish religious leaders) as well as Tax collectors and sinners (people the religious leaders went to great lengths to avoid coming into contact with), even Samaritans (a neighboring people group whom the Jews shunned), simply at their invitation and without reservation, which is something everyone should take note of, for Jesus Christ will enter the heart of anyone who simply invites Him in. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20

Now the Scripture says that while Jesus was staying in this particular house that a Gentile woman, a Syro-Phoenician by birth meaning this woman had absolutely no claims or means of appeal to God by belonging either to the common wealth of Israel, or even having a share in Israel’s ancestry; as the Samaritan woman at the well did, (see John 4:12), comes to Jesus, and falling at His feet she begins to plead with Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter. Jesus’ though does not initially respond to her request as is so often the case in the gospel, instead He replies to her request by saying: …“Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Vs. 27 Now Jesus’ response taken at a glance is startling, some might even say harsh, and is utterly out of character with His dealings with people. Nonetheless His demeanor will immediately change towards her as she exemplifies a truly humble faith with her response to Him, when she says: “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” vs. 28 And with that Jesus says to her …“For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” Vs. 29 And so it was when the woman had returned home she found the demon had gone out of her daughter and she was lying on a bed (vs. 30).

Now what do we make of this? Why was Jesus being rude towards this Syro-Phoenician woman? Are Gentiles really just dogs in His eyes when compared with Israelites? And did He yield to her request just to make her go away? If all one knew of Jesus Christ was from this one passage, one might come to that kind of erroneous and ill considered conclusion. Nonetheless the gospel does not endorse or support such a view of Him and His views of others. For Jesus had already demonstrated a genuine concern for and willingness to heal all kinds of people from this region. And not just this region, but every region He visited, or where people came from seeking Him. Jesus received all who sought Him or He allowed Himself to be received by people from every imaginable culture and walk of life. Even expounding two Gentiles as true people of faith in His first sermon to His hometown in Nazareth, one of which was a widow from this region in the Elijah the prophet’s day; yet Jesus exonerated only her, though there were many widows in Israel in days of Elijah. Similarly Jesus only exonerated Naaman (a leper) and commander of entire Syrian army in the days Elisha the prophet, though there were many lepers in Israel during that time as well (See Luke 4:24-27). His Words than so enraged them that they sought to throw Him off a cliff. Nonetheless Jesus walked away from them unscathed. Therefore though the gospel prophetically was to first come to the Jews, in no way is it partial or limited to them. Simply stated John 3:16 has no boundaries.
***It seems then Jesus was demonstrating the nationalistic pride and exclusivism of His own disciples. To show them (and us) how rude they (and often we) appear in our dealings with people, especially people outside of the covenant community of faith. Make no mistakes about it God’s heart is that no one should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). For God is not partial towards anyone, whether individuals or nations, as God profoundly enlightened the Apostle Peter when the gospel was unwittingly being restricted by the disciples (Read Acts 10); thus Peter went on to declare …“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:34-35

Now regarding Jesus’ visiting with a foreigner consider King David upon whom God has established Jesus’ Everlasting throne had many dealings with foreigners. Even trusting his own parent’s welfare to the King of Moab when King Saul began seeking his life (1 Sam. 22:3-4). Later King David while in exile made many close and deeply loyal friends with people who sadly some would classify as “pagan.” Yet it was these so called “pagans” that King David when he attained to the throne as God decreed appointed them as his own bodyguard. In essence he trusted them with his life (2 Samuel 8:15-18). Later King David would also trust them with his son King Solomon’s life as God’s chosen heir to the throne (1 Kings 1:38-40). For it was these men, the Cherethites and the Pelethites from the Philistine city of Gath and surrounding territory; where Goliath the giant dwelt, whom David slew; and where David briefly dwelt in exile, that David developed a loyal following of valiant men (1 Sam. 27:2-3; 2 Sam. 15:17-18). Now these men remained faithful to him throughout his life. Even when his own two sons, first Absalom, than an unrelated Benjamite named Sheba, than Ammon, Absalom’s younger brother, with the people of Israel rebelled and tried to seize the throne. Yet these non-Israelite men fought for King David even when the odds were overwhelmingly stacked against both him and them (See 2 Samuel 15:13-18; 20:4-7). Now during this time one “pagan” man’s self sacrifice in particular stands out. A commander named Ittai the Gittite; (a nokriy, a foreigner, the same word Ruth the Moabitess used to describe herself when Boaz promised to be her Redeemer; see Ruth 2:10), who having just the previous day fled from his own territory near Gath sought refuge with King David. And so it was when David fled Jerusalem from Absalom’s attempted overthrow of him, Ittai the Gittite though a foreigner and newly arrived will swear loyalty to King David, whether in life or death, even when King David granted him an unconditional release from the upcoming battle (2 Sam. 15:19-22). Later King David will appoint Ittai the Gittite as commander over one third of his forces (2 Sam. 18:22). Now after the battle Ittai the Gittite is never mentioned again in the Scriptures giving rise for some Bible scholars to speculate that he was killed in the ensuing battle with Absalom’s forces (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary). For God’s servants, and those who are loyal to Him often come from many different nationalities, backgrounds and life experiences.

 
Note: This is a draft version

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
*** Though not a direct quote this notion was gleaned entirely from Mark 7:24 in the Thomas Nelson, Inc., Word in Life study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996. 

