University Avenue Church of Christ

UA-NT-10 Essay on Mark 4-6

Written by Eddie Sharp Tuesday, 23 February 2010

“If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear….” The challenge in Mark 4 is to hear and receive the promise of the kingdom of God. It comes like a seed from a sower. It comes like a light that shines from within us. With all the garbage that can fill our hearts, we have to try hard to receive what is good and true.

The kingdom rule in our hearts may begin like a small seed or a faint light, but we are asked to remember in this text that the power within us is the same power that could speak a storm into stillness. The power to create the world and control nature is the same power at work in our new creation and in the development of our new nature.

In Mark 5, three people are transformed by the loving power of Jesus. The demonic had lost his place in the village and was forced to live in the tombs. The scars on his body were witness to his inner torment. His cries echoing in the hills told all who were near of his pain. Jesus walks into his demonic oppression. The Peacemaker is coming to make peace.

The demons know Jesus and his power. Soon they are in the pigs and in the sea. The landlord of every human heart evicts the demons. The swineherds don’t appreciate the miracle, but I imagine that when the man who had lived in the tombs got back home that day and sat down to dinner with his loved ones—I imagine that was a pretty good moment.

Later Jairus calls Jesus to help his dying daughter. Jesus begins the walk to his house. Along the way a woman with a chronic bleeding risks rebuke, seeking the reward of wholeness. It is a sweet moment as Jesus ignores her shame to honor her faith. With just a faithful touch of his clothing, the power of God restored the rhythm of her life. Now she can go into the temple courts. Now, perhaps, she can have children. Her life changes forever. The power of Jesus is generous and compassionate.

The delay prompted by the woman means Jesus is late for a healing. The little girl’s sickness has descended into death. When Jesus arrives the prayers for mercy are already replaced by wails of mourning. The good Master, who is Lord over all things, takes a dead girl’s hand and raises her to life.  Jesus converts a wake into a birthday party.

In Mark 5, we get the idea that Jesus comes to change lives; Mark 6 begins with the sad truth that the goodness of God in the world meets resistance and persecution.

When Jesus goes to Nazareth, he can hardly do anything. Because he is known, he is discounted. Because there is little faith, only a few sick people are healed. One wonders if our churches have become like hometowns for Jesus. We know him so well that we hardly welcome him in faith. And we wonder why the power of God seems absent.

When Jesus selects the 12, he welcomes them to share in his ministry, but he is realistic. They should expect opposition and minister with joy when they are welcomed. They did wonders in the name of Jesus where they met people of faith.

Mark gives the sad story of the death of John the Baptist a lot of space in his gospel. The death of John is a clear reminder to all who read the gospel that a good person can suffer for the kingdom of God and not receive release or vindication in this world. In the way John was treated, the disciples can see how it can go in this world.

The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle found in all four gospels. Jesus wants to get away for a bit, but the crowds follow him. The people are so hungry to hear Jesus they forget their stomachs. How long has it been since we were so eager to hear more about Jesus that we missed a meal without thinking about it? These folks participate in this situational fast. Jesus must delight to give bread to those who want him more than lunch. We could be people with such a focused hunger.

After the feeding, Jesus takes a prayer break. Refreshed from his solitude with God, Jesus goes out across the wind-swept lake to meet the disciples, who are rowing hard into the stubborn headwind. The disciples are afraid of Jesus for a bit, but he joins them in the boat and calms the storm. They couldn’t even begin to understand everything they had seen in the previous 24 hours. We have days like that—God is doing such amazing things around us that we miss some of them completely.