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Mark 6:30-56

Jesus: The one who makes all the difference.

Introduction

1. Too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use.?

2. Can you do useful ministry without Jesus? – Without Jesus in your mind.

3. A confession of frustration. This could be the same sermon as time before last.

a. Christ above all earthly powers demonstrating his authority over those things before which humanity is helpless.

i. An storm, evil run amok in a legion of demons, chronic sickness and even death.

b. Mark! Feeding 5000, walking on water – Why such a similar point?

Mark might reply:

i. Because such a vision of Jesus as glorious Lord bears repetition (Comment of heaven – endless repetition.)[1]

ii. Because, as will become apparent, the disciples still haven’t got it!

1. They have been with Jesus. They have been given his authority. They have been out on a mission trip, (6:7-12, 30) They come back and they have proclaimed that people should repent, and they have cast out demons, and they have healed the sick (6:12) (Mark’s words, not mine)

2. But even flushed from success, even having seen God’s power at work through them, even having seen Jesus still the wind on the lake and command a legion of demons to leave their host, they don’t really get it.

4. We will see:

a. The feeding of the 5000

b. Jesus walks on water

Vs 30-44 The feeding of the 5000

1. At one level, this is a very simple story, that appears in all four gospels.

a. Jesus shows his concern for his weary disciples and they cross the lake looking for quiet and rest

b. They are followed by a large crowd, and Jesus has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd (v34)

i. A whole nation of people looking for spiritual meaning and shepherded by spiritual leaders who do not have it. And Jesus has compassion. And so he teaches them.

c. The disciples begin to point out the practical considerations. It’s late, It’s remote, so send them away. Jesus’ astonishing command: “You give them something to eat.”

d. The disciples response: They know that there is no way. It would be 8 months wages.

e. So Jesus asks them what they have. There is no small boy mentioned in Mark – because as he writes – that is not the point he is making.

f. Jesus commands them to sit down in groups. He gives thanks and breaks the bread and the fish and everyone eats and everyone is satisfied and there is an abundance left over.

2. Is it a straightforward little miracle story isn’t it? But then there is this little comment in v52

a. 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

3. What have they not understood – what does it mean that their hearts were hardened?

4. There is more going on here. More to see than a miracle. This is an acted out parable with a far deeper meaning.

5. What the disciples didn’t get was who this was and the difference that this makes

Who this was

1. 2 Kings 4:42-44 Does this ring any bells? The people there that day knew that story – even if we don’t

2. Elisha fed 100 with 20 Loaves (pitta bread) Jesus fed 5000 with 5, and all were satisfied.

3. Jesus is Greater than Elisha.

4. But a bigger sense of meaning…

5. v32 “a solitary place” a wilderness? 5000 people? A multitude? And Jesus supplies miraculous bread – to a lot of people, a multitude perhaps? Ring any bells?

a. To those who have eyes to see (ears to hear) Here is God himself providing new manna feeding his people. Miraculous bread in the wilderness to a multitude – This is what God himself does. Jesus as God incarnate[2]

b. Only a God like this could do a miracle like this

c. Jesus is not bound by the normal human rules of insufficiency. He wants the disciples and us to see that he is God who can break the rules of supply and demand. He wanted his disciples to learn to trust him in that, and he wants us to learn to trust him in that. He want them to know that with Jesus there they could and would give the crowd something to eat. This is how human beings minister in God’s power. The difference is doing it with Jesus.

The difference Jesus makes

d. When you read their ideas: “send them away – so that they can buy themselves something to eat” Isn’t there a tone there – what human orientated ministry can be like when it looses sight of Jesus? We had better find a plan for coping… (Utilitarian – rather than doxological)

e. With Jesus there – everyone is fed – not so that they have enough, but so that there is an abundance left over.

f. If you don’t have Jesus with you when you minister then you’ve got 5 loaves and two fish and 5000 people, and that’s all you’ve got.

g. If you’ve got Jesus with you it’s a whole different story.