Mark 7:1-23 Pharisees, Legalism and Defilement from Within

1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 “then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 “because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 “thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Devotional
This passage begins by telling us that some of the scribes and Pharisees had come from Jerusalem to Galilee where Jesus was preaching and teaching the Kingdom of God. Previously some scribes had come up from Jerusalem and they mocked Jesus before the people saying He was casting out demons by the ruler of demons which He rebuked before them and all present (Mark 3:20-30). The fact that some more scribes, and now Pharisees have come up from Jerusalem is not a desire on their collective part to seek Jesus as the Christ and King sent from God, but only to test Him and His orthodoxy. Yet as we will see what they ascribe as being orthodox and incumbent upon men and women and what Jesus Christ does are worlds apart. So it will be that as these scribes and Pharisees come to Jesus and they observe some of His disciples eating with unwashed hands that they will find fault with them. Not for a moral transgression, but a ceremonial one, and not even one that broke the Law, but only one that broke one of their elder’s traditions (vs. 3-4). For being right before God in their eyes was often based on ones observance of their petty observances of totally insignificant things like hand washing before eating. Not that those things carry any weight in God’s eyes as we will see, but they made their traditions to carry much weight in their own sight while overlooking their own more serious transgressions as Jesus will explicitly expose. Which is simply the fruit of legalism; the results of man trying to adhere to minute details of the letter (whether Scriptural or not) while passing over the weightier matters of the Law, as Jesus said, like justice, mercy and faith (Matt. 23:22).
In the King James Bible Commentary on verses 3-4 it says in regards to their holding onto their traditions as making one right before God, …"Holding is an intense expression which implies a strong, tight grasp as a hawk would seize its prey, Tradition (Gr. Paradosis) comes from two words which mean “to give alongside of.” Thus, Jewish tradition is men’s statutes set alongside of God’s law, It is not the law, but has been accepted and taught with equal authority." Hence here we have a graphic picture of the Pharisees dogmatically holding onto a non Scriptural ideal and giving it the same weight as if it came through the Scriptures. Nonetheless ceremonial washings or any other teaching or commandment of man can do nothing to cleanse the human heart from sin, only repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ can, for it is Jesus Christ alone and our faith in Him is what makes us right in the sight of God (Rom. 5:1). Now as Jesus responds to the Pharisees confronting Him with questions about His disciples not keeping their traditions (vs. 5). He shows no regard for their traditions, for Jesus responds to them by saying:
“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ Vs. 6-7
Now Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 29:13, where it is said that the fear of God was taught by the commandment of men. A grave error both then and now. Therefore Jesus is laying down a demarcation line between true worship of God (John 4:23-24) and worship that is according to the doctrines and commandments of men. For those who hold to the latter do so in vain.
Therefore in light of what Jesus says here about in vain worshipping God according to the commandments of men. We must ask ourselves some very poignant questions about our own faith practices. Do we have or are we dogmatically holding onto non-Scriptural traditions (or ideals) by which we think we are approved before God? Personal preferences on non-essential and non-moral things can sadly become entrenched in our faith practices, and thus become points of legalism and sadly contention, because we hold them so dearly. And in time holding onto them, rather than Jesus Christ’s commandments. For Jesus Christ commands brotherly love, without partiality, not as an ideal but as a commandment to be obeyed by all His followers. Yet how often is His commandment thwarted or distorted in the defense of the doctrines, commandments and traditions of men, which may or may not be born out of segments of Scripture, (and may in of themselves be harmless, as the Pharisees hand washing ritual was) but in application take on a totally non-Scriptural significance, and thus are contrary too the Scriptures, since in practice they only supplant the Scriptures, and or thwart the unity of the Spirit, with and for their own ideals. How many churches or brethren have parted company on things like hymnal singing, hair length, military or police service, pacifism, acoustic only instruments, Bible translations, art, or a whole host of other things that when regarded as fundamental to the faith, in practice, only supplant the grace and gospel of God with the legalistic ideals of man, because they are trying to be right in the sight of God by adhering too (or not) those non-essential things (Consider Rom. 10:3-4). Thus the visible church is often divided not based on believers obedience or disobedience to the gospel of God, (which is the only true grounds for separation) but more often than not on the traditions and decrees of men. Who seek to conform the Scriptures to their own ideals, rather being sanctified and conformed to the Scriptures, which alone have authority. And thus finding acceptance in certain segments of Christian dome sadly is governed by whether one accepts and adheres to their traditions and man-made ideals, and not if one has come to put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and are seeking to obey Him through the gospel and N.T. writings.
Now from verse eight to thirteen Jesus explains how their elders traditions undermine the commandments of God, there He says “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 “then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” vs. 8-13

Now Jesus is citing from the Ten Commandments where God commands that we honor our father and our mother both with giving due respect for their person; but also financially as well. Yet the scribes and Pharisees through their traditions laid aside God’s commandment to do so for their own greed. Essentially they taught the people that whatever financial blessings their parents might have received from them if they had committed that money to God instead (i.e. “corban”) of which the priests under the Law received a portion; than they were released from their moral obligation to finically honor or support their parents in their time of need. Thus through their tradition they made the commandment of God of no effect (vs. 13). Now in the New Covenant believers though not under the Law are still bound by its moral stipulations. For consider what the Apostle Paul says in regards to this; "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Tim. 5:8
Therefore we are to honor God and our parents financially for we do not “tithe” to God and neglect our responsibilities to honor our parents. Or if we have wives and children we provide for them as well, since that is a man’s primary responsibility, to provide for his own. Now Jesus will go on to say something that is very important for us to grasp for at it's heart, is the heart of the problem, the sinful heart of man. Again picking up the text it says: 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” vs. 14-16 

