Mark 6:53-56
When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 53
And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 54-55
Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. 56
Introduction – Authenticity
Several years ago, in Long Beach, California, a fellow went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day—a whole bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken.
After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to open the meal and enjoy some chicken together. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken—over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. By then the manager was frantic.
The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, “I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money. Here.” Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, “Oh, great, let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re the most honest man I’ve heard of.” To which they guy quickly responded, “Oh no, no, don’t do that!” Then he leaned closer and whispered, “You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife...she’s uh, somebody else’s wife.” Charles Swindoll, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, pp. 159-60
The disciples knew Jesus was not a fake. But they still did not understand Jesus or His mission. Now they had weathered through a rough storm with little or no sleep. Jesus came to them walking on water, stilled the storm and finished the journey with them to…Gennesaret! But what happened to Bethsaida-Galilee? It seems they were pushed off course but we find they had a divine appointment in Gennesaret.
Gennesaret was a plain along the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee that was referred to as “the Garden of God” and “a beautiful paradise”. It was one mile wide and three miles long. Often, the people in the region called the Sea of Galilee...Lake Gennesaret. It was a place for rest. I’m sure the disciples felt ready to get some well deserved rest. As if that’s going to happen!
As the disciples disembarked from their boat, they felt they had earned…
A Hopeful Rest 53
After rowing for some eight hours and straining against the hard wind, I am sure they felt they needed and deserved some Rest and Recovery. Jesus seemed to imply, what seemed like forever, they would get some rest.
So, they had their Plans…
Their plans were to get some rest. They were Physically overwhelmed. Exhausted would be a better word. Every disciple was feeling the effects of little sleep and physical exertion.
I have worked the third shift and stayed up several days before. There is something about getting little sleep that puts one on edge. The problem I felt was the "buzz" in my brain from little sleep.
They were also Emotionally drained. Physical activities often leave us emotionally sapped. We do not have a source outside of God’s Spirit who can re-energize us.
They were also Mentally fatigued. They had experienced some awesome works through the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ direction. But now they were tired.
We often find ourselves in places we never intended on going to. God redirects our boat through the storms of life. We struggle and toil in those storms and often find ourselves exhausted wondering why we are here. God has a reason: it’s called a divine appointment or as I like to say, “A God-cident.”
Ah, but God has higher Purposes…
God drove the disciples to a place where they could minister to others. That place was Gennesaret. It was a place of beauty and rest. But we find something else about Gennesaret.
Gennesaret was a place for Help. The storm was an intentional push by the Father to minister to those who had great need.
It was also a place for Hope. Where Jesus is there is hope! It was no accident they came to Gennesaret. God had a ministry of hope to a helpless people. He does the same today.
Then, it was a place for Healing. For the disciples it was a place of healing for them. It was soon to be a place of healing for the people in the region.
Illustration – Getting past your past
Consider Charles Colson, the aide to Richard Nixon who was sent to jail for Watergate. As a result of his experience as a convicted felon, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, now the world’s largest Christian outreach to prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship has more than 50,000 volunteers working in hundreds of prisons in 88 countries around the world. A ministry that has blessed millions of people got started twenty-five years ago because Charles Colson committed a crime. God’s eternal purposes for that man included even the sin that sent him to prison. It was a part of God’s plan from the very beginning. But the story that matters most to you isn’t Peter’s, or Paul’s, or even Charles Colson’s. It’s yours. The story of your life has not been ruined, not by your sin or anyone else’s. God’s purpose for your life is not buried under the mistakes of the past. God has a plan for your life, a good plan, a wise plan, a loving plan, a sovereign plan, and that plan is still in effect. You haven’t missed it. He is working out that plan in your life right now, today. Even when you misunderstand why you are here, Jesus has a reason, a purpose and a plan for you.
We go from a restful place to a place where we see…
A Hurting People 54-55
People saw the evidence of changed lives both physically and spiritually. The ones changed wanted others to experience what they had!
Once Jesus made His appearance He was Recognized. Folks knew who he was! He was the life-changer and life-giver.
Charles Swindoll has a small book entitled Compassion. In the book is a clear statement what we ought to remember. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
The people KNEW that Jesus cared for them. They were willing to display it.
Second, we find they Relished their opportunity. They went everywhere finding anyone who needed healing. They would literally carry them to wherever He was.
