What Will God Do Next?

 

You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.  --Oswald Chambers

What is the single most amazing thing God has done for you?  Every answer will be personal, and some stories may not seem so amazing to those who did not experience it first-hand.  When we get to Heaven, we will be able to share our own amazing God stories to Christians we have not met, and I believe we will be amazed even more at how God's plan in our own lives intersected with His plan working out in others' lives.  The list of God's astounding works will have many "but wait, there's more!" moments.

God's work is never stagnant or stale, and when we see what happens next (after seeing the groundwork that He has already laid) we cannot help but praise Him more.  This truth is evident in our study of Mark 6.  You will recall the story in verses 7 through 13 of how Jesus commissioned His disciples to go, two by two, and preach the Good News to villages and towns, and to heal the sick and cast out demons as they went.  Verse 30 brings us back to that episode, and leads us into the next miraculous event in the ministry of Jesus through the twelve disciples.

Come Away With Me

The apostles returned to Jesus and told Him all that they had done and taught.  And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while."  For many were coming and going and they had no leisure even to eat.  And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.  --Mark 6:30-32

What great joy and encouragement these men must have shared as they recounted their time of ministry and healing in the Name of Jesus.  Each one must have had a story more amazing than the last.  Jesus, not wanting them to burn out, suggested that they get away for a time of R&R.  They could still fellowship, but many of them must have been too excited to sleep, and the Bible says there was so much going on that they could not even grab a bite to eat.

Self care is very important.  I remember when the pastor and staff of a church I attended would always take a retreat in January.  After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the ministry team would go to a hotel or conference center in another town to get away, relax, put the prior year into perspective, and plan for the upcoming year.  Some members of the church must have grumbled and complained about the cost of the retreat, although I am sure they were more upset about having to listen to a guest speaker on that Sunday.  Anyway, the pastor mentioned from the pulpit the rationale for getting away, and also pointed out that Jesus also went away by Himself, even though there were people with needs at the time.  In His human form, Jesus could not be everywhere at once, and we certainly can't, either.  We must take time for ourselves even while doing His work. 

No Rest for the Weary

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, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  --Mark 6:33-34a

Did you know the word pastor means shepherd?  When your pastor is away tending to his own personal needs, he does not stop being your pastor, just as Jesus did not stop showing compassion for the crowds.  People are often called sheep in the Bible, because we tend to follow the herd.  When we stray away, we place ourselves in danger of predators.  We also, like sheep, are prone to wander into desolate areas without food or water.  We desperately need a shepherd, someone to tend to our needs even as the one who shepherds us may go without sustenance.  We see the contrast in this passage--the disciples did not have time to eat, while the multitudes that followed them had no food to eat.

Logistically Lacking, Providentially Packing 

And He began to teach them many things.  And when it grew late, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late.  Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."  But He answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"  And He said to them, "How many loaves to you have?  Go and see."  And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish."--Mark 6:34b-38

The disciples had to be exhausted and hungry themselves.  They may have been truly concerned for the welfare of the multitude, or they may have asked Jesus to send them away so that they could have the rest that He had promised them.  They made the point to Jesus that they were not prepared to feed so many.  In my life I have been to many different conferences and seminars.  Some would take a break and ask the attendees to go find a restaurant or diner nearby and be back in two hours, while some would provide lunch for us.  Generally, the cost of the seminar would be higher if a meal were provided, because as the saying goes, "There ain't no free lunch."

Jesus wanted to show the disciples God's Providence.  Had He not told them in verse 8 to take nothing for their journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in their belts?  He wanted them to place the needs of the crowds above their own needs.  "You give them something to eat," He commanded.  They responded by estimating the cost: a little bread for each person in a crowd this size would have cost nearly a whole year's wages (a denarius was a day's wage, and they estimated 200 denarii).  He wanted them to focus on what they had, not the limits of it but the potential.  They took stock of the food on hand, and it came to five rolls and two fish.