Jesus than lays aside all notions of defilement as coming from the non observance of the ceremonial regulations of men. Therefore we are not defiled by what we eat, nor are we made pure by what we don't eat. Neither food nor the cleanliness of the hands that eat it, is the issue. For as Jesus says what defiles us is the things that come out of us, that is what defiles us. For the words that we speak often reflect the desires of our hearts, and thus reveal who we are, whether good or bad (Prov. 27:19; Matt. 12:35). Jesus graphically illuminates that fact when He explains the parable to the disciples when they did not understand. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 “because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 “thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Again Jesus is making it clear that what we need is something far greater then mere ritual cleansing of either our hands, foods, or bodies. What we need is washing and renewal by the Holy Spirit which transforms our heart and soul and thus begins to transform our entire person. Yet that is something only God can do in us, which He freely does when we believe in Jesus Christ the Lord (Titus 3:4-7). For that is the issue, the sinful heart of mankind which can only be rectified through the cross of Christ (John 3). That is the whole gospel's emphasis not on the individual changing their lives, but rather on God's glorious Work through the Incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of His Son Jesus Christ in fulfillment of the Scriptures by which He saves and transforms all who believe in Him (John 6:47). For it is through Jesus Christ's Life that God brings revelation of Himself and the Kingdom of Heaven by Jesus' Words and Works by which God is glorified and by which we may come to know Him personally and obey His will through grace and truth (John 1:17). For ceremonially religious practices though having an appearance of religion do nothing for the soul to make atonement for it before God, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission." Heb. 9:22 That is why Jesus Christ the Son of God was crucified to pay the penalty of our sins. Than on the third day Jesus rose from dead which is manifest proof to all of His election before God the Father that He is the One whom God has appointed to be Judge of all things. So that He might be glorified before all and that we might be brought into a relationship with God the Father by our faith in Him. That is how we are justified or declared righteous before God; not by our own obedience to the Law of God, or laws of man, but by our faith in Jesus Christ who then makes us heirs of His Kingdom and the Scriptures Promises. As the Apostle Paul said: “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Gal. 2:21

Therefore neither Jew nor Gentile will be saved apart from the saving grace of God (Jer. 23:4-5; 33:14-16; Eph. 2:8-9). In regards to Jesus Christ's resurrection and ascension back to the Father when He did so He made the way for the Holy Spirit's outpouring into people's lives when we believe in Him. That is the transforming power of God that not only regenerates us (i.e. transforms us) but gives us the power to live out the gospel.


Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

KJV Bible Commentary Consulted on Verses 3-4
Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.

Mark 6:53-56 Jesus Heals in Gennesaret

53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

Devotional
Having crossed safely over Jesus and the disciples now come to the land of Gennesaret and anchor there. Slightly south and west of Capernaum, Gennesaret was on the Northern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. In fact the Sea of Galilee at different times in its history is also referred to as the Sea of Gennesaret, while the “land of Gennesaret” was a designation of the beautiful and very fertile plain that ran about a mile from east to west and five miles inland north and south off the Northwestern shoreline, where figs, olives and palm trees flourished. Apparently this area was referred to by the rabbi’s as “the garden of God”* an appellation that appears in its name, **the first syllable being the Hebrew word for garden.

Now as they came out of the boat immediately the people there recognize Him. Therefore the people are very attentive to the presence of Jesus in their midst, they may not have fully understood all about His Person, but they most certainly understand Him as the miracle worker whom has power to heal on demand no matter what a person’s circumstances. So they rush to gather as many sick as they can, to bring them to Jesus wherever He goes. In villages, in cities, in rural settings, in marketplaces, wherever word of Jesus Christ’s Person is there people bring their ailing ones to be healed by Him. You also may not understand all things about Jesus Christ’s Person, but know this that it is He and He alone who has Power to heal you, to immediately heal your broken heart and wounded soul and bring you back into a right relationship with God the Father. Notice too that those who were brought to Jesus begged that they might touch just the hem of His garment. No doubt the women who had the flow of blood and was immediately healed when she touched just the Hem of Jesus’ garment testimony had spread and now it has become a means by which God was drawing even more people to Himself, so as in her case “…as many as touched Him were made well.” Vs. 56 For as with the women who touched Jesus so here He allows the people to touch Him that He might heal them and thus touch you with His love for you. Have you than allowed God to touch you? That is with His message of His love for you? That is what the gospel reveals, our sick condition yet God’s willingness to heal us immediately when we believe in His Son Jesus Christ crucified for our sins redemption then raised from the dead so that we might be given new and everlasting life when we believe in Him. For it is by faith in Jesus Christ that we experience God's love and life everlasting.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Additional Resources 
*Gleaned from Visual Bible Alive; (Internet)
**Gleaned from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia; (Internet)

Mark 6:45-52 Jesus Walks on the Sea

45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

Devotional
Having miraculously fed the five thousand Jesus makes haste in sending the disciples ahead of Him, to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself dismisses the multitudes. And with the multitudes departure Jesus’ Himself departs to the mountain to pray. Jesus’ haste in sending the disciples ahead of Him seems just for that purpose so that He might spend time in prayer alone. Now when evening came the disciples were in the middle of Sea of Galilee while Jesus was still on land (vs. 47). Yet it was from there that Jesus saw the disciples straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Though Christ was not physically present with the disciples yet His eyes were still on His disciples, as the Scriptures say:

