The first day, we read and commented on the first chapter of Mark. After sitting with this passage for a while, I noticed two interesting things:
First, I love my grandmother's large print study bible. I've never used it before. I grabbed it out of the garage for no reason. Wow! I like those big letters!!
Secondly, Mark charges through the early ministry of Jesus. There's no linage, birth, boyhood teaching... none of that context stuff. He jumps right into the ministry of this messiah, telling of:
- the forerunner
- the baptism
- the temptation
- the calling of the disciples
- driving out evil spirits (and he silenced them)
- healing Simon's mother-in-law (as well as everyone else who needed it in Capernum it seems)
- travelling in the night to avoid the crowds
- healing the man with leprosy
- needing to stay outside towns in 'lonely places' to avoid being mobbed.
Whew! That's a busy guy, that Messiah! It must have been a burden to be the one who was exactly what EVERYBODY needed - all the time! What a life.
It says that in one day he: taught in the synagogue, went to Simon's house, healed the lady of the house, had a meal (busy, busy).... then after sunset people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door! They didn't come to him until sunset. They had to wait until the Sabbath was over before carrying anything or travelling any distance. When the crowds were desperate to get to this miracle worker, excited, and maybe anxious, they didn't rush to him like they wanted to. They waited. This healer who may be the Messiah - the real thing - came to their little town, and they really needed healing... so they watched the decending sun, unable to persue that which would change their lives forever.
I recognize that, if left unchecked, I can be one impatient person. I can't imagine waiting 15 seconds, 2 minutes, 3 hours, when I suspect everything I need just showed up in my neighborhood! But, it would have been unthinkable - sinful even, for them to have broken the Sabbath. They didn't consider it.
The timing when HE shows up can be inconvenient. And we're left thinking "I've been this way for so long, what's another hour? day? week? year?" I wonder how many didn't go at all because it was not an optimal time to travel.
I, on the other hand, am not a first century Jew. I'm free of the rules and the religious constraint. But, how many times have I waited thru another sunset, feeling powerless, while missing God's provision because I didn't get up and go, or ask, or seek, or knock, or whatever?
I want to be done with that.
¶ 6:24 PM
Doug - What I'm noticing this trip through Mark is how hectic it must have been for them. That he was able to reach people individually is amazing - perhaps it was a God thing...
Julie~ Weird, my New King James Version says, “But when His own people heard about this…” It then references Mark 6:3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?”
I’ll have to see if Dave can get something from the Greek Translation he has. (He works night shift so I’ll have to ask him tomorrow!)
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