The Plan Of God’s Servant

"Sending Messengers"

Book of Mark Chapter 6

In our last lesson Jesus had calmed the storm on Galilee, showing His power over the elements.

He had showed His power over Satan by removing a Legion of devils from a human being that Satan had used.

Jesus had  raised the 12 year old daughter of Jairus back to perfect health after she had died.

This 12 year old was called a Damsel.

A damsel is a young lady not much older than 12.

In our lesson today we will see Jesus show us His intent to send His disciples to spread the "Gospel", but we will also see how Satan can use another young "Damsel", to hinder the work of God!

Many important lessons we will learn as the Holy Ghost guided Mark to write these things down.

Let’s begin:

*****Mar 6:1  And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
Mar 6:2  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

It had not been long since Mary, the "virgin" mother of Jesus had brought the "earthly" family of Jesus to Capernaum trying to get Jesus to just come back home and forget what He was doing.

Jesus had been raised in Nazareth but may not have returned there since John the Baptist had been murdered.

Every Jewish man had a right to address the people of the Synagogue and the ruler of the Synagogue would normally ask if any intended to do so.

The Lord Jesus would always speak at this opportunity!

These people knew Jesus and his family very well and they were astonished at His doctrine.

Jesus had began His ministry at the age of 30 and up until that point in His life, He had not been allowed to speak in any Synagogue.

So what did Jesus teach this day?

The Gospel of Luke says this:

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luk 4:20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luk 4:21  And he began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".

These people were not prepared to hear this message!
His friends were not prepared to hear this message!
His family was not prepared to hear this message!

Jesus taught with words that they had never heard before, but to them, Jesus was just the son of Mary and Joseph, a local boy that had become famous throughout the region.

And they said:

*****Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Joseph was not the father of Jesus but he had adopted Him as his son and raised Him in his own profession.

A carpenter of that day was an admired profession and a good one had knowledge of many things. We can see that Jesus was recognized as a "carpenter"!

There was a great lack of wood, so carpenters had to also be stone masons and metal workers to build homes.

Wood was mainly used for furniture, so a good carpenter would also be a cabinet maker and other household furniture and a carpenter would have also made farm equipment such as ploughs and yokes.

We can see a good carpenter was a valuable man to have around, but Jesus Christ was much more than a carpenter!

Luke had written some things about the early years of Jesus but here we do see that from those early years until the age of 30 when Jesus began His ministry, He had built a reputation as a carpenter, "a builder", and a craftsman!

Here again Joseph is not mentioned but only the fact that Jesus was birthed by the virgin Mary.

We can also see that Jesus had 4 brothers and also some sisters who were fathered by Joseph.

"And they were offended at Him"

An old prophet had given Mary and Joseph these words when Jesus was just 8 days old:

Luk 2:34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Luk 2:35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Jesus Christ has always been spoken against in this world, but Christianity will continue until the Lord takes us all home!

And Jesus responded:

*****Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Mar 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Mar 6:6  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Jesus was well known to the people of Nazareth.

Remember Jesus had always kept the Laws of Moses and had always been an upright child.

They had since heard of His great reputation of His teaching and the miracles that He had performed.

Jesus had come to Nazareth in full public display and all they could do was find fault in Him!

They could not believe the truth that stood before them!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

They could not believe the things they had heard!

Act 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

To "marvel" is to "wonder"!

To "wonder"  is the effect that truth has on ignorance!

In any court of law with all this evidence, there could have only been one conclusion.

Jesus Christ was exactly who He said He was!

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and "the express image" of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Jesus had unfolded a mystery of the Bible to them and He was rejected without any excuse!

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, "which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ":

God has always spoken to this world we live in, by His Son Jesus!

"Unbelief" in reference to Jesus Christ is refusing to recognize and receive Him as being what He claims to be!

1) Christ Jesus is God manifested in the flesh.
2) Christ Jesus is God’s messenger and teacher.
3) Christ Jesus is Our atoning Sacrifice and Great High Priests.
4) Christ Jesus is God’s Authority over this world!

This is the sin that will send all such unbelievers to the Burning Lake of Fire!

He who cannot see the Sun (Son) must be stone blind!

So what did Jesus do?

He went around to all the villages and continued to teach!

If Nazareth wanted no part of Salvation, there was still a whole countryside that had not heard His message!

Jesus was preparing His disciples to multiply His message and there is still only "One Message" today!

*****Mar 6:7  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mar 6:8  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mar 6:9  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Mar 6:10  And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Mar 6:11  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Here again the message would be sent to the Jew first and there was a very good reason to go out in pairs:

Ecc 4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Ecc 4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

You see, God will never go against His Own Word!

