verseoftheday

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret.  They brought the boat to shore and climbed out. 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. Mark 6:53-56 NLT After a second night without sleep the disciples must've been really tired...and then the story stretches and you can imagine the flurry of activity in a village when people hear that Jesus is there and they bring their sick friends, relatives, and all are healed. Imagine the joy, and the hope. A glimpse of heaven. Yet all of those people who were healed, later died. It was just a glimpse of heaven. Do you see glimpses? We had a baptism on Sunday and the person shared a testimony of moving from despa...

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:51-52 NIV The disciples were there with 10,000 people, 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, everyone ate, everyone was filled, and each collected a basket of leftovers. It must've been miraculous. And they were in the middle of it. Just 9 hours earlier. And they didn't get it. I wonder what they didn't get that required Jesus to send them into the storm, to be under real pressure, to scare them witless, to calm the sea... They must've misinterpreted what they'd witnessed, what they'd been a part of. Was it that they were sent away, away from the response of the crowd? Because they were wanting to be connected to power. An overthrow of the external structures of Rome... They missed that Jesus is who he said he is, the Messiah, he does have authority and power, but his kingdom is of the heart. Heart...

Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified... Mark 6:48-50 NIV Richard sent this thought earlier in the week about the storm the disciples were in, & Jesus intending to walk on by: "Maybe Jesus was never going to intervene without the disciples first asking him. Maybe we can assume at times that Jesus will just make it all better but he's waiting for the invitation into our difficult situation." Learn something in the storm? Cry out to him for help? How do you know which is right? Maybe it's both.  Both live in and through the storm even when you think you're at the end of your resources and capability, AND cry out to Jesus, not in fear as the disciples did, but in faith.  Both are actions of faith  The disciples didn't expect Jesus to be close by. They thought he was far away, ...

And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them... Mark 6:48 ESV Really? The disciples are in the storm. In the dark. Making painfully slow progress. And Jesus comes by, fully intending to walk on by! Why would he do that? Maybe Jesus was happy with the progress that they were making, knew they'd be OK, and that there was something important to learn in this storm. Recently I had a time when I was at the end of what I had to offer, it felt like everything was lost. All I could do was cry and give it to God. He saw the painfully slow progress I was making and had something for me to learn. A couple of verses latter we get a clue about the disciples hearts, but Jesus had a different perspective from outside the boat. Sometimes when the progress is painfully slow, we need to trust Him. Hard to see that when we're in the boat! ...

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves... Mark 6:48 NLT This morning I woke up way too early with a feeling of inadequacy around the things I'm involved in. A mini storm. And I also had time to pray. Pray for some people and for strength & wisdom in my mini storm. Yesterday these thoughts on the storm arrived in my messages: "If He plucked us out of the storm, how would we ever develop muscles to row against it? Or how would we develop a mind sharp enough to navigate the storm? It makes me wonder sometimes if he leaves us where we are so that we would grow up and grow stronger. Just a thought." This shifted my perspective. In my mini storm I chose to pray On Sunday night a friend shared that they chose to trust God more in the storm. It's a dangerous and difficult prayer when we're in the storm to ask "Lord strengthen me, sharpen me, show me where I need to grow, even here, in this st...

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves... Mark 6:47-48 NLT We spent a lot of time last year on this passage so won't repeat all that, but the storms of life do hit again and again right? Remember how the disciples day started? Tired and hungry they set out across the lake to get some peace and quiet. The people guessed where they were going and 10,000 people were ministered to then everyone was miraculously fed. Then Jesus sent them back across the lake. And now they're in serious trouble. In the middle of the lake In the middle of the storm In the middle of the night. Ever felt like that? And where is Jesus when you need him? All you can hear is the storm All you can feel is the rain All you can see is the darkness And in that, Jesus sees them. Alone on the land, he sees. He sees us. I know Jesus ...

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 6:42-44NIV "That guy Luke gave me some bread and I gave some away and it just didn't get any smaller! It was amazing!" "My kids never eat the bread I bake, but they loved this! It's a miracle." No, gotta love Mark. Everyone ate and was satisfied. End of story. And what's with the 12 baskets? Do they represent the 12 tribes? From 10,000 people it doesn't seem like a lot...maybe it was just one basket each, and Jesus giving a taste of the Kingdom to come, where everyone is OK and there's leftovers... The disciples day started tired and hungry looking for a day off in the peace and quiet, and finished with a basket of food & particpating in a miracle with 10,000 people...best day ever! If we're willing to follow Jesus and His heart of compassion, who knows w...

