Note for 20250115 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Part 45 - Mark 6 - In a Desert Place
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
According to Mark
Read Through The Bible
“As it Happened” Bible Reading Plan
Day 060
Numbers 14 and 15
Psalm 90
Part 45 - Mark 6 - In a Desert Place
The Audio Version of today’s note
Mark 6:30-56 KJV
[30] And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. [31] And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. [32] And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. [33] And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. [34] And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. [35] And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: [36] send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. [37] He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? [38] He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. [39] And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. [40] And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. [41] And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. [42] And they did all eat, and were filled. [43] And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. [44] And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. [45] And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. [46] And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. [47] And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. [48] And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. [49] But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: [50] for they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. [51] And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. [52] For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. [53] And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. [54] And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, [55] and ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. [56] And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.6.30-56.KJV
Note for 20250115
You know, when we think of the desert, we imagine a place without greenery, where water is scarce. But here we read of Jesus and His Disciples going to a desert place, and read of it being by the edge of the sea and that they had green grass to sit the people down, that they may be fed. They were going to a desert place, where they might rest from their labour. As we read here, they seem to not have found such a place. For wherever they went, the people followed them, even running on foot in haste.
What is a desert place? Today, we know that Antarctica is a desert for its low rainfall, but what desert place are they looking for to rest? They came to the desert place, we know this from when they urged Jesus to send the people away to go into the villages roundabout to buy for themselves food, they said, "This is a desert place." They came to the desert place, but it was not deserted when they got there. What they did not find according to this scripture, is rest; for wherever they went they found a multitude of people. We know it is a great multitude of people, or is it standard for a man to be met by about 5000 men in a deserted place, far from the villages. A place, where previously they may have found rest.
Of the miracle of the feeding of the multitude, you surely have heard sermons on that before. Even of Jesus walking on the water, and of Him making the wind still. Before Christ entered the ship, even then they were struggling to row the ship, for the wind was against them. It is only once Christ enters the ship, that the wind is stilled. In other accounts which we will still read, GOD permits; this is also the time when Peter walks out to Christ upon the sea. But, Mark does not give that account, as it was the case with the account of John. But, what we learn here is that only on the sea, away from land is there a moment of stillness, when Christ comes in. And, as we learn here from when they came back to land, that many came again, even laying their hands upon His garments, that they may be healed.
Did you read where they went, and where this latter multitude found Him? Did you pay attention? They came back to Gennesaret, where they earlier found the man called Legion, where the people of that area prayed Him to leave their coasts. The people who sent off Jesus and His Disciples then, are not like the people who received them here. Do you see that?
It appears from scripture here, that no place was left deserted for them, because of the fame that went abroad about Him. Besides maybe this, the spot on the sea that became still, and by consideration, for Jesus, upon the mount that He went to pray. You won't see it all, unless you consider what you have read before, or that you take all of it in, in one session of reading. Is it possible for a man to keep it all, even the entirety of the Word of GOD? We can't, our minds are to frail; but, with the Holy Spirit in us the Word is kept in us. It is the Holy Spirit that reminds us of all. It is by the Holy Spirit that the Word of GOD is offered up to us, as each moment of our lives is in need of it.
Do you remember how far this multitude came from? Did we not read earlier on in Mark, that some even came from as far as Tyre and Sidon, which are both cities on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The fame of Christ went out everywhere, because of the testimony of those He touched and healed, like the man that was called Legion in Gennesaret.
There is a great deal to consider as we read along, even as all these individual moments are knitted together, as they happened one by one. If not, we might miss the fact that the original intention of Christ was to take His disciples out to a desert place where they may rest, and how that changed when He saw the multitude of people running after Him; and He took pity on them, teaching and healing them. The same disciples that He wanted to have rest, steps into labour serving those seated down. They deliver them the bread and fish that Christ increased so the multitude in a desert place would not suffer from hunger.
I say again, today there is much in consideration. So much so, that you may feel I brought too great a part of scripture. But, did you not find the question in yourself as we read of the disciples at sea, when they saw Jesus walk upon the water, "why does Mark not speak of Peter going to Him on the sea?" In yourself you may have found the need to hear more than what was given. You know of it, so you want it in, that the account may be full of what happened. Don't you know that is the Work of the Spirit, reminding you of what comes where? Rightly dividing the Word of GOD from within. Or, did you not know?
My friends, the place you do not want to find deserted is in you. That it will not be lacking in life-giving water or your Daily Bread from Heaven. That should not be without that which truly sustains life on earth. Let your heart not be the desert place, but let the multitudes of desperate people find the Gospel of Jesus Christ there. Let it go out of you as a fountain of water, and the increase of Bread, so that even when they find themselves in a desert place, you can increase your bread for them. Today, man is hardly ever alone. We even carry with us the means to reach others in our hand. Let them not go hungry for the Word of GOD, but from what you have, increase it out that all may have. Share what you were given from GOD above. This world is a desert place for the Word of GOD. In it, there is so little that can truly bring the soul of man through it to survive. Much is given by the world in lies, it does not sustain the soul of man, and the people are ill of it. Give to them of the bread you have, that they may eat to the full.
I know this is a somewhat long word to bring, and also that it might be hard in "chewing." But, the thing I want to stress to you is this, if you do not have within you to give, then you will starve along with them. You cannot be reminded of that which you have never had.
Read the Word of GOD, so you may have to give. By the Word will you come to know the Word, and as we have learned in John 1; the Word made flesh is Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. If you do not have Him then what you give is not true. Then you are in a desert place, void of Bread to eat, neither can you give to anyone else what you don't have to give.
Selah, Shalom.
Verse of The Day
From the YouVersion Bible App (Expanded from verses 43 and 44)
Matthew 5:43-48 KJV
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.43-48.KJV
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