The Average American Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
1. Average folk that’s who and what we are
• Average folk live normal lives
• Average folk work mostly blue collar jobs
• Average folk are concerned and caring
• Average folk Believe in God, and goes to church at least 2 or 3 times a month.
2. The average person needs a rest a retreat a refueling time Today’s reading Jesus encourages his disciples to rest and recharge their bodies, minds and spirits.
• Jesus needed rest he was completely asleep in a chaotic storm The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
• He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
• He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
• If our world is chaotic take a rest take a breath let Jesus quiet your storm
3. In today’s reading I think Jesus and the disciples need a break. These average folk were overwhelmed
• The scripture tells us 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
• 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
• 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
4. This text shares with us that Jesus simply cares passionately for the average folk because the average folk need a pick me up every now and then
• I believe Jesus loves the elite of society, the religious folk, the higher crust but He also has a deep, powerful, physical feeling in his gut for the average folk
• The Scripture teach us when he sees the crowd. He has intense and overwhelming compassion for them, because they are wandering through life like sheep without a shepherd,
• He doesn’t just think about them, he feels for them. In his heart. In his gut.
5. Jesus has deep compassion it seems for the average Galilean.
• He has compassion for the less educated Jesus begins to teach them (v. 34),
• He has compassion for the hungry one so he feeds them (vv. 35-44),
• He has compassion for those who were sick and heal the sick throughout the region (vv. 53-56).
• Jesus has a compassion and his focus is on healing people in body, mind and spirit. How is it with your soul.
6. Why is it Jesus has so much Compassion … for us. ?
• He doesn’t want us to wander aimlessly, like sheep without a shepherd, so he instructs us in his will and his way.
• Jesus is loving. But he’s also
• Jesus heals us. He comes to us when we are broken in body, mind or spirit, and gently puts together our scattered shards.
• He heals the sick, comforts the grieving, and forgives those who are shattered by their sinfulness.
7. Finally, average folk need a Break, need compassion, need instruction, need healing and love.
• Jesus is forever looking for the overlooked and overworked. Looking for the disenfranchised, devastated, devalued and disturbed of this world.
• And when he sees them, as he saw the multitude in Galilee 2,000 years ago, he thinks to himself, “God! I love these people!”