We can see it was Jesus who matched these pairs together, for only He knew their strengths and weaknesses.

Jesus gave them the power over unclean spirits!

We should always realize that Jesus always gives what is needed before He commands us to go!

Jesus will never send us into the battlefield unprepared!

Stepping out on "faith" when we are called, is God’s way!

They were to travel light!

A staff would not only provide support but would also provide a defensive weapon and spiritually a "staff" gives us the picture of the shepherd and the "staff" also is a "type" of the "Bread of Life", the Word of God.

They were to wear their sandals.

The sandals were to protect their feet.

We should have this thought.

God told Moses at the burning bush to remove his shoes (sandals) because he was on Holy Ground.

God told Solomon to keep his feet when he went into the Temple.

Jesus was telling His disciples to wear their sandals because they were stepping out in this evil, and unholy world!

They were not to take anything else because even though Jesus was not with them, they were to trust in Him to provide for them!

These same disciples were not allowed to make preparations when they sailed to the other side on that trip to Gadara. They had to depend on the Lord even in the storm.

And, these disciples were not allowed to make preparations for their journey this day they were sent by the Lord. They still had to depend on the Lord who sent them.

We should realize that Jesus was training these disciples and these are not universal rules for sending missionaries!

These disciples of Jesus had also become well known and many would be waiting to extend hospitality to them.

They should also be prepared to stay with the meager as well as with the more affluent!

All Jews were taught that "the dust of the Gentiles" was impure and was to be shaken off.

Jesus was telling these disciples that any that did not receive them were to be considered impure and they were to shake the dust off their feet and remember they were sent to the Jews.

The Apostle Paul said it this way:

Act 18:5  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Act 18:6  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Not everyone in this world will receive the Word of God openly!

The Jewish religious system had already rejected the The Lord as The Messiah and were already plotting to kill Him.

In our day, not everyone is glad to hear the "Gospel" and true preachers are the enemies of most governments of today.

But it is a serious matter to reject the Word of God!

And it is just as serious a matter to reject those that are sent of God!

Pharaoh made this mistake when dealing with Moses!

The city of Sodom made this mistake when dealing with those two angels!

Sodom is mentioned because, immorality that will not change, will be eradicated!

Gomorrah is mentioned to give us the image of eternal fire!

Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

There is indeed a "judgment day coming"!

*****Mar 6:12  And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mar 6:13  And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

What is the order of salvation?

1) Repentance:

The Holy Spirit must be allowed to do His work. It’s called Holy Ghost conviction!

Repentance is not just feeling sorry but is a complete change of mind.

Mat 21:28  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29  "He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went".

Jesus had said a man must realize he is sick before he will seek out the doctor!

These disciples were sent to do some other things but their first job was to preach the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

2)  Next comes the results of preaching!

What is in Satan’s kingdom?

It is full of devils.
It is full of disease and sickness.
It is full of bondage.

Just so we are clear, the anointing of oil had no healing properties!

That "oil" represents the soothing and gentle effect that salvation brings to the lost.

That "oil" represents the work of the Holy Spirit!

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

And who do think was keeping up with the things of Jesus?

It was the government!

*****Mar 6:14  And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
Mar 6:15  Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mar 6:16  But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

This is the same Herod Antipas we learned about a few weeks ago. He was the son of Herod the Great. This is the Herod that murdered John the Baptist "for no reason" but to satisfy his illegitimate wife!

Herod did not believe that Christ Jesus was the Messiah!

Herod had a guilty conscience for what he had done to John the Baptist and he had a fear that John had resurrected from the dead and would seek vengeance!

Our conscience and our memory will always make themselves felt in this life we live!

I just heard today that medicine that is sold for stress illness is ten times what it was just two years ago!

Herod had gladly listened to John but he would not obey him!

Herod also knew that miraculous powers were at work in Jesus!

There were also some others that thought of Jesus as the returning Elijah that was prophesied.

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Others said that Jesus was just another prophet.

Deu 18:15  The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

The world of that day was at least recognizing that Jesus Christ was a great man!

Jesus Christ is surely that Prophet, but they all missed that part about "unto him ye shall hearken".

In our day the Muslim recognize Jesus as only a prophet, but not one to listen too.

This contradicts the title of prophet.

A true Prophet is a spokesman of God!

SO, Why was Herod so worried about Jesus?

*****Mar 6:17  For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.
Mar 6:18  For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
Mar 6:19  Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
Mar 6:20  For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Herodias was the unlawful wife of Herod Antipas. God had given the Jews a specific law that governed the wives of brothers:

Lev 18:16  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife it is thy brother’s nakedness.