He Is More Than Enough

Then He commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.  And taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.  And He divided the two fish among them all.  And they all ate and were satisfied.  And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.  And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.  --Mark 6:39-44

The Greek word for "blessing" here is eulogeo, from which we get the English word "eulogy".  It means to praise, or to celebrate with praises.  It also means to invoke God's blessings--to ask God's blessing on a thing, to pray God to bless it to one's use.  Finally, it means to pronounce a consecratory blessing (to consecrate it to God) to cause it to prosper, to make happy, to be favored of God.

What a great pattern for prayer this is!  First and foremost to praise God, to celebrate Him with our praises.  Next to invoke His blessing on us, that God may bless us to His use.  Last, to consecrate ourselves to Him, so that when we prosper, He prospers; when we are made happy, He is made happy; when we are favored, we are favored by God.  To see it in another way, when we are faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem, we ought not to despair.  Rather, we should take stock of what we have (since it was provided to us by God in the first place) and to praise God for it, to ask Him to bless it for His use, and to consecrate it for joy and prosperity.

There was bread and meat enough to satisfy 5000 men, with enough leftovers collected to fill twelve baskets.  I think that twelve represents the twelve tribes of Israel, meaning that Jesus, the Bread of Life, is enough for the entire nation.  In the coming weeks when we study Mark chapter 8, we will see a similar miracle for the Gentiles, the feeding of 4000 men, with leftovers filling seven baskets.  The significance of seven in that story is that He is enough for all, since seven represents perfection, the sum of God (represented by the number 3) and Man (represented by the number 4).  The two stories together show that Jesus was not only sent to the Jews, but also to the entire world.

He is enough.  We must look to Him for our provision, for our sustenance, for our blessing.  We must look to Him for our past, our present, and our future.  We can only marvel when we see His handiwork, and wonder, "What next?"

Reverse Chronology

 

For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him.  --Colossians 1:16

Most stories are told in chronological order, with a definite beginning, middle, and end.  When we read to small children, often we hear then exclaim, "And then what happened?"  We are conditioned to appreciate narratives, especially historical narratives, that move from one point to the next to the next until the final scene unfolds.  It's how we learn cause and effect.

Skilled storytellers sometimes tell their story backwards.  This is a technique called reverse chronology.  According to Wikipedia, "in a story employing this technique, the first scene is actually the conclusion to the plot.  Once that scene ends, the penultimate scene is shown, and so on, so that the final scene the viewer sees is the first chronologically."  It is often done to make a point, or to emphasize the motives or the way of thinking of the narrator.

Our passage today, Mark 6:14-29, is told in reverse chronology.  The same story is told in a similar way in Matthew 14:1-12, and to a limited extent in Luke 9:7-9, but no one has more backstory than Mark when relating this tale.  I want to break up the narrative Mark lays out with a little commentary between just to emphasize the technique (and also with a bit of backstory myself).  

You will recall that we have, up to now, heard Mark tell of Jesus preaching the gospel, urging people to repent, but also meeting their needs through miraculous acts of healing and driving out demons.

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. --Mark 6:14a

Never having seen Jesus personally, Herod must have had discussions with his friends and advisors about the source or cause of these miracles.  "How can these things be?" was a question on everyone's mind, not only Herod's.

Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.  That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."  But others said, "He is Elijah."  And others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."  --Mark 6:14b-15

In trying to explain the unexplainable, some were superstitious, saying it was the ghost of John the Baptist.  They remembered John had come preaching the same message of repentance and gospel of forgiveness that Jesus was preaching.  It was only natural that they would think of John, because the message was the same.  However, the acts that were being done were definitely supernatural.  John had been known for preaching and for baptizing the repentant, not for miracles; therefore it had to be his ghost.

The less superstitious among them were apparently more religious, because they called Jesus a prophet.  One of the most famous prophets in Judaism was Elijah, and they remembered that Elijah had performed many miracles while he was alive.  They also remembered the last two verses of the Hebrew Bible, Malachi 4:5-6, where it was prophesied, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.  And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."  Therefore, they believed that Jesus was Elijah--either literally reincarnated or figuratively a prophet of the same caliber.

But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."  --Mark 6:16

Herod, being overcome by guilt, believes those who had said it was John the Baptist.  Mark, the narrator of the story, then tries to explain why Herod felt so guilty.