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Mark 6:41 NIV Jesus shows us his thankful reliance on the Father. Turning towards heaven, giving thanks for what he had been given to work with. How often do I miss or overlook what I have to work with or use to bless others because I think it's not enough, I don't know enough, aren't experienced enough, old enough... Thankfully rely on God and use our gifts, talents, strengths, resources, and even our weaknesses, for his kingdom and to bless and encourage others. We have all got something to offer. In the face of 10,000 people, 5 loaves and 2 fish seems like it's not going to make any difference. The problem is way too big. In faithful reliance on God, Jesus broke the bread anyway. Gave it out anyway. And our God made it enough. Jesus was broken for us. In his humanity, just one man, but as God's son, He was enough. Enough for me and for you. Use what...

"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five - and two fish." Taking the five loaves and the two fish...he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied... Mark 6:38, 41-42 NIV Can you picture what's going on here...the disciples had been so busy that they couldn't stop to eat, were heading with Jesus for a day of rest across the lake, end up with 10,000 people...and now are going around asking "who's got food?" Tired Hungry And they found 5 loaves. For 10,000 people. I would've been eating those by now. Jesus gave them the food and sent them out. And they gave it away. And as they gave it away it never ran out. Mark just says "everyone ate". How did it work? Did one loaf become 2? Was it warm like it had just been baked? Did it just multiply in their hands? Did it jus...

And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late." Mark 6:35 ESV It's supposed to be the boys day off. Instead they're jn the middle of nowhere with a huge crowd. At least 10,000 And there's nothing here. No food trucks, no coffee carts, no Macca's. Not even a village. It's been a long day and they're hungry and tired. "Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." Mark 6:36 ESV Massive crowd. No food. Hungry and tired. Let's send everyone somewhere else. Makes sense to me. Then Jesus said: "You feed them" LOL Laugh. Or cry. What? Have you seen the crowd? There's NOTHING here! When what's in front of us is too big, when we can't see a way, Jesus (the good shepherd who sees things differently) says "you feed them" #wordsofJesus #shepherdvision

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 ESV So much for the weekend off, hope you enjoyed the boat trip, because here we go...there's a massive crowd waiting and Jesus isn't moved by his popularity, by the size of the crowd. He's moved by their heart. They're like sheep without a shepherd (the Latin for shepherd is Pastor.) What does a sheep need from a shepherd/pastor? Protection from danger. Direction. Leading to where the food and water are. So Jesus teaches them. Words to protect. Words to nourish. The shepherd can see danger in a way that the sheep cannot - the shepherd is not a sheep, he has a different perspective, different vision. The shepherd/pastor can see where the nourishment can be found, what the sheep need. We can trust Jesus. His perspective is different. His vision is different. He is the nourishment that ...

Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them... Mark 6:32-34 ESV They were heading for a retreat from people because life had been crazy busy. And what happens? Someone posts on FB where they're going and people are Instagramming their way around the lake and it's all on like storming Area 51! Here's the disciples happily sailing across the lake and people are running around to beat them to the other side. Streams of people. Jesus and his team get to the other side of the lake, and their plans are interrupted. (Do you know what that's like?) Interrupted by compassion If you're going to interrupt your holiday or weekend away, your sleep, or even just that nap, then interrupt it with compassion. Paul Tripp said "Since you dont know what will happen around the corner, hold your plans with an open hand and r...

And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Mark 6:32 ESV A desolate place Unpopulated Quiet Where they would not be disturbed. Jesus and his team had a crazy busy time, and some time out was needed. Finding that space, that quietness might be easy for you or really difficult. For these guys it took some effort. Get in the boat and go. When we need quiet to recharge, reflect, restore, how does that work for you? Maybe it's turn off the phone. Find somewhere quiet. Shut the door. Book some time in your day. Don't feel guilty about rest. 'Desolate" here means unpopulated, uncultivated. Barren. Finding those spaces in our noisy world where so much clamours for our attention so get creative. Get in the boat with Jesus. As his team discovered, that may be the quiet place. #Godsgym #restday #shalom #gospelofmark

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. Mark 6:39-31 NLT Monday! Time for the gym! Ever been so busy that you can't even stop to eat? That the demands of people seem never ending? What's Jesus solution? "Come on, let's get out of here, switch off our phones and disappear for a few days so we can debrief, rest, eat, and recharge." Jesus reminds us that it's OK to have boundaries. To take a day off. Do you know know your Pastors day off? Then don't call or message on that day. Get your church to publish their days off. Look after the people who look after you. It's not just OK to rest, but essential, so while today you might have to smash into things, Jesus says get...