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Prov. 15:3

Jesus than had not forgotten about the disciples whom He sent ahead of Him. In fact He was watching them, and He was fully aware of their circumstances though it is highly unlikely they were aware of this, as the current crises likely consumed their thoughts just as it so often does our own. Now the Scripture says “…about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.” vs. 48 Notice that Jesus came to them; He didn’t leave them to their own devices He came to them, not sailing in a boat, but walking on the stormy Sea of Galilee making His Presence known to them to reassure them, though not immediately going to them. Now this took place at the “fourth watch” meaning between 3:00am and sunrise. Yet however fearful the disciples were of the storm tossed Sea Jesus Christ’s walking on the water seems to have frightened them even more, for when they saw Him they cried out thinking they had seen a ghost, though clearly that was not His intention. But rather to make Himself known to them as God, the God who both saves men from their perilous circumstances, but also the God whose Person, Authority and Power supplants all forces and powers. Christ’s walking on the water here than is not some sort of explainable natural anomaly. It is a supernatural occurrence of the Presence of God coming to His own. If you remember the last incident where the disciples found themselves in similar peril it was with Jesus inside the boat with them as the tempest tossed sea caused them to fear for their lives, though Jesus Himself slept quietly until they awoke Him and cried out to Him, than He rebuked the winds and the Sea with a Word. Here though Jesus is outside of the boat walking on the water, which when the disciples exhausted and tired observe Him doing so cry out thinking they have seen a ghost. It’s a natural response to a supernatural occurrence. Therefore with their fearful cry Jesus immediately talks with them and says to them …“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Vs. 50 Assuring them it was He who was with them and had come to them. And with that Jesus went up into the boat with them and the wind ceased. Notice that when Jesus went up into the boat the wind ceased, for that is where Jesus caused the wind to cease before, from inside the boat with His disciples, indicating that He is personally involved with us in all our circumstances of life. And with that the disciples were greatly amazed beyond measure (vs. 51), “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” Vs. 52 From His position on the Sea than Jesus showed Himself Lord of it, while from His position in the boat He showed Himself Savior of them. The lesson being whether in Bodily Presence or not our God is greater than whatever forces on earth or in hell may seek to overthrow or unsettle us. He is not subject to any forces of man, nature or anything else, but all things are subject to Him. Though the winds and storms of this life may at times impede, trouble, or frighten us yet our God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will not allow them to undermine His eternal plans and purposes for us. Jesus Christ the Lord will lead us who believe in Him safely home.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 6:30-44 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 “Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” 37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” 38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

Devotional
In this section of Mark there are two distinct events; the twelve Apostle’s retuning from their missionary endeavors (See Mark 6:7-13) and Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. The first event speaks to Christ’s concern for His followers who labor for Him; (the need for rest or sabbatical with Him), while the second speaks to His concern for those who need to be fed by Him. Now the first event precedes the second, yet both are interwoven, just as ministry and life are rarely inseparable.
The passage begins with the twelve Apostles, now called, since Jesus Christ Himself first called them to Himself, then appointed them as such (Mark 3:13-19). These men were the ones the Lord Jesus Christ first chose to be with Himself as His elect emissaries. Though there were others who also followed Jesus of both men and women these men (there are only male Apostle’s in the N.T. Scriptures) were to be the ones He would entrust both His message, as well as His church or Body of believers too. These men than would be both eye witnesses to Christ’s crucifixion as well as His resurrection life and later ascension back to the God the Father. Now when they returned to Jesus they told Him all things; both of what they had done and taught (vs. 30) since Jesus didn’t just teach people about the Kingdom of God, He also did many mighty deeds which gave credence to His Words. Now with their returning to Jesus He said to them …“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. Vs. 31-32

Notice Jesus’ first concern upon their returning to Him was for their welfare; for He knows the energy one expends when they are actively doing His ministry as well as the elation at seeing ministry done through oneself by Him. Yet they didn’t even have time to eat, and Jesus thought that point important enough to call for a time of replenishment, a time of rest with Himself and with each other, so that they could do just that. Recharge together as it were. Now it is against that backdrop of Jesus’ desiring to nurture His own disciples that Jesus will also feed the multitudes who were soon to swamp them again. For the passage says starting in verse thirty three that the multitudes saw them departing and that they recognized Him and they started running after Him from all the cities. That is along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, while Jesus and the disciples made way to a section of territory that belonged to the city of Bethsaida (Luke 9:10) yet many people arrived there before them. And with that Jesus came out to them and seeing the great multitude the Scripture says He had compassion on them, “…because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” Vs. 34 For that is the heart of Jesus for all people, and that is to be the heart of those who shepherd people in His Name. Again look at Jesus’ heart, first towards His disciples, after they returned from their missionary endeavors, than towards the multitudes. His first concern was for their well being. Though the disciples reported all things they did and taught, Jesus doesn’t even comment on their activities, His first concern was for them. That is what precipitated their seeking rest together. Yet in seeking that rest they were soon faced with the multitudes again, and when faced with them Jesus doesn’t neglect them, He has compassion on them and begins to teach them many things. For those seeking knowledge of God and or the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ does not turn away from anyone. And so it will be that Jesus will spend the day (or that portion of it) teaching the crowds many things. Now as the day closes the disciples will tell Jesus to send the multitudes away, so that the crowds can go and buy themselves bread, since they had nothing to eat and the hour was late (vs. 35-36). Whether or not the disciples were concerned for the multitudes well being, or they simply wanted Jesus to send them away is up to speculation, what is not though is Jesus response to them. For instead of sending the multitudes away as they said He should. Jesus says to His disciples …“You give them something to eat.” Vs. 37
For that is what Jesus has been doing, feeding the people spiritually. But now He wants the disciples to feed the people physically. In essence to show genuine concern for their person’s. For that is what Jesus has been doing all day, both towards His disciples as well as those who sought Him. The disciples respond though by saying: …“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” vs. 38 Now a denarii was about a days wages for a laborer, therefore it is highly unlikely that the disciples had that much money on hand (See John 6:7). Therefore the disciples response was natural, a natural response to a seemingly impossible situation. Nonetheless Jesus is not deterred, instead He simply asks them: …“How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” vs. 38