You see God had said that He would make the rules for the marriage.

God said that the marriage was to be between a man and a woman!

Lev 18:5  Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Lev 18:6  "None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness": I am the LORD.

Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great. Remember he had had at least 10 wives.

She had been married to Herod Philip of Rome, not to another son Philip the Tetrarch but she had suddenly divorced him under Roman law to marry Herod Antipas, after he had divorced his wife who was the daughter of Aretas the King of Arabia.

It was because of her that John the Baptist was locked up in the prison at Machaerus, known as the Black Fortress.

Herod the Great had built a palace here that overlooked the Dead Sea and this is where Herod Antipas had his birthday party.

Herodias was a wicked woman, much like Jezebel of the Old Testament and she hated John for what he had done and sought every opportunity to have him killed.

But Herod Antipas knew that John was a holy and righteous man and therefore innocent of any wrong doing.

He just preached the truth of God!

When Herod could slip away from Herodias, he would gladly hear the Word that John spoke to him while he was in that prison.

But Herodias had an evil plan to finally be rid of John for good.

Watch as the plan of this evil woman unfolds.

*****Mar 6:21  And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
Mar 6:22  And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
Mar 6:23  And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

She chose the birthday celebration of Herod to spring her trap!

Mat 14:6  But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

In our last lesson Jesus raised a "damsel" from her death and we saw that she was 12 years old.

A "damsel" was a half grown young lady from 12 to 13 years old.

Many marriages took place by the age of 14 during this time.

This daughter was named Salome and she would have been introduced as a princess but it was a shameful exhibition of lewd, half naked, dancing arranged by her mother who knew how to excite her husband!

Herod was excited enough to make an unreal offer.

A wise man once wrote these words:

Pro 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Pro 18:7  A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Being in a drunken stupor was no excuse for Herod’s actions and the preaching of Jesus had brought back memories of this day and was haunting this Herod now.

Herodias’s plan had been perfect:

*****Mar 6:24  And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:25  And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:26  And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Mar 6:27  And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Mar 6:28  And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

This young damsel went to her mother to see what would be important enough to ask of Herod but she was used by her mother to get what her mother had wanted all along, the death of John the Baptist.

You see Herodias knew that Herod would not easily break an oath but she knew most of all that Herod would never intentionally look bad before his invited guest.

It was they who had been invited to impress Herod on this special birthday!

We are to stand against the devil but we are to flee from sin:

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

We should be aware of the companions we surround ourselves with, and learn to say "NO" to any evil way!

Herod felt sorrow for what he was about to do, but he would not reject this child he had made this promise to!

In an brief instant John the Baptist was dead and Herod was damned!

This is the reason that Herod Antipas desired to see Jesus:

Luk 9:9  And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

He still had this desire even when Jesus was on trial:

Luk 23:8  And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Luk 23:9  Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

But we see Jesus had no desire to offer redemption to this Herod!

The Head of John the Baptist was delivered to Herodias:

*****Mar 6:29  And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

It was a sad time for the disciples of John and after burying him to stop any further mutilation of his body, they went to Jesus.

What else could they do?

Mat 14:12  And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

*****Mar 6:30  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Mar 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

It is a fact that the human body needs rest!

Satan had been allowed a small triumph over John the Baptist, but he would never have a victory over The Lord Jesus.

Now we will begin to see just how large these multitudes were that followed Our Lord.

God works in His own time!

God is never in a hurry as we saw in our last lesson when He raised that 12 year old child.

In fact God is on time every time and He does not expect His children to be on the run continuously!

That word "Come" is used more than 3000 times in the KJV Bible.

It is one of the first words Jesus used when He began His ministry with the disciples:

Joh 1:39  He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

"Come" will be one of the last words we will hear Him speak before our life in the glory world:

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Because this is God’s message to whosoever will listen to His words:

Mat 11:28  "Come" unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There can be no peaceful rest without the Lord Jesus!

The 12 had just returned from their first mission trip.

Many of them had known John the Baptist and no doubt the word that he had been executed for preaching the truth, just as they were now, could have been upsetting to them.

They had lost a godly friend.

The Apostle Peter did not forget these days and offers this encouragement:

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Jesus said let’s go to a "desert place".

This was not a sandy desert but a place that was thinly populated and away from crowds and cities.

No doubt these same thoughts had come to David:

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

But this time of desperate people, looking for relief of their circumstances would not allow this to happen.

*****Mar 6:32  And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Mar 6:33  And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

It is easy to see the human side of Jesus here. It was time for a holiday!

