Mark 6, Luke 9 and Matthew 14
October 25, 2014

Most of these accounts overlap, so I decided to mention a few things from each that were unique....except for Matthew, where I just list the main themes.

Mark 6
The twelve are sent out by Christ to heal, cast out demons and even raise the dead.   They return later talking about how they have accomplished this, and talking excitedly about what they have seen.   What really strikes me is that Judas was among them.   I don't often imagine Judas healing the sick and raising the dead.   I struggle to see Judas proclaiming Jesus and laying his hands on people.   I want to imagine Judas as always being corrupt and bad.   In reality, that isn't ever the case.   Jesus says there will be people trying to get into heaven who will be turned away because God "never knew them".     I guess there are two lessons to be learned here:   1.  Even those who are corrupt have some redeeming features, or were good people at one time or another.    2.  Those who count themselves as Christians should remain humble, knowing that some who came before them have fallen because they became proud.   It is possible to fall from a secure position, if you act on it.


Luke 9
Peter confesses Christ in this passage.  I wonder if he could fully grasp what he was saying.  Jesus would ask him again later and he would answer in the same way.   And then he would deny that he ever knew him shortly after that.    How can you go from walking on the water with Jesus, to witnessing the dead come back to life, to denying that you know him?   It is possible, I guess.   Except for the grace of God, we would all go the same way.

The transfiguration tells us that our earthly bodies are renewed and present in heaven in some wonderful way.  Moses and Elijah standing together discussing the future with Jesus is simply too incredible to comprehend.   Those in heaven must be aware of current events, as well as future events.
I am also struck by the compassion of Jesus for the Samaritans who did not want to help Jesus once they heard he was going to Jerusalem.  They hated anyone who wasn't like them.   Christ stands in stark contrast to this, loving those who hated.    The disciples had a lot to learn...they wanted to call down fire from heaven (and I think that they could have, because they had the faith for it).    Jesus doesn't want us to retaliate in anger or vindictiveness.   That's a hard lesson to learn, but it is essential for the Christian.


Matthew 14
The three most common accounts in today's reading follow:
1.  Herod actually rather liked John, but he loved being in power and having what he wanted more than he wanted to be forgiven.   There are many today who want to figuratively "cut the heads off Christians" because they don't want to hear the message.      I think when Jesus retreated by himself he was overcome with grief.    I think John was very dear to Jesus.  

There were probably more than 15,000 fed that day.  What's amazing is that the disciples didn't fully grasp what had happened (it says that later in the reading).  How could you still not understand that Jesus is divine?   Why would you still be afraid, when you knew that you were in the presence of one who could control the elements?     We could ask the very same question today, couldn't we?

Then there is the account of Jesus walking on the water.  The incredible thing here is that Jesus saw them struggling in the squall while He was on the beach.   He knew they were stuggling as He walked out on the water, and He intended to pass them by, but they saw him and were afraid.
It's only after they saw him that He comes to them and says "don't be afraid".     I think that struggling and having some difficulty is part of the human condition.  We shouldn't expect that when we become Christians that Jesus is going to remove all our struggles.   He is going to make sure that at the end of our struggles we win battle and are admitted into heaven.   Some will die hungry, others will die in pain, some will die in comfort, or in their sleep.....and some will never die.    It doesn't matter...what really matters is what happens after we die.

I don't think the disciples were in any real danger.  They had a mission to fulfill that they knew nothing about.  Really, they were safe, they just didn't know it.     I think that's what happens to us sometimes too.


PR