Sunday 22 July 2012

Background

These passages stress Jesus' compassion towards those in needand highlight his growing popularity as a teacher andmiracle-worker. They also act as bookends for two of Jesus' majornature-miracles: his multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark6:35-44) and walking on the water (Mark6:45-52). With signs like these, is it any wonder that crowdsgather?

The first passage (verses 30-34) begins with the disciplesreturning to Jesus from their mission of healing and teaching(verses 7-13), sharing all that they had done. The 'coming andgoing' of the crowds mean that the disciples can find no rest, soJesus takes them by boat to a deserted place across the Sea ofGalilee. But there they are met by the crowds, who have rushedaround the shore to meet them.

We might expect irritation or impatience, but Jesus hascompassion for the crowds, seeing them as "sheep without ashepherd", a metaphor with prophetic precedent (Ezekiel 34:5). Jesus recognises that the crowdsare lost and shares with them the hope-filled message of thekingdom. The compassion of Jesus also echoes the compassion (ormercy) of God, a key divine attribute in the Torah (the first fivebooks of the Old Testament) and prophets (Exodus34:6; Psalm 103:8). Through his response to thecrowd, Jesus reveals the character of his Father.

Following the two nature miracles, verse 53 sees Jesus and thedisciples come to Gennesaret, a village on the north-western shoreof the lake. Once again, the popularity of Jesus leads people fromthat "whole region" (v. 55) to lay their sick at his feet. Jesuscontinues to travel around the area, and wherever he goes, healingtakes place. Even those who touched the "fringe of his cloak" (v.56) were healed. Jesus' presence brings healing and restoration,though - as the next chapter shows - this was not withoutcontroversy.

To Ponder

• In a world of many needs, how can we remain compassionatetowards others?

• What do you think caused Jesus' popularity? To what extentshould churches seek to be 'popular' places?

• What is the role of the 'ministry of healing' in churchtoday?