Author: Dana Roseman

Mark 8:27 (NET) Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They said, “John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Peter got it right

There was a lot of speculation about who Jesus was. After John the Baptist was beheaded, some thought he was a resurrected John. Others, Elijah or one of the prophets. The Pharisees and Sadducees believed he was the devil.

Peter got it right. He said, “You are the Christ.” Matthew 16:17 reveals more of the story. There, the record adds, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! ” 

To know Jesus, God must reveal him to us.

Why the warning?

The time had not come for the world to know. Many speculated about this man who performed extraordinary miracles everywhere he went. They marveled at his authority when he spoke. But, few understood his true identity. He would not reveal it except to his closest followers. God has a time for everything.

Mark 8:22 (NET) Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Then he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyes and asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 Regaining his sight he said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking.” 25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. And he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

Two part healing

This healing took two phases. First, Jesus spit on his eyes and placed his hands on his eyes. Partial sight was restored. Again, Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. This time, he saw clearly.

Modern reports of sight restoration through medical intervention indicate restoring sight only solves part of the problem. The other problem is the brain’s inability to make sense of the new visual information.

One person who had his sight restored was quickly able to recognize human form from other visual information. The problem was depth perception. After a couple days of enjoying sight, he asked, “Why is it that some people are large and some very small.” His problem, People near appeared full size. People at a distance appeared very small. His brain was able to determine shapes, but not distance.

This may have been part of the problem with the man Jesus healed. When Jesus first spat and touched the man’s eyes, he healed his sight. The second touch was to reprogram his brain to understand the new visual information.

He led him out of Bethsaida, and told him not to return

Bethsaida was not a place conductive to faith. In Matthew 11: 21-22, Jesus criticized Bethsaida and Chorazin, saying if the miracles done there had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented.

There is evidence that Bethsaida had become a place of idol worship in Jesus day. Philip Herod build a temple for foreign gods in honor of the deceased wife of Emperor Augustus in order to establish the Roman Imperial cult. The loyalty of the city was with the foreign gods.

This could explain why Jesus led the man out of the city to heal him and then told him not to return.

It’s not About the Bread, it’s About the Yeast

Mark 8:14 (NET) Now they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 And Jesus ordered them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!” 16 So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread. 17 When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? 18 Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Seven.” 21 Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Yeast cells are tiny, egg shaped fungi. They are so tiny, in fact, that it takes more than 500 billion to weigh an ounce.

The yeast cells eat sugar. Yeast’s scientific name, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, means sugar-eating fungus. As it eats the sugar, it converts it to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol.

When yeast invades bread dough, the carbon dioxide gas is trapped in the elastic dough and blows a tiny bubble. When enough of the tiny cells get together and blow up enough bubbles, they create air pockets in the dough, making it rise.

Another characteristic of yeast, it multiplies – slow at first, then fast and furious. Bread yeast reproduces by a process called budding. In budding, the nucleus divides and forms another cell which breaks off. Now, there are two. Then, four. Then, eight. Then, sixteen. Its slow at first. Then, much faster, going from 16,384 to 32,768 cells in the 15th generation. As it grows and spreads, causing the dough to rise on it’s march forward, it eventually takes captive every part of the dough, changing it completely.

The Yeast of the Pharisees (and Herod)

The teachings of the Pharisees permeated every area of Jewish life, changing it completely. They took the pure commands of God and changed them into something different. Something God never intended. Something that benefited the Pharisees instead of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus pointed out in Mark 7 how they side stepped the command to honor father and mother by saying money received was a gift to God and could not be used to assist an elderly parent. They established traditions that nullified the Word of God. They used the money and the prestige of their position to bring honor to themselves and to oppress people instead of using it to help people the way God intended.

Their teachings spread throughout the Jewish world, changing God’s truth into something else. Like yeast, it permeated every area of Jewish life. Now, God’s intent in his commands was unrecognizable because human traditions replaced God’s commands in the same way carbon dioxide and alcohol replaced the sugars in dough.