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. Mark 6:26 NIV The King's wife hated John the Baptist. Her daughter danced at a party and I guess in a had-too-much-to-drink moment made a rash promise. He could've just said "don't be stupid, here's a pony, or ice cream, or some earrings". But his pride got in the way. Herod couldn't admit he made a mistake. He couldn't allow his guests to think for a moment he was weak or wrong or made a dumb call. Pride. Really, what was the worst thing that would've happened if he'd said no? Where does my pride get in the way? What I wear How I look What I drive Have I got the right phone, profile pic, etc etc Who are the "guests" that I'm trying to impress? Where does my pride get in the way? There's places and times that I'm just like Herod, and nothing like Jesus. Lord, help me to walk in Jesus steps, not ...

...Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Mark6:20 NIV In the middle of the story of Herod, his wife, and the eventual murder of John the Baptist is this glimpse into Herod's mind. Herod had all the power. Yet he respected John because it was clear that his words and his life and actions matched. He lived with integrity And he spoke the truth. Truth that intrigued and puzzled Herod. Herod was well on the way to faith in Jesus. For John, speaking the truth was more important than being in Herod's good books, being close to the powerful, saying what Herod wanted to hear. And for John, the consequences were fatal in the end. For John, his faith in Jesus, his calling to represent him, was worth living for in every context of his life And, Jesus was worth dying for. May my life and faith be more like John the Baptist today. #gospelofmark #faith

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." ...And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. Mark 6:4,6 ESV Ever looked at the night sky and been amazed? Just mavelled at it? Jesus didn't marvel at much, but here he did. Here he was amazed at the unbelief of his own people. His own family Did he stay and try and convince them that he was who he said he was? This same Jesus who came to seek and save the lost decided that the best thing to do was move on. That must've been some unbelief! 1. May Jesus never marvel at my level of unbelief. And 2. Jesus had a mission and was not going to achieve that if he got stuck in Nazareth. Sometimes you just have to move on. #gospelofmark #wordsofJesus #nazarethisnotmyhome

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." Mark 6:4 ESV Ever been let down, rejected, by those who should have been on your side? Jesus knows what that's like His hometown. Think small community where everyone knows everyone. His relatives. The wider family. His own household. The people he'd been brought up with. Jesus knows what it's like to not be accepted for who you are. To not be seen. To not be known. To be lost in a place you shouldn't be lost in. He knows. If that is your experience you have a saviour who knows. And. This is not the way it should be. Jesus rejection here was a taste of the ultimate aloneness he faced on the cross, so that we will only know God's love, so that we will be accepted. Seen. Known. Loved. #gospelofmark #nazarethisnotmyhome #heavenismyhome #dearlyloved #childrenofGod

Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. Mark 6:3 NIV You can almost feel the indignation rising. Who does he think he is? And they took offense at him. Offense here is "skandalizo" They wanted to scandalise Jesus. This word means to set a snare for someone, to trap them, to cause them to stumble. His people from his home town were so small minded that they missed Jesus completely. They saw Jesus actions, but completely missed his heart, his intention. mmm I think that's me too. So wrapped up in my small world that I miss the big story that Jesus calls me into. Lord, help me to see your heart, heart for people who are lost to you. Help me not to be stuck in Nazareth. Stuck in small mindedness. Help me to live in the bigness if who you are. Amen #gospelofmark #nazarethisnotmyhome

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things... What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" Mark 6:1-3 NIV Haha I love this tall poppy dialogue! It gives a glimpse of Jesus family, but a glimpse into my heart. I remember that person as a snotty nosed kid. How did they get so smart? That guy? Successful? You can feel the envy rising in the people who knew Jesus growing up. I too get to choose to be resentful, envious, or celebrate, be grateful, encourage and bless. One of the cool things about God's upside-down kingdom is that the people we saw as children can grow up to become our teachers! God can w...