July 4, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 6 (NIV)
A Prophet Without Honor
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?…..Continue Reading
“Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.”
This direction is really an ask for the disciples, and ultimately us, to trust and be dependent on God’s provision. As I start to prepare for a trip, I overpack trying to think of every scenario that may arise so I can not imagine this direction. But in life, we do the same. We feel like we need so much “stuff” to feel safe and secure and that takes our eyes off God and trusting in His provision.
Jesus then feeds 5000 and walks on water; two amazing things beyond our comprehension that were effortless to Him. It makes you think about why we are so inclined to fill our lives with anything else other than God! If He can do such things as these our worries seem trivial. But again our lack of faith and true dependence on Him prevent us from seeing such miracles in our own lives.
It is clear from scriptures that Jesus had other brothers and sisters. Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55, Gal 1:19. Gal. 1:19 references James the Lord`s brother, while Matthew and Mark mention four brothers of Jesus by name but only says Jesus had sisters. Which is in the plural. The four brothers are James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. The books James and Jude are believed to have been written by two of Jesus` brothers. This means of course that Mary and her husband {Joseph} had other children after Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus being the oldest of all the children. He was the half- brother to His brothers and sisters, for God was His Father through the Holy Spirit. They did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, except for Mary. Because of their lack of faith including those that knew He was the carpenter`s son, Jesus wasn`t able to do many miracles there. It is amazing how God will limit Himself because of the lack of faith of people. He wants our faith to be an active faith in Him.
The 12 disciples were sent out by twos to preach the gospel. They were also given the ability to heal the sick and cast out demons in Jesus` name. Sometimes I wonder how they were paired together. All had their strengths and weakness, so I am sure Jesus knew how to pair them up even though they may not have understood. Each of the pairs had to rely on the Lord and each other. It might have been interesting to observe, especially if one didn’t like the other one. But in all of this, they grew to love and depend on the other in the Lord.
The feeding of the 5,000 was a miracle that Jesus did with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus has the disciples find what they can to eat and come up with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples put their faith into action by obeying Jesus by having the people sit in groups of fifty and hundreds not knowing where the food is coming from and start passing the food out. Jesus multiplied it all and there ended up with 12 baskets full. More than they started with. Jesus did His part and the disciples did theirs. Their faith was in Him and what He could do. There were actually more than 5,000 men for in Matthew 14, he tells us there was 5,000 men besides women and children. In other words, the women and children were not included in the count. So how many? Far more than the 5,000.
When Jesus walks on water, it becomes a test of faith to the disciples, but only Peter requests to walk on water. Peter`s request is mentioned in Matthew 14, while Mark doesn`t include it. Peter walks on water until he takes his eyes off of Jesus and looks at his own situation, and then starts to sink. Thank God that He is always there to give us a helping hand.
How common it is for people who have known us not to respect what we have become or are able to do because they can only picture us as we were. And yet they recognize all the great things Jesus taught and did and still did not believe. And faith is the thing we bring to God to make the things He does work for us. Without it, we limit what God will do nor recognize what He does do. And it is really amazing that Jesus trusts the testimony about who He is to the disciples and us. Jesus knew that He could not reach everyone and recognized that His ministry would be multiplied by sending the disciples out. It is a good model of what He does with us and maybe we need to capitalize on Jesus’ wisdom to partner with another in sharing the gospel. And what happened to John the Baptist was just horrible…a sinful woman holding a grudge because she was confronted about it and then using her daughter as a tool of manipulation. And as if Jesus hasn’t shown enough that He can do anything, He blows His readers and disciples minds by feeding 5,000 people and walking on water. Two things not easily manufactured and two things that further cement for the apostles that Jesus is the Son of God.
Mark 6
As we celebrate the independence of the United States of America, let us also reflect on the independence from sin that has been given to us by the Blood of Christ!
Amen, Sean!
Take nothing on life’s journey. Your father in heaven will provide. I have a ways to go with that one.! Herod. Spineless worm of a man. Where my mind goes with the feeding of 5000. Caught enough fish to know. Put on ice immediately. How long had these fish been out of water. We have all tasted fresh baked bread Imagine the fish and bread that day.!! One of my favorite stories in scripture. The apostles straining all night “against the wind”. Jesus was well aware. Does seem like in life, God lets us see the finish line. Then moves it another few miles. Probably 3-4ft. Seas. Jesus walks on top of what they fear!! Calm the winds. Ok Immediately the waves stop. Think about that. PS. Years ago. On my boat surrounded by other boats. drinking etc Prayed to God. Let me walk on water to show you are real. Sunk like an anchor!!
Those people who deny Jesus because he is a familiar acquaintance do not receive healing because of their lack of faith. The people who welcome Jesus and want to be near him do receive healing. A stark difference between the two. It’s difficult to read how harshly John the Baptist was treated; today God’s people continue to be persecuted for speaking truth. As Americans we are blessed for the freedoms we have, let us remember to pray and support our brothers and sisters throughout the world who don’t have it.
”But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now 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. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.“
Mark 6:4-6 NKJV
I found this interesting that Jesus limited his work there because of their unbelief. Makes me think of casting pearls before swine, or do not answer a fool according to his folly. Even Jesus couldn’t convince some people.
I had a thought about the killing of John the Baptist. One would think because he was God’s faithful servant, that God would protect him, but no, he suffered the worst persecution of all for his stand for righteousness before the powerful. We are not exempt from persecution or even death, regardless we should walk in obedience and faith.
MARK 6