The Same Happens Today

Not every pastor or church leader today is good. Many are false teachers and false prophets. They use the Scriptures and their positions to benefit themselves instead of those they are responsible to serve. As Jesus said, “Watch out!” “Beware!”

Something Completely Different

Jesus inaugurated a new way of life, a life dependent on the Spirit of God within you to guide and empower you. Rivers of living water flow from you.

The Old Covenant, the old way of living, ended with John the Baptist. Luke 16:16 states, “The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.”

The moment of change from Old to New was Jesus baptism. The Holy Spirit came on him. From then on, he lived by that power. He set the precedent for Kingdom living. Since he lived by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A New Way of Life, a New Way of Living

Because this is a new way of life, a new way of serving God and living with others, new habits are practiced. Under Law, ritual washing for cleanliness were necessary before you could enter the presence of God. His holiness was so powerful, if you entered his presence unclean you would be destroyed.

By the time the Pharisees came along, an ever increasing lists of cleansing rituals was added, such as prescribed ways of washing hands, cups, pots, kettles and furniture. The problem with the Pharisee’s rules is that they did not represent God’s commands. They were often useless rules that did nothing to advance God’s interests. They only gave more power to the Pharisees.

Pharisees were like bureaucrats. God gave commands. The Pharisees created rules and regulations to support the commands. But, they went too far. They created a labyrinth of rules of regulations that did more to confuse people that in did to advance God’s interests. For example, it was unlawful to walk through a wheat field during harvest time on the Sabbath. The reason given, as you walk through the field, your legs will brush against the heads of grain. Threshing is work which is not allowed on the Sabbath.

In the New Covenant, the Law and its purposes were completed. Not done away with, fulfilled. God receives us into his presence on a new basis. Under the Law, you were made clean by the blood of a spotless lamb. It was only partly effective. No lamb, no matter how spotless, was quite good enough to remove the stain of all sin. It had to be repeated over and over – until Jesus. He was and is the spotless lamb. His sacrifice permanently removes all the stain of our sin. It happened once, on the cross, and never has to be repeated. Our purity comes from the Spirit of God making us clean within. When we receive Christ as the payment of our sin, his holiness touches us and removes the stain.

Because the blood of Jesus, the perfect lamb, cleanses us completely, now, when God looks at us, he sees us through the filter of Jesus’ blood. He is satisfied. Every time he looks at us, instead of our sin, he sees Jesus’ sacrifice. Instead of our failure, he sees Jesus’ success.

He still disciplines us when we sin, but he does not punish us. He punished Jesus in our place. Discipline is different from punishment. Discipline is for our improvement. Discipline is for our growth. Discipline improves us and it improves our life. Punishment for our sin is no longer a part of our future. When God punished Jesus in our place for our sin, the job was complete. That is why Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.”

We live in the Kingdom of God, not by the Law. The Kingdom of God is fueled by the Spirit of God. It energizes us by a power within us, but, not of us. The Law showed us our need. It pointed out our shortcomings. But, the Law lacks the power to change us. Living the Kingdom life means being fueled by God’s Spirit to live the life the Law demands.

The Pharisees Were Stuck in the Law

Mark 7:1 Now the Pharisees and some of the experts in the law who came from Jerusalem gathered around him. 2 And they saw that some of Jesus’ disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.) 5 The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?” 6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’

It is shocking how completely the Pharisees missed the Kingdom of God. They scrupulously followed the their rules and regulations down to the letter. They believed this was the path to God’s acceptance. But, they missed the Kingdom because their rules did not support God’s commands.

Their Worship was in Vain

Their worship was in vain. The purpose of their worship was not to honor God from the heart. It was to manipulate God into accepting them for the many acts of piety they performed. In their mind, if they did enough washings and honored enough traditions they could twist God’s arm into accepting them. Their righteousness was based on their performance.