Now Jesus already knew what they had. I believe He asked them the question so that they would go and see what they already had with His prompting them to do so. Now what they actually had was seemingly of little significance in of itself, just five loves and two small fish, but in Christ’s hands what seems like little has exceedingly great potential as we will see. Therefore Jesus has the disciples organize the people into ranks of fifties and hundreds having them sit down on the green grass (vs. 39-40). Now from that position the people are not only more comfortable and relaxed, but the people will be able to see all that transpires next. So with that Jesus takes up the five loaves (these are more like flat bread than the loves of bread that we westerners are accustomed too) and the two small fish in His hands and looking up to heaven Jesus blessed and broke the loaves than gave them to His disciples. Notice that Jesus looked up into heaven for God is the source of every good thing and Jesus' doing so was acknowledging that fact. Than Jesus blessed the loaves and broke them into serving size portions in His own hands. The New Living Translation renders it that Jesus kept giving the disciples the bread and the fish and thus the miracle kept being multiplied in His hands, over and over again till all ate and were filled (vs. 41-42). Now when they all ate and were filled the disciples took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish (vs. 43). The abundance being such that not only were the five thousand fed but the disciples as well. Now there are a couple of things to note about the feeding of five thousand.
First as Jesus breaks the bread and gives it to the disciples, the miracle is being multiplied until all the need is met. Christ sent no one away hungry. In one sense what occurred there is a picture of the miracle of new life which everyone will have who eats of Jesus Christ, as Jesus said: ...“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." John 6:35
Second the miracle itself is only multiplied in Christ’s hands. It's not the disciples who multiply the bread and fish, it's Christ. Now as the disciples gave what little they had to Jesus, He then multiplies it and gives it back to them to feed the multitudes. In some ways that is a picture of one’s faith in Jesus Christ which may start out small at the beginning but in Christ’s hands it is so multiplied that soon it is feeding others as well. Therefore put your faith in Jesus Christ and let Him work out all the things that you can’t and He will make your faith fruitful and multiply it.
Third where our resources run out Christ’s does not. Now in this a distinction must be made. For in living by faith I believe God does not give us Christian’s, whether as individual believers or collective assembly’s resources to hoard up, or foolishly or frivolously squander. Sound discipleship by faith in Jesus Christ is always Biblically linked with sound stewardship for Him. Notice too that Jesus does not to point the disciples to money as the solution to feeding the five thousand, as they initially thought it was, but to Himself. For that is where fruitful ministry begins, not with how many resources one has, rather how much of Jesus Christ and obedience to His will does one have (Consider John 15:1-8). For resources are never expounded as a priority pursuit by the Lord Jesus Christ for His followers. Rather seeking the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness than all these things shall be added to you is what the Lord Jesus said (Matt. 6:33). Now I have experienced in my own life when I ask Jesus Christ in faith, I find His strength and His understanding sufficient for my need at that moment and that is what Jesus is showing the disciples here. So don’t be handcuffed by your own limitations, or the limitations others set on you, rather be set free by Christ’s unlimited resources to both provide and empower you when you seek to do His will.


Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 6:14-29 The Death of John the Baptist

14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.” 16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” 17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” 25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

Devotional
The Lord Jesus’ fame having spread far and wide reaches even to the hearing of king Herod. Now king Herod had already put John the Baptist to death. Thus his speculating about Jesus's Person here is against that backdrop of a man who had heard John preach about righteousness, and the judgment to come, and likely the resurrection from the dead as well. Yet with the news of Jesus’ mighty works coming to the hearing of Herod, he does not attribute the works of Jesus Christ’s Works as coming from God, but rather from John the Baptist, In fact he insists that Jesus is John the Baptist whom he beheaded, saying John has risen from the dead (vs. 16). Now this he said while others were also speculating about Jesus's Person, saying “It is Elijah” or “It is the Prophet, or Jesus is like one of the prophets” (vs. 15). Yet Jesus is more than just “the Prophet” sent from God. For if you stop there with your understanding of Jesus’ Person you will have not fully understood Him as God Himself.

Now Herod himself came from a family steeped in both the "religious culture" of the Jews, as well as the political life of Rome, which then subjugated Israel. And so Herod knew the Jews expectation of their Messiah coming to them. Whether or not he understood any of the Scriptures that pertain to Christ's coming is highly unlikely given his response here. For he like those around him fail to make that critical connection with Christ.  Now the Herod’s were a family whose legacy (as this pertains to Biblical history) begin with his grandfather. For it was Herod’s grandfather who began their legacy after being installed as procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar. Whose eldest son Herod “the great” later became governor of Galilee, and whose loyalty to Rome was such that they rewarded him at the death of his father, his father’s jurisdiction and then later the title “king” of Judea. Later this same Herod began the massive Temple reconstruction which by the time of Jesus Christ’s ministry was almost 46 years in the making (John 2:20). And it was that same Herod who at news of the birth Christ, the true King of the Jews, put to death all the first born males in Israel, in order to prevent any possible heirs rising up from the descendants of David, thus fulfilling Scripture (Matt. 2:16-18). At his death his territory was divided into three regions amongst his three sons of which the Herod in question in the above passage was assigned to rule in Galilee. And so it is against that complex political, and highly charged religious astrosphere, which saw the Herod's trying to both placate the Jews, as well as authenticate their own "conversion to Judaism" (being Edomites by ancestry) with such things as their Temple reconstruction project, which would've given them the backing of the Levitical priests. While also forwarding their own political ambitions with Rome, who were also using them to keep the Jews subjugated, and "in check" as it were, by their own tyrannical natures and brutal rule, which quickly quelled any and all potential rival's or uprisings which threatened their own rule. And so the Herods' were for all intense purposes Rome's "henchmen" which kept Rome itself at arms length from the Jews. And so it is against that backdrop of political and religious craft and intrigue that Jesus stepped into the world and became a Man amongst God’s covenant people, Israel. To not only redeem Israel, but more importantly to suffer and die on a Roman cross according to the will of God, for the salvation of all who believe in Him, of both Jews and Gentiles.

