The Average American

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!”