Pride is often the result of following the Law. I have seen it happen. Especially in legalistic churches. There are always a few in leadership who outwardly keep the law. They are seduced into believing they are somehow better and more valuable to God because they are able to avoid some of the pitfalls that cause lesser souls to fall.

Pride is the most obnoxious of sins. It blinds us to ourselves. That is the problem the Pharisees faced. They were proud of their outward ability to keep the Law. They looked down on others. The result, they grew further and further from God in their heart.

Our value to God is not based on our performance, it is based on our acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice as our cleansing agent. When we give up trying to be acceptable based on our performance and sink into God’s provision for our cleansing, we are fully accepted. Pride has no place. We did nothing to cleanse ourselves. Jesus paid it all.

They Traded Grace for Law

“For freedom Christ has set us free.” That’s what Scripture says in Gal 5:1. It goes on to say, “Stand firm, then, and do net be subject again to the yoke of slavery.” The yoke of slavery is the Law. By choosing to live within the boundaries of the Kingdom of God, we are free from the Law. The reason, when we follow Jesus, we follow the Law automatically.

We are free from the Law because we died to the Law. Our death occurred at our spiritual baptism of which water baptism is an outward sign. Romans 6 tells us, “As many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.”  Spiritual baptism means that we were immersed into the life and experience of Jesus at salvation. We are united with him. We are identified with his death, burial and resurrection. Now, we walk in newness of life. As a new creation, when we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we fulfill the Law automatically.

A part of being born anew is the death of the old self. The old self was subject to the law. At your rebirth, you are born into a new kingdom, subject to a different law. Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

The Pharisees rejected grace. Their whole identity was tied up in Law. They built up layer on layer of traditions to ensure they and others paid strict adherence to the Law. But, they rejected grace and true righteousness. “A person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Rom 3:28) The law has no ability to make us righteous because it relies on our ability to perform the law without fail. Only the Spirit within us, enlivening us can empower us to keep the law. That is grace. Grace declares us righteous, then empowers us to do what is required. The Pharisees chose to try to keep the law by their own power.

Two Paths to Righteousness

There are, seemingly, two paths to righteousness. Works and Grace. The Pharisees chose the path of works. They set up and sought to follow ever increasing sets of regulations built on top of more regulations.

The Law of the elders and the Pharisees is a lot like the federal government. Laws are created, then, regulators take those laws and spell out page after page of rules we must follow to be in adherence with the law. Enforcement agencies, such as police and IRS are entrusted with the authority to monitor citizens for compliance.

But, there is another way. For a government, instead of layer on layer of regulations, we can teach the values represented by the laws. In our faith, instead of teaching strict adherence to the law, we can show people the heart of God and give them an opportunity to follow him day by day and moment by moment. As we follow our Savior, following the law is automatic because he always walks ahead of us on the path he has chosen, encouraging us along the way and empowering us by his Spirit. If we are following Christ, we don’t have to concern ourselves with Law.

Traditions Trumped Regard for God

8 Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.” 9 He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition.

The Pharisees had no regard for the commands of God. They made an outward show of obedience, but their hearts were far away. They established traditions. But, the purpose of their traditions was to make them look good. It was not about honoring God.

Nullifying God’s Word by Traditions

10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is corban’ (that is, a gift for God), 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”

Jesus gave a single example, “Honor your father and your mother,” to demonstrate how they twisted the commandments for their own purpose. He continued, “You nullify the word of God by your tradition.”

Hypocrite is a word Jesus used to describe the Pharisees. In context, the word hypocrite refers to a stage actor. It speaks of one who plays a part publicly, but in reality is someone else. The Pharisees played a part publicly that did not represent truth. Outwardly they were devout men of God. Inwardly, they were unclean men. Jesus said of them, “You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean.” (Matt 23:27)

Their traditions grew out of their heart. They created rules that looked good from the outside. They looked like they were to honor God. In fact, they benefited the Pharisees. It gave them the honor their hearts desired. It enriched them. It was about them, not God.