Remember God is a great believer in taking a holiday to rest:

Gen 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

We already know that any ship on the Sea of Galilee could be seen from any shoreline.

As these desperate people followed after Jesus on foot, a great crowd gathered as they proceeded through each village and city.

*****Mar 6:34  And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Compassion is best described as a suffering with another and as painful sympathy for another human being.

Compassion is a mixture of passion, sorrow, and much love.

But Our Lord and Our God is full of "compassion"!

Psa 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psa 78:39  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

They were like sheep that had no shepherd!

They had great needs:

Luk 9:11  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

What did Jesus do?

1) He received them.
2) He taught them the truth.
3) He healed them.

But there was much more.

4) He would also feed them with "Bread From Heaven"!

*****Mar 6:35  And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
Mar 6:36  Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
Mar 6:37  He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

The 12 chosen of Jesus had not had much of a holiday and the day was now gone.

Jesus had specifically chose this desert place and He will feed His sheep.

We have already said that Our Lord never changes in His ways, so great lessons can be learned from all His miracles.

This was a great crowd of not only men but also women and children and they all wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

There were no religious leaders here this day, just people with needs.

What did they all have in common?

They were all hungry and they were all poor!

So what would Jesus do?

Jesus gave the invitation!

Jesus provided the meal!

All this great multitude had to do was to "receive what the Lord provides"!

A free gift by the "Grace of God".

A great lesson for the 12 chosen of the Lord to learn and for us all!

They would not be sent away!

God’s disciples can only lead the lost to the Lord it is by God’s "Grace" that His gifts are offered!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Philip, one of the 12 told of their little power:

Joh 6:7  Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Philip knew that they might could feed this multitude but they could not satisfy their hunger, for Jesus could only do that!

And Jesus will not allow His sheep to starve!

*****Mar 6:38  He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

They had the total supply of one lad, whose mother had cared enough to pack him a lunch!

The demand was great.

The supply was little.

But, the Lord Jesus is not caught up in the law of supply and demand!

Jesus said just do as I say.

*****Mar 6:39  And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

They were to sit down as they would at a table that was full of food.

They were about to dine at God’s table!

*****Mar 6:40  And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

They were told to sit down as they would in an orderly fashion at their own table.

Out of disorder Jesus Christ brings order.

What was the miracle?

*****Mar 6:41  And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Mar 6:42  And they did all eat, and were filled.
Mar 6:43  And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

This miracle is recorded in all 4 of the "Gospels".

Before Jesus started, He looked up to Heaven.

This world we live in cannot supply our greatest need!

Before Jesus brakes the bread He blesses it.

The food we receive from the Lord is already blessed, so God who gives it, then deserves our thanks.

Man cannot bless the things of God!

They did all eat!

They were all filled!

There were many of them that had not realized that a miracle taken place but the chosen 12 became very aware when they gathered 12 baskets full of fragments!

We can see that the baskets that the 12 carried their own provisions were now filled.

Psa 78:72  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

The Lord Jesus will always have more than enough for those that call on His name!

*****Mar 6:44  And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

Matthew adds:

Mat 14:21  And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

We see when the word multitude is written it can well mean more than 10,000 people.

It is very obvious that the world of that day was taking a great notice of Jesus of Nazareth!

*****Mar 6:45  And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
Mar 6:46  And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Jesus did not force His disciples to sail without Him, He just convinced them that is was the necessary thing to do.

The disciples did not want to leave Jesus behind because there were no more boats left for Him to come later.

They still did not understand the power of God, that was Jesus Christ.

Bethsaida was the native home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip. and Jesus would soon meet a blind man here.

Joh 6:22  The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

With these things settled Jesus went up alone on the mountain to pray!

Jesus was finally alone with Our Father who is in Heaven!

We can see that Jesus felt it was important to spend some quiet time with His Father!

This is also something that we must all do!

We should also see this as a "type" of  the church without the Holy Spirit.

The 12 disciples were launched in the sea of this world without the power of Christ Jesus.

****Mar 6:47  And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

Remember what Jesus said to them later:

Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

But we can also get a picture of the modern day Church tossing in the storms and waves of the Laodicean Church Age patiently waiting on the return of Jesus Christ to get His Church.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

*****Mar 6:48  And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

Jesus watches over all His disciples as we travel through the storms of life!

That word "toiling" meant that it was like "torture" to row against that contrary wind!

That wind was blowing in the opposite direction from which they were headed.

We know this world we live in is going in the opposite direction from the Word of God!

The fourth watch of the night would have been between 3 AM and 6 AM.