 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.  --Mark 6:17

Here Mark feels that more backstory is needed.

For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted him put to death.  But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe.  When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.  --Mark 6:18-20

John spoke truth to power.  Herod was convicted of sin, "and greatly perplexed."  Herodias wanted John dead for speaking out against the king.  Herod put John in protective custody, in prison but close enough that he could have John brought out from time to time so he could speak (remember this was before television or the internet.)  So how did John die, if Herod had protected him?  More backstory.

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests.  And the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you."  And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."  And she went out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?"  And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."  And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter."  And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.  And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head.  He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.  --Mark 6:21-29

So we know why John the Baptist died, but the story is not about John the Baptist.  We know that Herodias hated John the Baptist, but the story is not really about Herodias.  We know that Herod had John killed, and felt sorry because he really liked John, but that's not what the story is about, either.  The story is not about any of these people, but about Jesus.  That's why I think it was told in reverse chronological order.  

If Mark had started with John the Baptist calling out the king for taking his sister-in-law as his wife, then the story would have been about John being a martyr, and Herodias being a jealous queen.  Although we find out about all of this in the backstory, the real narrative is about Jesus.  Luke tells the story much more succinctly:

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.  Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?"  And he sought to see Him.  --Luke 9:7-9

As you can see, Luke makes this passage about Herod, but he compresses the story so that he can get back to telling about Jesus.  Mark, on the other hand, starts with Jesus, because that was the main character of the story.  In telling the story in reverse chronology, Mark makes us realize that Jesus perplexes the powerful because He defies explanation.  Mark shows us that Jesus empowers men like John to speak truth to power, and the message of repentance can cause kings to feel conviction.  His story encourages those who may be persecuted or martyred to remain faithful, and to hold to the message even unto death.  Above all, Mark reminds us that it's all about Jesus.

Set the captives free

 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  --Luke 4:18-19

Einstein said, "Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom."  Aung San Suu Kyi said, "The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear."  The Apostle Paul said, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

Paul mentored young Timothy, who eventually led the Church at Ephesus.  In the same way, Jesus mentored His twelve disciples, eleven of whom went on to be great leaders in their own right.  A great mentor will know when it is time to send their protege out on his own and be successful.  This is what happened in our passage for today, Mark 6:7-13.

And He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in their belts--but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.  And He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.  And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.  So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

The making of an apostle

When Jesus called the twelve disciples together, he gave them authority over demons and disease.  He also gave them strict instructions about how to proceed, which we will discuss later.  The important thing about verse 7 is, I think, the verb "send".  He sent them with a mission and a message, with an appointed purpose.  The Greek word translated "to send" is apostello.  The noun with the same root word is the source of our English word "apostle."

Many times we see the word "apostle" and think it is a title bestowed upon a great church leader.  In fact, many denominations will nominate and appoint some leader in their church to the title and the office of "apostle."  It is good for us to remember that the original word "apostle" as used by Jesus meant someone who was sent forth to proclaim the gospel, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons.

According to Strong's, the word apostello means to order (one) to go to an appointed place, or to allow one to depart, that he may be in a state of liberty.  Just as Jesus had been sent by God to preach repentance and heal diseases and set people free from demonic possession, so Jesus gave this same authority to the disciples.  They had jurisdiction in the physical and spiritual realm imparted to them by God Himself.  He gave them leave to command sickness and spirits to depart.

Think about this.  If you go to a bankruptcy judge and ask him to prosecute or pronounce sentence upon a thief, the judge will tell you he has no authority or jurisdiction in this matter and send you to the criminal court.  Similarly, a Federal judge does not have jurisdiction over State laws.  Similarly, the disciples may have thought they had limited jurisdiction over their own affairs, but not over others', and certainly not over spirits or sicknesses.  Jesus set them free from all such constraints, and gave them authority.  They were set free to serve.  They were commissioned to contend against demons and death (both physical and spiritual). 