It’s About What We Say, not What We Eat

14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand. 15 There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him.”16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. 

Jesus made it clear, we are defiled by the things we say and do, not by how closely we follow rules, regulations and traditions. We can meticulously follow to the letter every code, rule and religious regulation. We can attend, as some of my Baptist friends say, every time the church doors open. But, what we are on the inside comes out, either in words or actions.

Jesus explains

17 Now when Jesus had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 He said to them, “Are you so foolish? Don’t you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him? 19 For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer.” (This means all foods are clean.) 20 He said, “What comes out of a person defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.23 All these evils come from within and defile a person.”

Just Passing By?

When I first noticed the phrase in Mark 6:48, “. . . he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them,”  I did a double take and looked again. “He wanted to pass by them?”

Questions came to mind. “Did he do this often?” “Was he taking a shortcut or avoiding rough terrain by walking across the sea.” “Was he messing with the disciples?” “Teasing them, perhaps?”

Then the other question. “Did he do this often?” “Did he frequently walk across the water to take a shortcut?”

I don’t know if my questions are answerable. But, they are fun to think about.

They Had Just Fed the 5000

Mark 6:45 (NET) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 46 After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray.

Jesus’ walking on the water is right after the feeding of the 5000. Actually, more than 5000. Only the men were counted. Women and children were also present. We can only speculate on the actual size of the crowd. 8000? 10,000? 15,000? Who knows?

He immediately sent the disciples to the other side of the sea while he dispersed the crowd. He was looking after their welfare. They had been so busy with ministry activities they had no time to eat. When they tried to get away for some rest, the crowd followed them. Jesus, being the good shepherd he was, took care of the crowd so the disciples could get away.

He did not rest. He went to the mountain to pray.

Yes! It Says, “Just Passing By”

47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.

The boat was in the middle of the sea. The disciples strained at the oars. The wind was against them. He came to them, walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them.

Or, Does it Mean, “Coming Near?”

The word in the original language can apparently mean either pass by or come near. If the meaning is to come near, rather than to pass by, it’s a very different lesson. Coming near indicates he came to encourage, reassure and assist them. Like a good older brother, he got close to monitor the situation, to help if needed.

Perhaps, he didn’t intend for the disciples to see him. He wanted to be close by, just in case.

He watched, in case they got in over their head. He did not plan to rescue them. To rescue sometimes is to weaken. We grow in our struggles.

Acting as a Spotter

I think Jesus was taking the position of a spotter. I used to lift free weights. When doing heavy lifts on a bench press, I wanted to exhaust my muscles to achieve maximum growth. Sometimes, going for one more rep, I stalled, unable to complete a lift. The spotter placed his hands under the bar and lifted just enough so I could finish.

The spotter rarely lifts all the weight. Maybe only 10 or 20 pounds. Just enough to allow the lifter to complete the lift. I think that’s what Jesus was doing. He was the spotter. He wanted them to struggle. He wanted them to grow. He was there to do just enough to help them complete the test and achieve maximum growth.

There is a lesson for us in that. Jesus is a spotter in our life. He doesn’t remove struggles. He does just enough. Our growth is more important than immediate success.

Matthew’s Addition

Matthew’s account adds this: Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Mark’s account doesn’t mention Peter’s walking on the water and then sinking. Mark is Peter’s account. Maybe Peter, embarrassed by his failure, chose not to include that part.

They Thought He Was a Ghost

49 When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

A phantom, an apparition, a ghost. That’s what they thought Jesus was. They cried out for fear. They were terrified.

Fear was a part of their life as long as Jesus was on this earth. Before the crucifixion, Peter said, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” Then, he added, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” Yet, when the time came, Peter denied even knowing him.

After Pentecost they had courage. After the Holy Spirit came, they had power.

Verses 49 and 50 are a snapshot into their spiritual condition. They are fearful. They are blind to God’s presence.

Jesus knew their spiritual condition. He knew how far they had come. He also knew how far they had to go. That is why he walked out to them on the water. He knew they would be fearful. He wanted to reassure them. He wanted to encourage them. Like a good coach, he wanted them to learn to deal with difficulties. He encouraged and instructed them in each situation.

The Wind Ceased

51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

The last time he calmed a storm, the disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” He spoke to the storm, “Be quiet, Calm down!”

This time, the wind ceased.

They Did Not Understand About the Loaves

Their hearts were hard to any possibilities beyond their expectations of an earthly kingdom. Jews were taught about the Messiah. They were taught about a coming King. But, their teaching was incomplete. They didn’t learn about the humble servant who would be king.

The lesson of the loaves was to teach them about the intended use of power, which is to use power for good, not for conquest alone.

Healing More Sick People

53 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. 56 And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

The lesson of the Old Covenant – If you touch something unclean, the uncleanness transfers to you and you are unclean. You have to perform cleansing rituals to be clean again. Until you do, you are banned from God’s presence.

The lesson of the New Covenant – If you are unclean and Jesus touches you, his cleanness transfers to you and you are clean. You don’t have to do any cleansing rituals because Jesus’ touch cleanses you. Now, you can enter God’s presence.

Wherever Jesus went, he touched people or they touched him. The unclean women who had been bleeding for twelve years touched him. Like an electric current, power flowed. She felt it. He felt it.

For everyone who touched Jesus, believed in Jesus or listened to Jesus, power flowed to them. Lame walked, sick came to health, dead rose, eyes saw. All who touched the edge of his cloak were healed.

Here is a link to a 6 minute downloadable video that illustrates holiness.

Remarkable Success Followed the Twelve

Earlier in Mark 6:7-13, Jesus sent out the twelve, two by two. He sent them with authority over unclean spirits and with specific instructions to take nothing extra with them. As they went, doing as Jesus instructed, they saw people respond to their message, they saw demons leave and they saw sick people made well.

Excited about their success, they gathered around Jesus to tell him about it.

Mark 6:30 (NET) Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught.

Young, Energetic, Full of Themselves

Imagine for a moment. Twelve young football players lingering around together after their team just won the championship game. The coach enters the locker room and says, “I want each of you to tell me about your biggest plays, your best hits and your most surprising moments of the game.” The excitement the players would feel retelling their big plays would be the kind of excitement the apostles felt when they gathered around Jesus to tell them about their success on their mission.

The apostles were all young men, probably in their twenties and early thirties. Some were unrefined fishermen, boisterous and full of themselves. There was a political zealot and a tax collector among the collection of uneducated, but energetic young men. As they told Jesus about their journey they interrupted and talked over each other in their excitement to share with Jesus the news of their journey.

How I Imagine the Conversation

I can imagine Peter, wide-eyed with enthusiasm jumping into conversation, “Jesus, Jesus, I started telling this man he needed to change his thinking and turn to God!” Then, this voice came out of him.” “I remembered how you did it and I told the demon in him to get out!” “And it worked.” “First, he . . .”

Before he finished, John interrupts, saying, “And he fell down, writhing around . . .”

“Yeah!” “He writhed around like a, like a snake that had been hit with a stick,” Peter said.

John jumped back in, “Yeah, exactly!”

Peter continued, “Then I yelled at the demon.” “The man convulsed.” “Then, he was so still, we thought maybe he was dead!” “After a while, he moaned and blinked his eyes and said, ‘What happened?'”

“So we told him.” “Then he wanted to know about God.” John added.

“Yeah, so we started telling the crowd that had gathered about God and how he wanted to heal them and . . .”

“So then we started touching people and praying for them.” “They were being healed.” “It was amazing.”

Jesus Made Time for Celebration

Jesus listened attentively to all their stories, encouraging them as they shared. He encouraged them to celebrate their success.

In the same way, it is important for us to share our success and tribulations with one another. In the life of a believer, there will be both. There will be times of enthusiasm, growth and success. There will be times of discouragement, stagnation and failure.

