Mark 6:1-44
Jesus went to Nazareth, which had been His home, and the people were astonished to hear His wise teaching in the synagogue.
Yet they would not believe that He was from God, and greater than they, nor show Him respect. Instead of listening more, they talked among themselves against Him.
Jesus did not do great miracles there, as in the towns near, because of their unbelief, although He did heal a few sick ones perhaps who believed His words. He went to teach and help people in other towns.
You notice that Jesus sent His disciples to teach people in the same plain humble way: they were to go even where the roads were rough and stony, so to wear sandals; but they were not to take an extra coat or scrip (a bag or wallet for food), nor money. They were to go as very poor men, and get food on the way as best they could. All this would teach the disciples, and those they went to, that there was to be no pride, and that God’s words were for the poor.
The disciples were given power from Jesus to heal the sick and cast out wicked spirits, and many were healed.
Although Jesus and the disciples went about in so humble a manner, the news of the miracles was told in all places. When Herod, the ruler, heard about them, he said the prophet John must be alive again, and doing the wonderful things.
Herod had given the awful order for John to be killed, although he knew that John was a prophet of God (vs. 20).
He seemed to want to think that John was alive, so he would not be longer guilty of his death, But he did not go to see if it were John, and kept on in his proud ways.
Many people who heard of the micles, wanted to see Jesus, and came where He and the disciples were, so they had not chance even to eat their meals. Then Jesus told the disciples to come apart to rest, and He went with them in the boat across the sea of Galilee to land, where no people lived.
But the people saw them leaving in the boat, and they hurried along the shore to the same place. When Jesus saw they were waiting for Him there, He was sorry that they had no one to teach them God’s words, and instead of resting, He patiently taught then again.
When near evening the disciples spoke to Jesus to send the people to their homes, He wanted them first to have food, for they had a long-distance to walk. The disciples said it would require 200 pennyworth of bread for so many: a penny was much greater value in their money than to us, and the men spoke as though they could not buy so much.
Perhaps you know what a wonderful thing Jesus then did: He took the five loaves of bread and two fish they already had, gave thanks to God, broke all into pieces, and gave to the disciples to pass to the people sitting on the grass.
In the hands of Jesus, those.few pieces of bread and fish, became many, more than enough to supply those 5000 men, beside women and children (Matt. 14:21).
ML 02/13/1944