The Shepherd of the Shepherdless (Mark 6)

We continue in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022.  Today reflections from Mark chapter 6 will consider Jesus as the Shepherd of the Shepherdless.  

• Mark chapter 6 has six main movements: (1) Jesus is rejected in His hometown (6:1-6); (2) Jesus sends out his 12 apostles (6:7-13); [SUB SLIDE] (3) how the death of John the Baptist came to pass (6:14-29); (4) Jesus feeds 5000 men (6:30-44); (5) Jesus walks on the water (6:45-52); (6) Jesus heals sick in Gennesaret (6:53-56).
• Today’s episode will touch on couple of thoughts from Mark 6:1-29, and take a look at this picture of Jesus as the Shepherd of the Shepherdless from the later half of the chapter (6:30-56).

Before we jump in, consider the tone which the first half of this chapter begins with — these are dark hours.  Jesus is rejected in His hometown and His cousin is beheaded at the request of a young girl.

PART 1: JESUS’ RESPONSE TO FAITH

• When Jesus was in His home town of Nazareth, Jesus was largely rejected.  The people took offense at Jesus, for he was perceived to just be a common fellow — the son of a carpenter, the family members living just up the street.  How could this guy be claiming to be so important?  What’s so great about Him anyway?  We saw him grow up here.
  • And then we read something fascinating, Mark 6:5-6, “And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And he marveled because of their unbelief.”
  • After reading Mark 5 where we saw Jesus’ sovereignty and mighty power over nature, over demons, over sickness, and even over death… we come to Mark 6 now and read “He could do no mighty work there.”  What do we make of this?  Does a lack of faith mean that God is incapable of working?
    • First, note that Jesus still has power to heal.
    • Second, elsewhere we see Jesus does perform mighty works in places where people reject him.  We see in Matthew 11:21-23 and Luke 10:13-15 that Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had the privilege of beholding mighty works, and yet they were strongly rebuked by Jesus for not repenting! In fact, He says the day of judgment will be more bearable for some wicked cities (cities which historically endured God’s judgment in destruction) — more bearable for those wicked cities than for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. 
    • Third, consider John’s express statement regarding the purpose of recording miracles  in John 20:31 — “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
      • Furthermore, we know from John 2:11 that these mighty signs (1) manifested his glory, and (2) resulted in the belief of his disciples.
      • Thus, we may say that part of the purpose of miracles is to provoke belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
    • Fourth, a pattern we see throughout the Gospels is that after healing someone, Jesus will often say “your faith has made you well.”  It would seem that the Lord delights in ensuring that if people experience a miraculous healing that they would attribute it to the work of God — and that is most clearly the case when people cast themselves, without any other hope, upon the mighty arms of God (consider Mark 9:23).
• What then can we learn from this section?  This key word, “marveled.”
  • Jesus’ response to the astounding lack of faith of the people in Nazareth was to marvel.  Their unbelief unfolding before His eyes was astonishing, amazing, jaw dropping, eyebrow raising, head-shaking – “I know you do not believe, but WOW” kind of reaction.  
  • However, consider the flip-side of Jesus’ marveling.  This word describes Jesus in only two contexts: (1) here in Mark 6, at the people’s unbelief; and (2) as see in Matthew 8:20 and Luke 7:9, when Jesus marvels at the faith of a centurion.
    • Both of these contexts, I believe, are written for our consideration.  What kind of response does Jesus have towards our faith?  Is faith strongly present or shockingly absent in us?  (More on this when we get to Mark 9.)

PART 2: PROCLAMATION OF REPENTANCE

• Something that I found very interesting as I read through Mark 6 once again was this — the proclamation of repentance.  As Jesus sends out the 12, verses 12-13 show the content of the speaking and actions.  Accompanying the casting out of demons and healing of the sick was the proclamation of REPENTANCE.
  • Significant note – their ministry, which undoubtedly involved the miraculous, would have been utterly incomplete without “proclaiming that people should repent” (6:12).  And it is worth noting that throughout the Scriptures God’s message for the people begins with repentance.  From Moses to the prophets — John the Baptist (Mark 1:4, also Matthew 3:2), Jesus himself (Mark 1:15, also Matthew 4:17), and now His apostles — all proclaimed that the right response to the truth is “REPENT.”
    • Indeed the mission of the church, per Jesus’ own words in Luke 24:47 is to, in Jesus’ name, proclaim “repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
  • But what does this “churchey” word mean?  What does it mean to repent?
    • We can simply describe it as a genuine turning.  Turning away from sin and turning towards God.  We see this description in  Hebrews 6:1, “repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,” as well as Acts 20:21, “repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  • And so that begs the question, what “dead works” am I turning away from in my thoughts, my attitudes, my words, my actions, my habits?  And am I turning towards the faith in my Lord?
• We see a dramatic image of what it looked like for John the Baptist to proclaim repentance.  I found it interesting that the account of how the death of John the Baptist came to pass (6:14-29) immediately follows the statement that the apostles proclaimed people should repent.
  • Basically, John the Baptist was telling Herod, the King of the region, that it was not lawful to have taken and married his brother’s wife, Herodias.  Interestingly enough, “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holyman, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly” (6:20).
  • You can read how the scene unfolded.  Herodias took an opportunity to get rid of John the Baptist due to a druken vow made by King Herod.
• But in John the Baptist, and really almost every prophet through the Old Testament, you have an example of what proclaiming repentance resulted in — hatred by those who do not want to change, and often some measure of physical response.  Being a messenger for God’s Kingdom cost something.

PART 3: SHEPHERD OF THE SHEPHERDLESS 

• Finally, I would like to close with this picture Jesus having compassion on the people (6:34) – “Because they were like sheep without a shepherd”
  • Jesus sees the crowds who sought Him, some had mixed motives.  But we see at minimum this: a love for his teaching and amazement at his works.
• I want to quickly note a few of things in regards to Mark 6:30-56.
  • With this large crowd (to the tune of 5000 men – the population of some cities!) gathered and immediately after saying that Jesus had compassion on them, in the same verse, Mark says “he began to teach them many things.”  The first act of compassion, in this passage, was to teach them!
    • People were desiring to see Jesus so much that this large crowd, without regard for their grumbling stomachs, sat at the feet of Jesus.   Oh that we would have such a longing hear from Him!  They hungered first for His teaching.  It was approaching dinner time and it appeared the crowd had no intention of leaving.
  • Jesus’ second act of compassion in this passage comes with the miraculous feeding of this massive crowd.
  • And third, at the end of the chapter, in a different place, we Jesus caring again for the crowds by healing their sick, and infirmed, and bed ridden.
• What could be said about Jesus?  Towards those who seek him – initially, regardless of motive, His heart bends towards compassion.  He desires to shepherd those who have no shepherd!
  • Consider that picture — where the people are lost, looking for someone to follow, something to passionately pursue, Jesus comes and cares for them!
  • Have you come this shepherd?

Conclusion:

• So my friend, let me ask you, have you turned towards this Shepherd? Have you heard the call to Repent – to turn FROM a life that seeks only to please self and runs contradictory to God?  Have you turned TOWARDS faith in this God who saves?  I ask myself, what kind of reaction does the Lord have to my belief – is it shockingly absent or strongly present?  Do you long to be feed spiritually and cared for by this Shepherd?   Come to HIM!  These were my reflections from Mark 6.
  • How about you?  Have you read through Mark chapter 6 yet?  Which part stood out to you the most?  If you have any thoughts, let me know in the comments below!