Now John the Baptist being a faithful preacher did not turn a blind eye to king Herod’s adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife Herodias. Instead John rebuked Herod for it, which ultimately cost him his life. In Matthew’s gospel we read that Herod initially arrested John the Baptist for Herodias, his brother’s wife sake. And though Herod wanted to put John the Baptist to death at that time, he feared the people, who highly regarded John (Matt. 14:3-5). Instead Herod had John bound and thrown into prison where he remained until his death, which came by the scheming of Herodias. For Mark states that Herodias held it against John that he condemned her adulterous relationship, and that she also wanted to kill John at that time but she could not, “for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” Vs. 20 Therefore Herod’s initially wanting to put John to death was likely more reactionary on his part, than a deeply held grudge or resentment. While Herodias, held onto hers. And so when an opportune time presented itself for her to take her vengeance, she seized it. And so Herod had both a fear of John (for John was fearless preacher of righteousness), as well the Scripture says Herod had an admiration for him. Thus Herod was not averse to hearing John, for the passage says he heard John gladly, and did many things according to John’s word. And so on some level Herod wanted to be obedient to the faith as it were. Yet Herod himself did not live a Godly lifestyle as a rule of life. It's strange then how men (and women) can quite willingly listen to a preacher of righteousness, even be an admirer of such men, and do some of the good things they command, yet themselves never come to their own repentance and faith.
And so that is where John the Baptist is, imprisoned. While Herod is celebrating his birthday in all manner of extravagance and excess. Having gathered all his nobles, and the high officials of Galilee together to indulge with him in much wine and feasting. And so it is during this time that Herodias saw an opportunity to eliminate John. For Mark states “Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.” Vs. 21
Now the opportunity for Herodias to execute her desire on John would come through her own daughter, whose dancing before Herod and the assembled dignitaries so delighted Herod and the men with him that he made a rash vow to her saying: …“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” Vs. 23 And with that the young woman went out and asked Herodias her mother what she should ask for, and Herodias said: …“The head of John the Baptist!” vs. 24
Therefore she immediately returned with haste to the king and said, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And with that John’s fate was sealed, as the rest of the passage reveals. And though Herod was exceedingly sorry at the girl’s request “…yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.” Vs. 27-29

Now with John's decease at the hands of Herod, the Old Covenant and its prophets regarding the foretelling of the Christ comes to a close, as the Lord Jesus Christ said. For the Law and prophets were until John (Matt. 11:13; Luke 16:16). “Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” Luke 16:16 For John the Baptist heralded the coming of the King so that everyone, everywhere, should repent in anticipation of His, that is the Lord Jesus Christ’s arrival and Rule. And so before John all the other Old Testament prophets only foretold of Christ. John however declared His having arrived. For that was John’s God given purpose to declare the Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Therefore John preached repentance in anticipation of the King, but Jesus being the King declared repentance because He brought within Himself the Kingdom of God. And that is why Jesus preached immediately after John's death, “repent and believe for the Kingdom of God is at hand” Mark 1:15 Thus Jesus' miracles and His miraculously healing of all kinds of incurable diseases, aliments, and maladies, casting out demon spirits etc., all gave an undeniable witness to the fact that Kingdom of God has indeed come down to mankind. Yet Herod having heard of things, along with His nobles and officials, did not believe in Jesus. Instead they attributed these powers to either one of ancient prophets, or as in Herod's case, as coming from John the Baptist. And so Herod would never gone to see Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Instead, in the end Herod would align himself with Pontius Pilate in condemning Jesus to death. The question then is who is Jesus to you? For if He is not Lord and Savior, your Lord and Savior then your faith is not in God. For Jesus did not preach John the Baptist, or the prophets, or even the Law of Moses, all which were until John, Jesus preached Himself and the Kingdom of God, and ones entrance into the Kingdom of God by faith in His Person (John 3:16-21). Spiritual re-birth then is the requirement for ones entrance into the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-5) and this only comes by ones own faith in Jesus Christ’s Person crucified and Risen from the dead for ones sins remissions. Therefore if you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior then invite Him into your heart and life to your Redeemer, Lord and Savior, by praying something like this: “Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner, yet I believe that you were crucified for my sins, and that you rose again on the third day to bring remission of all my sins and give me new and everlasting life with Yourself. Therefore I now invite you into my heart and life to be my Lord, my Savior, I ask this in Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus Christ amen.