We know that our world is dark and getting darker but we are to continue to do the work the Lord has given us to do!

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

And there are other reasons to continue:

1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was not going to pass by His disciples, they only thought this!

It may not always appear that the Lord is with us in our time of need but He is keeping a close watch on each and every one of us!

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Jesus would not say this if it were not true!

*****Mar 6:49  But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
Mar 6:50  For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
Mar 6:51  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

Not only were these experienced fishermen in fear of the storm, they believed they were seeing things and they thought they were seeing a ghost.

After all, they believed that no mortal man can walk on water!

And they also remembered those pigs filled with evil spirits had drowned near this same water not to long ago.

So they cried out to God and as God does, He hears our cries!

" It is I"***** Exo 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exo 3:15  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

It is Jehovah that answered:

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

It is the Lord that answered "be not afraid"!

And the Lord climbed into the ship and the wind ceased!

We know that Mark was led to the Lord by Peter and after his dispute with the Apostle Paul, Mark spent a great deal of time with Peter.

So maybe Peter did not want Mark to write down how he had himself walked on the water also but had let his faith falter and began to sink:

Mat 14:27  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Again the Lord showed His power over the forces of nature.

But why was their faith weak?

*****Mar 6:52  For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Just as the world is today, we just do not consider the full power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When each miracle is only looked at on it’s merits we sometimes miss the big picture.

When Jesus fed that crowd of much more than 5000, they had not understood the full breadth of that power.

They should not have been astonished, that the sea again calmed and that wind ceased.

Today we can say that those that live in the so called Bible Belt are "Gospel Hardened".

When we should know what to expect from the Lord, we allow doubts to interfere with good judgment.

The Lord has said what He will do!

We cannot have our joy in this world until we accept the full truth of the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After all it is His "Gospel"——-AND,  It is Good News not bad news!

1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

*****Mar 6:53  And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
Mar 6:54  And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
Mar 6:55  And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

The land of Gennesaret has been called "the Paradise of Galilee".

Gennesaret means the "garden of the prince".

But this day would be a day when good things would happen.

It was a day to meet Jesus!

*****Mar 6:56  And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Many of the miracles that Jesus had done were soon forgotten but not His power to heal!

But Jesus was not seeking fame!

Jesus had come for a different reason:

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Plan Of God’s Servant

"Sending Messengers"

Book of Mark Chapter 6

In our last lesson Jesus had calmed the storm on Galilee, showing His power over the elements.

He had showed His power over Satan by removing a Legion of devils from a human being that Satan had used.

Jesus had  raised the 12 year old daughter of Jairus back to perfect health after she had died.

This 12 year old was called a Damsel.

A damsel is a young lady not much older than 12.

In our lesson today we will see Jesus show us His intent to send His disciples to spread the "Gospel", but we will also see how Satan can use another young "Damsel", to hinder the work of God!

Many important lessons we will learn as the Holy Ghost guided Mark to write these things down.

Let’s begin:

*****Mar 6:1  And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
Mar 6:2  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

It had not been long since Mary, the "virgin" mother of Jesus had brought the "earthly" family of Jesus to Capernaum trying to get Jesus to just come back home and forget what He was doing.

Jesus had been raised in Nazareth but may not have returned there since John the Baptist had been murdered.

Every Jewish man had a right to address the people of the Synagogue and the ruler of the Synagogue would normally ask if any intended to do so.

The Lord Jesus would always speak at this opportunity!

These people knew Jesus and his family very well and they were astonished at His doctrine.

Jesus had began His ministry at the age of 30 and up until that point in His life, He had not been allowed to speak in any Synagogue.

So what did Jesus teach this day?

The Gospel of Luke says this:

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luk 4:20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luk 4:21  And he began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".

These people were not prepared to hear this message!
His friends were not prepared to hear this message!
His family was not prepared to hear this message!

Jesus taught with words that they had never heard before, but to them, Jesus was just the son of Mary and Joseph, a local boy that had become famous throughout the region.

And they said:

*****Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Joseph was not the father of Jesus but he had adopted Him as his son and raised Him in his own profession.

A carpenter of that day was an admired profession and a good one had knowledge of many things. We can see that Jesus was recognized as a "carpenter"!

There was a great lack of wood, so carpenters had to also be stone masons and metal workers to build homes.

Wood was mainly used for furniture, so a good carpenter would also be a cabinet maker and other household furniture and a carpenter would have also made farm equipment such as ploughs and yokes.

We can see a good carpenter was a valuable man to have around, but Jesus Christ was much more than a carpenter!

Luke had written some things about the early years of Jesus but here we do see that from those early years until the age of 30 when Jesus began His ministry, He had built a reputation as a carpenter, "a builder", and a craftsman!