Being vulnerable

Jesus sent the disciples in pairs, probably in part for protection.  However, He commanded them not to take anything by way of resources: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; not even an extra tunic.  They were to go in the power and protection of the Spirit alone, without any other means of support.  How many of us say to ourselves, "When I retire I might be a missionary," or even "When I meet certain financial goals I might use some of those resources to spread the Gospel."  We forget that God will accomplish His purpose to His good will and for His own glory.  He doesn't need our wealth or patronage.

The companion passage in Matthew 10 sheds more light on this.  On the one hand, rely on God's grace for your physical sustenance, "for the laborer deserves his food." (Matthew 10:10b).  On the other hand, do not go into this with the idea of profiting from it financially: "You received without paying; give without pay.  Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts." (Matthew 10:8b-9).  For us, I believe it is a warning against those who proclaim the Name of Jesus from their mansions or their personal jets.  Remember, Judas was among the twelve who were sent out--this same Judas was described as the group treasurer (John 12:6 and 13:29).  Judas eventually fell away and betrayed Jesus, but not before being commissioned as an apostle and given authority over demons and diseases.  The same Jesus who declared that "even the rocks will cry out" praises to God if we are silent is the same One who can use a Judas for His glory.

There is a passage in Acts chapter 3 that illustrates what it must have been like to be sent out in pairs to meet human needs in Jesus' Name.

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.  Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.  And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.  But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.  In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  --Acts 3:1-8

 Be like Jesus

Verses 10 and 11 encouraged them to stay where they were welcomed and to leave where they were not welcomed.  This implies that the Spirit of God went before them to prepare hearts, and those who were receptive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit would invite them into their homes.  We should trust that the Holy Spirit goes before us when we are doing the will of the Father by proclaiming the Son.

There was a Jewish custom to welcome strangers to stay in homes with families.  This was before there were commercial hotels and inns.  You will recall the story of Lot in Genesis 19, where he sat in the city square, and if he recognized any strangers he would offer them room and board in his own home.  In the evil city where he lived (Sodom), he also offered protection from the evil men there.  Similarly, we know that Jesus went from town to town preaching, and He was always taken in by a local homeowner who showed Him hospitality.  Therefore it was not so strange that He would instruct His disciples to stay with the locals in whatever towns they traveled to.  If their message was not accepted in the town (just as Jesus was not accepted in Nazareth--see Mark 6:1-6), then they were to shake the dust from their feet and move on.

Verses 12 and 13 indicate the success that the disciples had in following their Master.  They proclaimed that people should repent (as Jesus had in His early ministry--see Mark 1:15).  They cast out demons and healed many who were sick, just as Jesus had modeled for them.  They were fulfilling the mission and work of Jesus, and would continue even after His crucifixion and resurrection.  We, too, have a purpose as a Christ follower.  We have been sent out in the world to model Him.  We are given power to do the works commissioned for us by Him.  We are set free from restraints that the world would place upon us, to His glory.

Jaded hearts--hard as a rock and green with jealousy

 

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.  And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  --Ezekiel 36:26

How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?  I remember when I was ten or so, and my dad called me aside and said, "Son, you can't let on that you don't believe in Santa, because your sister still believes." My sister was three and a half years younger than me.  Then he stopped; I guess he saw the look on my face.  "Wait," he said.  "You don't still believe in Santa Claus, do you?"  I replied, "Well, I thought I did!"

I wasn't stupid; it's just that I had never considered it before.  The evidence was all around:  how could Santa be at the mall and at the Salvation Army kettle and at the parade on television all at the same time?  How could he fly through the air magically with enough toys in one sleigh to give every child on earth what they wanted, all in one night, never mind how did he know what they wanted?  Logically, it didn't make sense.  Fortunately, children don't think logically.