Mark 6:7-13 Jesus' Sends out the Twelve

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

Devotional
Jesus sending out the twelve Apostle’s two by two is wise since the twelve Apostles had not yet been preaching the Kingdom they had only observed Jesus preach it. It appears the early church followed this pattern (i.e. Paul and Barnabas; Paul and Silas etc.). For the benefits of a twofold cord are self evident (Ecclesiastes 4:12). That Jesus commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff and sandals means the disciples would be dependent on those they preached too to provide sustenance for them. People’s reception or rejection of their words would also mean their reception or rejection of them. For if they accepted them as messengers from God than they would open their homes to them, but if they did not than they would not. And thus Jesus’ restricting the disciples to just a staff and sandals will reveal who was really willing to receive Him (Matt. 10:40-42). Jesus than commands the disciples, when they depart from a place that would not receive them or hear them, to shake the dust off their feet indicating that they (and thus Christ) has been rejected, therefore those people will bear their own judgment (vs. 11). Now Jesus gave the Apostle’s power over unclean spirits as well as power to heal those who were sick, something unique to the Biblical Apostles, prior to the Holy Spirit’s outpouring and afterwards. The purpose for their being supernaturally imparted with these abilities was then, as it was after the Holy Spirit’s outpouring, to bear witness to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:3; Rom. 15:18-19; 2 Cor. 12:12). While Holy Spirit Gifts of healing are also listed later as something He choose to endow certain believers with according to His own will (1 Cor. 12:9, 28, 30).

Now their message was that the people should repent. When Jesus first preached He began by saying “Repent and believe for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). And when Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees for eating with Tax collectors and sinners He said to them … “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matt. 9:12-13

Therefore calling sinners to repentance is preaching the Kingdom of God. Not that we as sinful people can in any way change ourselves or make ourselves acceptable in the sight of God; that is the essential difference between mere “religion” by which mankind tries to make themselves acceptable to God; (i.e. sacrifice) and the gospel which makes all men, women and children acceptable to God by what Jesus Christ does for us all. Suffering in our place, paying the penalty of our sins, which has separated us from God; thereby making the way, the only way, that we can be justified (or declared righteous before God) and thus brought into a personal relationship with God the Father when we believe in Him (Rom. 5:1-8). Therefore it is God’s Righteousness (not mans) in providing atonement for our sins; through Jesus Christ’s shed blood on the cross even while we were still sinners and enemies of God that saves us when we believe in Jesus Christ the Lord (Rom. 3:19-28; 5:8). Repentance then is the catalyst by which we draw near to God, for only those who see their need for Jesus Christ and His righteousness will have it (Luke 18:9-14). For we cannot save ourselves; either by our own obedience to the Law (Gal. 2:16, 19-21) or by our own works (Gal. 3:2-3), we can only be saved by God’s grace, freely given to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ the Lord (Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore for those who repent; that is turn away from their sins and turn to God looking to Jesus Christ crucified to appease the wrath of God against their sins there is abounding mercy (John 3:15-16). In fact more than just mercy there is new and everlasting life, which begins the moment anyone believes in Jesus. God’s Spirit comes and lives in us the moment we believe. For that is what Jesus promises in John 3:16, not just remission of sins, but everlasting life. A life which begins the moment we believe in Him, we are as He said born again, that is born of God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-5) and thus we are transferred from being spiritually dead, to be being Spiritually alive, united with Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of Redemption (Eph. 1:13-14). For it is God’s Spirit who both sanctifies us and progressively transforms us into Christ’s image. Thus there is said washing and renewal and regeneration in everyone who believes in Jesus Christ the Lord by God’s Spirit transforming their person (Titus 3:4-7).

For Jesus Christ the Son of God was crucified so that we through His death and resurrection, than ascension back to the Father could be brought to everlasting life, restored to God, lit. bought back and brought out of our being spiritually dead in our sins and trespasses, separated from God, to being made spiritually alive, Risen with Christ and eternally united with Him by His Spirit and thus at peace with God, now able to live freed from a life that was once ruled by Law and or by sin (Rom. 6:1-14). Jesus Christ’s resurrection than as the firstborn amongst many brethren becomes the means by which we too will rise from the dead on the Last Day (John 6:40). Therefore having been reconciled to God by His Son’s death we shall also be saved by His life (Rom. 5:10). Therefore the Holy Spirit not only brings us into everlasting life but is a guarantee of that future promise (Eph. 4:30), who also imparts in us what are called the fruits of the Spirit. Now “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Gal. 5:22-24
These fruits of the Spirit then are to govern a believer’s new life in Christ, not the Law (that is the Old Covenant Law which is called the ministry of death in the New Testament; since it cannot bring life to those dead in their trespasses and sins; only the Spirit of God can), nor the sinful passions of their flesh (since the wages of sin is death, Rom. 6:23), but God’s Spirit (2 Cor. 3:5-6, 9, 17) who brings to life everyone who believes in Jesus Christ the Lord crucified for their sins punishment and raised from the dead for their justification.

All Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 6:1-6 Jesus Returns to Nazerath

1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Devotional
In this section of Mark's gospel, Mark here tells us of Jesus' return to his hometown of Nazareth. A place where Jesus having been baptized by John in the Jordan River, and being filled with the Holy Spirit by God the Father, Jesus after enduring His temptation in the wilderness, began His public ministry teaching in the synagogues and was glorified by all (Luke 4:14-15). That is until Jesus returned too Nazareth. For though they heard the words of the Scripture he read to them from Isaiah on the Sabbath, which He declared to be fulfilled in their hearing, they rejected Jesus’ Person as being the fulfillment of those Scriptures. Instead relegating Him to the standing of being merely Joesph's son. And with that, Jesus knowing their unbelief, also declared to them from the Scriptures two Gentiles as true people of God, because they believed the prophets message spoken to them, which the people of Nazareth didn't. And so when they heard Jesus say that to them, they tried to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff. But Jesus walked away from them unscathed (See Luke 4:16-30). And with that Jesus “…went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Luke 4:31-32