Here again Joseph is not mentioned but only the fact that Jesus was birthed by the virgin Mary.

We can also see that Jesus had 4 brothers and also some sisters who were fathered by Joseph.

"And they were offended at Him"

An old prophet had given Mary and Joseph these words when Jesus was just 8 days old:

Luk 2:34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Luk 2:35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Jesus Christ has always been spoken against in this world, but Christianity will continue until the Lord takes us all home!

And Jesus responded:

*****Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Mar 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Mar 6:6  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Jesus was well known to the people of Nazareth.

Remember Jesus had always kept the Laws of Moses and had always been an upright child.

They had since heard of His great reputation of His teaching and the miracles that He had performed.

Jesus had come to Nazareth in full public display and all they could do was find fault in Him!

They could not believe the truth that stood before them!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

They could not believe the things they had heard!

Act 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

To "marvel" is to "wonder"!

To "wonder"  is the effect that truth has on ignorance!

In any court of law with all this evidence, there could have only been one conclusion.

Jesus Christ was exactly who He said He was!

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and "the express image" of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Jesus had unfolded a mystery of the Bible to them and He was rejected without any excuse!

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, "which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ":

God has always spoken to this world we live in, by His Son Jesus!

"Unbelief" in reference to Jesus Christ is refusing to recognize and receive Him as being what He claims to be!

1) Christ Jesus is God manifested in the flesh.
2) Christ Jesus is God’s messenger and teacher.
3) Christ Jesus is Our atoning Sacrifice and Great High Priests.
4) Christ Jesus is God’s Authority over this world!

This is the sin that will send all such unbelievers to the Burning Lake of Fire!

He who cannot see the Sun (Son) must be stone blind!

So what did Jesus do?

He went around to all the villages and continued to teach!

If Nazareth wanted no part of Salvation, there was still a whole countryside that had not heard His message!

Jesus was preparing His disciples to multiply His message and there is still only "One Message" today!

*****Mar 6:7  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mar 6:8  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mar 6:9  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Mar 6:10  And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Mar 6:11  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Here again the message would be sent to the Jew first and there was a very good reason to go out in pairs:

Ecc 4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Ecc 4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

You see, God will never go against His Own Word!

We can see it was Jesus who matched these pairs together, for only He knew their strengths and weaknesses.

Jesus gave them the power over unclean spirits!

We should always realize that Jesus always gives what is needed before He commands us to go!

Jesus will never send us into the battlefield unprepared!

Stepping out on "faith" when we are called, is God’s way!

They were to travel light!

A staff would not only provide support but would also provide a defensive weapon and spiritually a "staff" gives us the picture of the shepherd and the "staff" also is a "type" of the "Bread of Life", the Word of God.

They were to wear their sandals.

The sandals were to protect their feet.

We should have this thought.

God told Moses at the burning bush to remove his shoes (sandals) because he was on Holy Ground.

God told Solomon to keep his feet when he went into the Temple.

Jesus was telling His disciples to wear their sandals because they were stepping out in this evil, and unholy world!

They were not to take anything else because even though Jesus was not with them, they were to trust in Him to provide for them!

These same disciples were not allowed to make preparations when they sailed to the other side on that trip to Gadara. They had to depend on the Lord even in the storm.

And, these disciples were not allowed to make preparations for their journey this day they were sent by the Lord. They still had to depend on the Lord who sent them.

We should realize that Jesus was training these disciples and these are not universal rules for sending missionaries!

These disciples of Jesus had also become well known and many would be waiting to extend hospitality to them.

They should also be prepared to stay with the meager as well as with the more affluent!

All Jews were taught that "the dust of the Gentiles" was impure and was to be shaken off.

Jesus was telling these disciples that any that did not receive them were to be considered impure and they were to shake the dust off their feet and remember they were sent to the Jews.

The Apostle Paul said it this way:

Act 18:5  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Act 18:6  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Not everyone in this world will receive the Word of God openly!

The Jewish religious system had already rejected the The Lord as The Messiah and were already plotting to kill Him.

In our day, not everyone is glad to hear the "Gospel" and true preachers are the enemies of most governments of today.

But it is a serious matter to reject the Word of God!

And it is just as serious a matter to reject those that are sent of God!

Pharaoh made this mistake when dealing with Moses!

The city of Sodom made this mistake when dealing with those two angels!

Sodom is mentioned because, immorality that will not change, will be eradicated!

Gomorrah is mentioned to give us the image of eternal fire!

Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

There is indeed a "judgment day coming"!