Before the legend of St. Nicholas even existed, there was a tradition carried out by the Jews every Passover.  You remember that Passover was a celebration of when God sent the Angel of Death to those in Egypt who had enslaved the Jews, and took every firstborn son.  It was only the blood of a lamb sprinkled on the doorposts and lentil that made the Angel pass over that house, so that the firstborn was saved.  It is celebrated every year with a big meal that is specially prepared.  The tradition is that the adults will pour a glass of wine for Elijah, and the children will open the door for him, sometimes looking up and down the street to see if he has arrived yet.  The reason is transformative, according to Yaakov Paley of the Jewish Learning Institute, 

The Exodus launched a millennia-long journey that will culminate in the Messianic era. Until injustice, violence, and greed disappear, we remain enslaved. Until G-d makes His home on Earth, we have not truly left Egypt. Each Passover empowers us to complete what was begun so long ago. The last of the biblical prophets declared that Elijah will herald the ultimate redemption (Malachi 4:5-6). His cup at our Seder encourages our march from every form of internal and external slavery and re-inspires our faith in the coming of Moshiach (Messiah).  --https://www.myjli.com/why/index.php/2016/11/21/why-is-elijah-the-prophet-invited-to-the-seder/

What happens, though, when the Jewish children realize that Elijah never comes?  Does their hope mature, or do their doubts overwhelm them?  Like some Christians who outgrow the Santa legend, some may become jaded, and reject the entire message.  I think this may be what happened in Mark 6:1-6 when Jesus went to Nazareth where He had grown up as a child.

He went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him.  And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?  What is the wisdom given to him?  How are such mighty works done by his hands?  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?  And are not his sisters with us"  And they took offense at Him.  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 could do no mighty works there, except that He laid His hand on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief.  --Mark 6:1-6a

Shocked and appalled

 We don't understand the visceral and violent response to heresy that the ancient Jews had, because today our society is so eclectic and tolerant.  If someone voices an idea or opinion that we don't believe, we dismiss it as "just one opinion" or "everyone has the right to be wrong."  If someone spoke up in our church with a view that many think is heretical, we may question their theology, maybe calling them aside for a discussion later, or even decide to go to a different church.

In this passage, however, the word translated "astonished" is the root word for "to drive away; to cast out with a blow; to expel with panic or shock."  In fact, the parallel passage in Luke says that they physically took hold of Him and carried Him outside with the intention of throwing Him off a cliff.  (See Luke 4:16-30).  Clearly their hearts were hardened within them, and they saw Him as a threat because His teaching opposed their orthodoxy.

Scandalized

Why did they take offense (Gr. skandalizo)?  Well, they had seen Him grow up.  They thought they knew Him.  They denied His divinity, because they knew Him only as a human--the son of Mary, brother to James, Joses, Judas, Simon, and their sisters.  They denied His authority, because He had been trained and apprenticed as a carpenter, not as a rabbi or theologian.  He claimed to be the Son of God, but they remembered Joseph, the man who had raised Him.  Had Jesus forgotten where He came from?

Logic often suffocates faith.  What they had seen with their eyes contradicted what they heard with their ears.  When He spoke, they did not hear His message.  Instead, they heard Him deny His paternity and turn His back on family.  In their hearts, this was blasphemy, and had no part in Jewish culture, much less in the synagogue.

Sidelined

Jesus' purpose in going to Nazareth was the same as His purpose in Galilee, Jerusalem and other places--He wanted to preach good news to the people there, and to heal them of their diseases.  However, because of their unbelief, they did not subject themselves to Him.  It's not that He could not heal them, but that they would not be healed by Him.  He was able to lay His hands on some and heal them, but only those who were not intent on casting Him out and killing Him.  It has been the same throughout human history:  God has always had the power to save, but people's refusal to submit to Him, to allow Him to come near to them, condemn them to an eternity away from His presence.

People try to use logic in this case:  if God is all powerful, and if He loves all mankind, then why does He send them to hell?  Their logic is flawed, in that it does not account for people who reject God, who will not allow Him to come near enough to heal them spiritually.  Hell is not filled with people whom God rejected, but with those who never wanted to be near Him at all.

We speak of those who harden their hearts as people who are jaded.  Jade is a hard stone, most often green in color.  Green is associated with envy and jealousy.  We are jealous of our own autonomy, unwilling to submit to another even if that other is given for our good.  We are envious of God's power and grace manifest in others' lives, yet we are unwilling to soften our hearts.  Ezekiel 11:19 speaks of those who benefit from God's transformative grace in their lives: "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.  I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh."