Sometime ago I made a case/plea for reading Scripture regularly ... http://asthekingdomturns.blogspot.com/2013/02/read-ye-all-of-it.html
To me, we're lost without it.
I meet in a study group where we share what we got out of the same passage. Tonight we were in Mark 6. And I was reminded of the importance of humility and persistence in Scripture reading.
There are those out there who will say "I've read the Bible.", or "I know what the Bible says." I've been reading the Bible on and off for 45 years (moreso in the last 25), and am still amazed at the things I never saw, or saw and never understood, or saw in a different light ... The more I read, the more I realize how much more there is for me there. ('Course it may just be that I'm daft...; there's always that.)
In Mark 6, the first section deals with Jesus being restricted in his hood; he was too familiar, and they were offended that he was teaching and healing, even his family. He was amazed at that. The upshot of that was that he couldn't heal many people there. They didn't believe him.
Meanwhile he sends out the Twelve and they have great results: demonic forces were challenged and many sick people were healed.
Later in the chapter he is found teaching late iinto the day, and the people are hungry. The disciples tell him to let them go to find food. Jesus' response: "Why? You feed them." He ends up feeeding thousands with very little because his followers did not faith it.
Right after this, Jesus heads out alone to pray and the disciples take a boat to cross the water. A storm moves in. Jesus 'sees' them struggling to battle the contrary winds, and he goes to them - he walks ... on the water. I quote 6.48: he came toward them walking on the sea, and wanted to pass by them. That last clause always tickled my mind. I never could figure out why Jesus was going to walk right by them? That's crazy! He went out there because they were being battered by the weather. Why would he just walk by??
They cry out because they figure they're seeing a ghost. Jesus calms them, gets into the boat, and calms the storm. And the comment is made that the disciples were amazed for they had not understood about the loaves. See, they had seen Jesus feed 20,000 people, and they should have seen their faithlessness in that. And here it is later the same day and he has to show them again.
I actually think Jesus wanted them to get out of the boat and follow him on the water. I think that's why the text states he was about to pass them. He wanted them to follow, in faith, even on the water. Either that or he wanted them to still the wind on their own. Regardless, he wanted them to do something about it, in faith.
This re-reading of the text I've read too many times to remember reminds me: don't ever assume you know what's there, mate. Read with an open mind, an attitude of humility, asking the Spirit to illuminate my spirit, and read. Read.
... for God's sake, read!
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