Wednesday 20 November 2024
And immediately he [Jesus] got into the boat. (v. 10)
Background
The highlighted text (v. 10) is currently significant for me because, as with yesterday's text, we see Mark emphasising rapidness and urgency, this time about getting into a boat. And in eight months I am starting five years without an appointment to sail the world on a project connecting faith with climate sustainability. You can find a link to my blog in the 'Bible notes author' below.
However, maybe it’s also significant for us all. Should we be understanding Mark's urgency as a call to stop dwelling on what God has already done and move on to what God is doing next? (Isaiah 43:19 “ I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”)
We can wonder why Mark's Gospel includes two examples of events when large numbers of people were fed (this account and 6:30-44 'The feeding of the 5000'). They have a lot in common, but maybe Mark is drawing on different sources, one more Jewish and the other more Gentile.
In this passage, the people are especially hungry as they haven’t eaten for three days. Jesus responds out of compassion for their situation. Throughout the centuries we have seen Christians and churches respond to hungry people. In Wythenshawe, Manchester where hunger and poverty is a desperate problem, our Churches Together have responded with 'The Big Feed' for two school summer holidays and is now preparing to help people at Christmas. There are events all over the community where everyone is welcome for a good time – always with free food. I see churches with seven regular worshippers welcoming and feeding 70.
My point is to recognise that Jesus seems to be showing his disciples that they need to connect with people out of compassion, move beyond their concerns about money and start giving help without counting the cost. That’s a powerful, counter-cultural message aimed directly at us today. It's time to hear Mark and move with speed and urgency to where God is already at work.
To Ponder:
- Who is God firing up your feelings of compassion to help?
- Is it good discipleship to act without worrying about the money? Why?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dave Warnock
Dave is the Methodist minister in Wythenshawe, part of the Bramhall and Wythenshawe Circuit. From September 2025 he will be sailing around the world for five years encouraging connections between sustainability and faith. See Sustainable Sailing.