And so Jesus leaves Nazareth, and goes out and teaches many people. Performing many miracles and healings in and around Capernaum, (a densely populated area), before He again returns to Nazareth. And so Jesus having returned begins again, by teaching on the Sabbath, in their synagogue. Now when Jesus did so the Scripture says: “And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. Vs. 2-3

This then is the second time that Jesus reveals Himself as the Christ to the people of Nazareth. In the first instance, already briefly reviewed. Jesus did not teach, He simply read from Isaiah the prophet and declared to them that "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." which they rejected by relegating Jesus to being merely the son of Joseph (Luke 4:21-22). And so here Jesus is not said to be reading from the Scriptures on the Sabbath to declare to them as His coming as the fulfilment of the Messiah. Instead Jesus is teaching them directly, as the Messiah. And so when they hear Jesus speaking to them they are amazed at the Wisdom of Jesus Words, as well as the mighty works performed by His hands. Yet they remain incredulous about Him, and instead of believing in Him, they again relegate Jesus to just the “carpenter”, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon who lives amongst them (vs. 3). And so the Scripture says they were offended at Him. Now the word translated offended here is indicating that by both Jesus Words and deeds; though some would've marveled at Him; the majority just took great offense at Him. I imagine some of them were saying things like this: "How dare this carpenters son come into our synagogue and make such assertions about the "Kingdom of heaven", and do such things. Who does he think he is!" And so once again the people of Nazareth, whom Jesus had grown up with and lived amongst, did not see Jesus for who He really is. Though they were astonished by His teaching, and taken back by His mighty works amongst them, yet they remained incredulous towards Him. Not willing to believe that God's Son had come and had lived His early mortal life amongst them; not only in fulfillment of the Scriptures; but also for the rising, and fall of many in Israel (consider Luke 2:34-35).  Therefore with their again relegating Jesus, to being just a carpenter, Jesus says to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Vs. 4 Now see the progression that Jesus uses in His declaration. First his own country, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country…” Believers too, will share in Jesus Christ’s humiliation and too lessor and greater degrees His suffering (as it is all appointed to us from God) before we share in His inheritance. Consider Jesus was born a Jew, and was faithful to all of God's law. Yet He was largely rejected by His own countrymen, as it says in the Gospel of John of Him: 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:11-12

“…among his own relatives…” Than one’s own cousins, aunts, uncles etc. some or all may very well reject a person’s testimony of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. Believers then should not be surprised when they having declared their loyalty to Jesus Christ, find themselves alienated from some of or all their own relatives. Even Jesus’ relatives in Nazareth after they began hearing of Jesus’ mighty works after He left Nazareth, started saying He was out of His mind, and sought to stop Him (Mark 3:21). Which then precipitated the scribes who came up from Jerusalem to seize on that, and then go on to say to the people, that Jesus was casting out demons by the ruler of demons; to even further undermine Jesus' reputation, and thus people following Him. Nonetheless the Lord Jesus immediately and thoroughly rebuked them for their blasphemous words about Him with His parable. Saying that those who say such things about Him are subject to eternal condemnation (See Mark 3:22-30). For as the Scripture says: 22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. John 5:22-23 Therefore those who presume upon knowing Jesus, or being in a relationship with God, but are incorrigible towards either Him or His own, can truly be said to not know neither God nor Him (consider 1 John 3:15; 4:20).

“…and in his own house…” That is those most closely related to them. The Lord Jesus said when one believes in Him a man’s enemies will be those of His own household, (See Matt. 10:34-36). Even at this point Jesus’ brothers did not yet believe in Him (John 7:1-5). Only Marry Jesus’ mother did; though James and Jude would later. James being chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ to be the first eyewitness Apostle to His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and thus the Apostle James became a prominent Apostle in the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 15). Notice too Jesus is no longer being referred to as Joseph’s son, but Mary’s, which may be indicating that Joseph had died by this time (See Luke 4:22). As well notice that the people of Nazareth mentioned Jesus as having genealogical brothers by name, two are to be noted. The James previously mentioned is the Apostle James who wrote the Epistle (or letter in the N.T.) that bears His name; and Judas (or Jude) is the author of the N.T. Epistle that bears his name. Also there is the mention of some sisters; clearly indicating that Mary did not remain a “perpetual virgin” as  the Catholics try to deify her being. None of which affects Jesus Christ’s Person as the Son of God. But it does affect Mary’s status, if one is holding to her as having a place before Jesus Christ the Lord as a means to God the Father. For the New Testament is clear, it is only the eternal Father Son relationship that is paramount (John 14:6). For there is neither a mother or queen in heaven. Now Marks Gospel concludes this section by saying that Jesus could do no mighty work there in Nazareth, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” Vs. 5-6

That Jesus could do no mighty work there is not that He Himself did not want too, rather He Himself has made faith in His Person the means or agency by which He comes into and works in people’s lives. Therefore the unbelief of the people of Nazareth assured that Jesus could do not mighty work there amongst them, or in them, or even through them. For that principal is inseparably linked to the gospel and ones reception or rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ as testified too in it. The passage then concludes that Jesus marveled at their unbelief. And how could He not. For if they won't believe God's Son and Word living and speaking amongst them, then what will they believe? And so with that the Scripture says Jesus went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Notice Jesus never stayed long in a place where faith was absent. Though He always gives time for its seeds to be sown and too mature. Yet if He returns only to see nothing has taken root, He leaves. As should you and me.

All Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.