*****Mar 6:12  And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mar 6:13  And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

What is the order of salvation?

1) Repentance:

The Holy Spirit must be allowed to do His work. It’s called Holy Ghost conviction!

Repentance is not just feeling sorry but is a complete change of mind.

Mat 21:28  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29  "He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went".

Jesus had said a man must realize he is sick before he will seek out the doctor!

These disciples were sent to do some other things but their first job was to preach the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

2)  Next comes the results of preaching!

What is in Satan’s kingdom?

It is full of devils.
It is full of disease and sickness.
It is full of bondage.

Just so we are clear, the anointing of oil had no healing properties!

That "oil" represents the soothing and gentle effect that salvation brings to the lost.

That "oil" represents the work of the Holy Spirit!

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

And who do think was keeping up with the things of Jesus?

It was the government!

*****Mar 6:14  And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
Mar 6:15  Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mar 6:16  But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

This is the same Herod Antipas we learned about a few weeks ago. He was the son of Herod the Great. This is the Herod that murdered John the Baptist "for no reason" but to satisfy his illegitimate wife!

Herod did not believe that Christ Jesus was the Messiah!

Herod had a guilty conscience for what he had done to John the Baptist and he had a fear that John had resurrected from the dead and would seek vengeance!

Our conscience and our memory will always make themselves felt in this life we live!

I just heard today that medicine that is sold for stress illness is ten times what it was just two years ago!

Herod had gladly listened to John but he would not obey him!

Herod also knew that miraculous powers were at work in Jesus!

There were also some others that thought of Jesus as the returning Elijah that was prophesied.

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Others said that Jesus was just another prophet.

Deu 18:15  The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

The world of that day was at least recognizing that Jesus Christ was a great man!

Jesus Christ is surely that Prophet, but they all missed that part about "unto him ye shall hearken".

In our day the Muslim recognize Jesus as only a prophet, but not one to listen too.

This contradicts the title of prophet.

A true Prophet is a spokesman of God!

SO, Why was Herod so worried about Jesus?

*****Mar 6:17  For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.
Mar 6:18  For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
Mar 6:19  Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
Mar 6:20  For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Herodias was the unlawful wife of Herod Antipas. God had given the Jews a specific law that governed the wives of brothers:

Lev 18:16  Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife it is thy brother’s nakedness.

You see God had said that He would make the rules for the marriage.

God said that the marriage was to be between a man and a woman!

Lev 18:5  Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Lev 18:6  "None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness": I am the LORD.

Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great. Remember he had had at least 10 wives.

She had been married to Herod Philip of Rome, not to another son Philip the Tetrarch but she had suddenly divorced him under Roman law to marry Herod Antipas, after he had divorced his wife who was the daughter of Aretas the King of Arabia.

It was because of her that John the Baptist was locked up in the prison at Machaerus, known as the Black Fortress.

Herod the Great had built a palace here that overlooked the Dead Sea and this is where Herod Antipas had his birthday party.

Herodias was a wicked woman, much like Jezebel of the Old Testament and she hated John for what he had done and sought every opportunity to have him killed.

But Herod Antipas knew that John was a holy and righteous man and therefore innocent of any wrong doing.

He just preached the truth of God!

When Herod could slip away from Herodias, he would gladly hear the Word that John spoke to him while he was in that prison.

But Herodias had an evil plan to finally be rid of John for good.

Watch as the plan of this evil woman unfolds.

*****Mar 6:21  And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
Mar 6:22  And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
Mar 6:23  And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

She chose the birthday celebration of Herod to spring her trap!

Mat 14:6  But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

In our last lesson Jesus raised a "damsel" from her death and we saw that she was 12 years old.

A "damsel" was a half grown young lady from 12 to 13 years old.

Many marriages took place by the age of 14 during this time.

This daughter was named Salome and she would have been introduced as a princess but it was a shameful exhibition of lewd, half naked, dancing arranged by her mother who knew how to excite her husband!

Herod was excited enough to make an unreal offer.

A wise man once wrote these words:

Pro 6:2  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Pro 18:7  A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Being in a drunken stupor was no excuse for Herod’s actions and the preaching of Jesus had brought back memories of this day and was haunting this Herod now.

Herodias’s plan had been perfect:

*****Mar 6:24  And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:25  And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:26  And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Mar 6:27  And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Mar 6:28  And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

This young damsel went to her mother to see what would be important enough to ask of Herod but she was used by her mother to get what her mother had wanted all along, the death of John the Baptist.

You see Herodias knew that Herod would not easily break an oath but she knew most of all that Herod would never intentionally look bad before his invited guest.