Jesus, cosmic lord, walks on water

1. Cosmic = lord of everything.

2. What happens. The disciples are told to get into the boat and go, and Jesus goes up a mountain to pray.

3. A storm brews up on the lake, and the disciples are straining at the oars, and the wind is against them.

a. The situation is not as dangerous as previously 4:35-41 – (Swamped by waves) but they are struggling.

b. As they see it they are alone on the lake Straining away and getting nowhere.

i. Does the ministry you are involved in ever feel like that? Does life ever feel like that?

c. And Jesus walks out to them on the lake.

d. Who is this Jesus?

i. Mark drops a pretty big hint – for those who have eyes to see it.

ii. V48 (end) “he was about to pass by them” I don’t think that means that Jesus was on his way to the other side of the lake and was going to pass on by and leave his disciples struggling.”

iii. Jesus – walking on water is going to pass by his disciples – so that they can see him.

iv. In Exodus 33, Moses asks God to Show him his glory, and God replies that he will cause his goodness to “pass in front of you” IN Ex 34 we read that the LORD ^“passed in front of Moses”

v. Here the word “pass” IN the Greek version of the OT and the NT the same word.

vi. God passed by Moses in order that Moses might see God’s glory. Jesus passes by his disciples in order that they might see his glory

e. This is the cosmic Lord. The one who made the water molecules, the one who formed the geography of Galilee, the one who made the lake.

f. The disciples see this figure walking on the waves and are sure that they are seeing ghost, and they cry out in fear. And Jesus speaks to them and says: “Take courage, it is I, don’t be afraid “

g. And as he gets into the boat, the wind and the waves die down and we are told v52

i. 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

4. If you don’t have Jesus with you, you can strain at the oars all night long and get nowhere. When he gets in everything changes.

5. Just think with me for a moment about this “ghost” (Round it to the nearest 10) Now how many ghosts do you suppose that they had seen walking on the lake at night? Why jump to that conclusion? Wasn’t it more likely that it was Jesus? They had seen Jesus command a storm to be still, and deal with demons and sickness.

6. Jesus wasn’t big in their minds and hearts at that point on that night on that lake. Faithless eyes will look and see with terror “it’s a ghost” That night they were too earthly minded to be of any earthly use.

7. We need to be people – heavenly minded – whose hearts are set on the Lord Jesus

Something else we need to notice here – underlines that

1. The disciples – were alone on the lake – straining against the wind and getting nowhere – or were they? The disciples were never alone on that lake. They were watched over by the cosmic Lord of the universe.

2. When was that Mark is careful to set these events in time. So in verse 47 – When evening came – Suppose 8pm?

3. Do you think that Jesus needed to go to them for the wind to be still. So how come Jesus doesn’t come to them until v48 The fourth watch? (Between 3 & 6am) Jesus allows the disciples to spend the night struggling on the lake. 8 Hours.

a. What’s going on there?

b. What’s more important – that they have a smooth journey on the lake – or that they get to see the glory of Jesus – as he gets into the boat and the wind dies down.

c. Is it worth eight hours on the lake straining against the wind, tired muscles that are screaming that they want to stop now – and you want to sleep so much – wet spray and cold – and you just want to be home – is it worth that for this glimpse of Jesus – Yes and yes – (stay in bed than get a glimpse of Jesus in the morning)

The difference having Jesus with you makes.

1. For effective ministry – You have to have Jesus with you. Jesus is with us when he is big in our minds and big in our hearts.

2. Utility is not enough – you have to have doxology – you have to be thrilled at the thought of Jesus – at the thought of who he is.

3. He get’s big in our minds and big in our hearts when we notice him, contemplate him, depend on him, worship him.

Conclusion

1. You may feel a little like them – straining and getting no-where. Don’t think that he doesn’t see. He saw then and he sees now.

2. Why did he walk out that night? What do you think they cried out? What would frightened Jewish sailors shout? God help us?

a. When they cry out, then the cosmic Lord says “Take courage, it is I, don’t be afraid”

b. Isn’t there are little picture here fore any who have not become Christians? Above the wind and the waves stands Jesus – God help – Lord have mercy on me a sinner – surrender – when he gets into the boat – he must be Lord – he commands the wind and the waves – so don’t imagine that you can command him – but you could welcome him in – Know the joy of life with Jesus – because it makes all the difference.

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[1] 1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. (ESV)

[2] Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him.

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.