It is appropriate to share with one another the good times and the bad times. Sharing in that way is part of the meaning of fellowship.

Jesus Used Times of Isolation

31 He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place.

Jesus often went away by himself. At other times, he took others with him. Here, he and his closest followers were so busy tending to the needs of others, they didn’t have time to eat. At Jesus’ suggestion they sought to escape the crowds for the purpose of having a meal and a time of rest.

Rest Was Not to Be

33 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived there ahead of them.

Since they were traveling by boat, the people on land, anticipating where he might go, hurried on and arrived ahead of them. There was no time to eat or rest.

It was not unusual for people to travel great distances to see and hear Jesus. His fame was unmatched except possibly by Caesar himself. To the Jews of this day, Jesus represented possibility.

Staggering under the weight of Roman oppression and taxation, they were looking for a political solution to their problems. They were looking for someone to deliver them from Roman rule. They were looking for a Jewish king, a conquering Messiah. Because of his works of power, many hoped Jesus was the solution, the king, the Messiah they hoped for.

Of course, Jesus was bringing in a new kingdom. But, not the kind the people were expecting. They were looking for an earthly kingdom. They were looking for a king to conquer the Romans and sit on the throne in Jerusalem.

Jesus was a king. He was inaugurating a kingdom. But, it was a completely different kind of kingdom. It was a kingdom where the greatest among them would serve rather than be served. It was a kingdom where righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit would prevail. It was a kingdom of salt in the decaying parts of the world. It a was a kingdom of light in the shadows of the earth. It was a kingdom that will not be fully manifested until later when Jesus returns to this earth in power and glory.

The Jews were looking for the power and glory, now. They were looking for the kingdom in a form that will not come until Jesus returns, a kingdom that is to be a part of the resurrection of the dead. A kingdom of humility and service as well as power and glory.

Jesus’ Gracious Response

34 As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things. 

As the good shepherd, even though he was tired and hungry, Jesus first met the needs of those he served. He taught them truths to help them order their lives and strengthen their hearts. He gave them encouragement so they could continue on in the difficulties and oppression they endured daily.

When we are concerned about how God feels about us, remember, he came to this earth to be our good shepherd. He has compassion on us. He sees our physical and spiritual needs. He looks for ways to meet them.

He is also aware we are in search of meaning. To meet that need, he enlists those who choose to be a part of his kingdom. He gives us gifts, talents and opportunities to use in service to others and to God so we are able to have a life of meaning and reward.

The Disciples Response

35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place and it is already very late. 36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.”

While the apostles were concerned for the people, they were unaware of the way Jesus would choose to use his power. Not as a conquering Messiah, but as a servant King. Jesus will use this upcoming miracle to teach them how he wants his power used. It is a lesson they miss.

Understand, the kingdom of God is a kingdom of power. It has the power to stop a society from decaying and begin to flourish. It has the power to bring light to the darkest places. It has the power to transform lives.

Looking ahead to verses 51 and 52, Scripture says, “They were completely astonished, because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”

There hearts were hardened because they were unaware their whole religious system was upended at Jesus baptism. In Luke 16:16, Jesus said, “The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed and everyone is urged to enter it.” 

They did not understand this kingdom. It was too different from their expectations.

They did not understand, Jesus was more than a present day solution, more than a political solution. They did not understand, he is living water. They did not understand, the kingdom Jesus was inaugurating was an eternal kingdom. They did not understand because their hearts were hardened by their expectations of a political, conquering Messiah king.

The disciples later argued about who would be greatest in the kingdom. That argument demonstrated their lack of understanding of the true nature of the kingdom and their continued hardness of heart.

Their hearts were not hard in terms of being uncaring. They cared deeply. Their hearts were hardened to any possibilities beyond their expectations of an earthly kingdom.

It was not until after Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that they understood the nature of their mission. It was only then that they understood the nature of the Kingdom of God.

37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?” 38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.” 39 Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full. 44 Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.