In Mark’s Gospel Jesus will be arrested in a relatively short period of time after we read of Jesus feeding the five thousand and then walking on the water. Soon the people will turn against Jesus as his disciples scatter. Knowing that, do you wonder; what happened to turn the hearts of the people away from Jesus? Especially in light of the way Mark concludes this passage.
“The people recognized Jesus at once, and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.”
The last line in verse 52 can give us some insight to that question; “Their hearts were too hard to take it in.” Mark does not mean that statement in a pejorative way. He is not standing in judgment of the men in the boat. After Jesus’ resurrection he knew them all as the Apostles of Jesus. It is simply a statement of fact; recognition that God’s prevenient grace was still at work in them and they did not fully understood the mission of Jesus.
21st Century Christians most often give Jesus the title ‘Christ’ which means God’s anointed one. Christ is from the Greek translation of Messiah. The reference to Messiah in the Old Testament was a reference to a specific person with a specific mission. He would be the Savior of Israel, the Savior of the world. The miracles of Jesus were not just signs of his divinity or his superhuman powers. They were signs that he was the Messiah announcing the Kingdom of God was breaking through to the world.
What difference does this make? When people are only looking to Jesus for what Jesus can do for them; for Jesus to take care of their fears, pain, and discomfort, they are not seeing Jesus as He is, -- the Messiah.
Here is how the Apostle John responded when he saw Jesus as He is: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead.” (Revelation 1:17) When you see Jesus as He is you can no longer be self-centered. You become Christ centered.
This I believe is the answer to the question. When I am self-centered my loyalties can be turned in any direction that offers less pain, less fear, more perceived abundance. When I am Christ centered my loyalties are firmly established in God’s Kingdom.
When I am self-centered I seek God’s blessings.
When I am Christ centered I seek to Glorify God by being a blessing to others.
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
31-Oct-11 Mark 7:1-23
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