Sadly, we don’t seem to be doing that very much. We want them to come to us rather than us bringing them to Jesus.
Illustration - Poll: Fewer Americans Call Themselves Christian
Monday, March 9, 2009 11:42 AM
By: Jim Meyers
The number of Americans who identify themselves as Christians has dropped significantly over the past 20 years — while 15 percent of U.S. residents now say they have “no” religion, a newly released survey reveals.
Researchers at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., conducted surveys and 1990, 2001, and last year, and found that the percentage of Americans who say they are Christians fell from 86 percent in 1990 to 76 percent last year.
Americans who identify themselves as mainline Protestants, including Methodists and Lutherans, now comprise 13 percent of the population, down from 19 percent in 1990, while the number of people who describe themselves as generically “Protestant” fell from around 17 million two decades ago to 5 million last year.
The number of Americans who describe themselves as “nondenominational,” meanwhile, has soared from 194,000 in 1990 to more than 8 million in the new survey, which questioned more than 54,000 respondents, the Washington Post reported.
The only group that grew in every American state since 2001 is those who say they have “no” religion, up from 14.2 percent in 2001 to 15 percent last year. The new survey also found that 44 percent of adult Christians in the U.S. say they are born again or evangelical, as do 18 percent of Catholics. © 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
Isn’t it noteworthy that we are not bringing them to Jesus? Do we relish the opportunities given us today?
They Reached others for Christ. Bringing the people was necessary. They loved their family and friends enough to reach out to them.
Finally, they Risked rejection. Some probably stated that He couldn’t be the Messiah. Perhaps only if they were desperate would they go.
Illustration - Hurting People
In Jesus’ life there is a striking pattern: the more unsavory the characters, the more at ease they seemed to feel around Jesus. People like these found Jesus appealing: a Samaritan social outcast, a militant officer of the tyrant Herod, a disloyal tax collector, a woman of 7 demons. In contrast, Jesus got a chilly response from more respectable types. Pious Pharisees thought him uncouth and worldly, a rich young ruler walked away shaking his head, and even the open-minded Nicodemus sought a meeting under the cover of darkness. Notice how strange a pattern this seems, since the Christian church now attracts respectable types who closely resemble the people most suspicious of Jesus on earth. What has happened to reverse the pattern of Jesus day? Why don’t sinners like being around us?
There’s a story by a man who works with the down and out in Chicago. A prostitute came to him in wretched straits, homeless, her health failing, unable to buy food for her 2 year old daughter. Her eyes awash with tears, she confessed that she had been renting out her daughter – 2 years old! – to men.. to support her drug habit. The man could barely bear hearing the sordid details of her story. He sat in silence not knowing what to say. At last he asked if she had ever thought of going to a church for help. “I will never forget the look of pure astonishment that crossed her face,” he said. “Church!” she cried. “Why would I ever gatherer? They’d just make me feel worse then I already do.” Somehow we have created a community of respectability in the church. The down-and –out who flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome. How did Jesus, the only perfect person in history, manage to attract the notoriously imperfect? And what keeps us from following in His steps today? YES – Christ’s passion for the hurting is needed TODAY not later!
Because there are hurting people, we discover…
A Healing Savior 56
Jesus saw their needs. He knew their hearts. He desired to heal them. That is why He died on the cross. He knows our real needs.
It is here we find He knows their Desperation. They searched everywhere to bring Him their family and friends. They were desperate. They needed Him.
He sees their Diseases. Perhaps they had spent all their wealth. Perhaps they did not have the means to be healed. Perhaps they had leprosy or cancer. Only Jesus could heal them of the diseases they had.
He provides their Deliverance. Jesus is the Savior. Notice in verse 56, the word "well". It comes from the Greek word óþæù. It means to save or heal. Jesus not only healed them…He saved them.
The greatest work we can do is lead someone to the Savior Jesus Christ! Observe that Jesus healed and loved them no matter how deformed, diseased, dirty, disappointing, immoral, unattractive, abnormal or sinful they were. It took just a touch from the Master to change and transform their lives!
Illustration – The Touch of the Master’s Hand
’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile,
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three --" But no,
From the room, far back, a gray haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As sweet as a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?"
Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a Master’s hand,"
And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine
A game - and he travels on.
He’s "going" once, and "going" twice
He’s "going" and almost "gone,"
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the “touch of the Master’s hand.”
by Myra Brooks Welch