It was they who had been invited to impress Herod on this special birthday!

We are to stand against the devil but we are to flee from sin:

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

We should be aware of the companions we surround ourselves with, and learn to say "NO" to any evil way!

Herod felt sorrow for what he was about to do, but he would not reject this child he had made this promise to!

In an brief instant John the Baptist was dead and Herod was damned!

This is the reason that Herod Antipas desired to see Jesus:

Luk 9:9  And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

He still had this desire even when Jesus was on trial:

Luk 23:8  And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Luk 23:9  Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

But we see Jesus had no desire to offer redemption to this Herod!

The Head of John the Baptist was delivered to Herodias:

*****Mar 6:29  And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

It was a sad time for the disciples of John and after burying him to stop any further mutilation of his body, they went to Jesus.

What else could they do?

Mat 14:12  And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

*****Mar 6:30  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Mar 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

It is a fact that the human body needs rest!

Satan had been allowed a small triumph over John the Baptist, but he would never have a victory over The Lord Jesus.

Now we will begin to see just how large these multitudes were that followed Our Lord.

God works in His own time!

God is never in a hurry as we saw in our last lesson when He raised that 12 year old child.

In fact God is on time every time and He does not expect His children to be on the run continuously!

That word "Come" is used more than 3000 times in the KJV Bible.

It is one of the first words Jesus used when He began His ministry with the disciples:

Joh 1:39  He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

"Come" will be one of the last words we will hear Him speak before our life in the glory world:

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Because this is God’s message to whosoever will listen to His words:

Mat 11:28  "Come" unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There can be no peaceful rest without the Lord Jesus!

The 12 had just returned from their first mission trip.

Many of them had known John the Baptist and no doubt the word that he had been executed for preaching the truth, just as they were now, could have been upsetting to them.

They had lost a godly friend.

The Apostle Peter did not forget these days and offers this encouragement:

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Jesus said let’s go to a "desert place".

This was not a sandy desert but a place that was thinly populated and away from crowds and cities.

No doubt these same thoughts had come to David:

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

But this time of desperate people, looking for relief of their circumstances would not allow this to happen.

*****Mar 6:32  And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Mar 6:33  And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

It is easy to see the human side of Jesus here. It was time for a holiday!

Remember God is a great believer in taking a holiday to rest:

Gen 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

We already know that any ship on the Sea of Galilee could be seen from any shoreline.

As these desperate people followed after Jesus on foot, a great crowd gathered as they proceeded through each village and city.

*****Mar 6:34  And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Compassion is best described as a suffering with another and as painful sympathy for another human being.

Compassion is a mixture of passion, sorrow, and much love.

But Our Lord and Our God is full of "compassion"!

Psa 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psa 78:39  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

They were like sheep that had no shepherd!

They had great needs:

Luk 9:11  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

What did Jesus do?

1) He received them.
2) He taught them the truth.
3) He healed them.

But there was much more.

4) He would also feed them with "Bread From Heaven"!

*****Mar 6:35  And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
Mar 6:36  Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
Mar 6:37  He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

The 12 chosen of Jesus had not had much of a holiday and the day was now gone.

Jesus had specifically chose this desert place and He will feed His sheep.

We have already said that Our Lord never changes in His ways, so great lessons can be learned from all His miracles.

This was a great crowd of not only men but also women and children and they all wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

There were no religious leaders here this day, just people with needs.

What did they all have in common?

They were all hungry and they were all poor!

So what would Jesus do?

Jesus gave the invitation!

Jesus provided the meal!

All this great multitude had to do was to "receive what the Lord provides"!

A free gift by the "Grace of God".

A great lesson for the 12 chosen of the Lord to learn and for us all!

They would not be sent away!

God’s disciples can only lead the lost to the Lord it is by God’s "Grace" that His gifts are offered!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Philip, one of the 12 told of their little power:

Joh 6:7  Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Philip knew that they might could feed this multitude but they could not satisfy their hunger, for Jesus could only do that!

And Jesus will not allow His sheep to starve!

*****Mar 6:38  He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

They had the total supply of one lad, whose mother had cared enough to pack him a lunch!

The demand was great.

The supply was little.

But, the Lord Jesus is not caught up in the law of supply and demand!

Jesus said just do as I say.

*****Mar 6:39  And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

They were to sit down as they would at a table that was full of food.

They were about to dine at God’s table!

*****Mar 6:40  And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

They were told to sit down as they would in an orderly fashion at their own table.

Out of disorder Jesus Christ brings order.

What was the miracle?

*****Mar 6:41  And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Mar 6:42  And they did all eat, and were filled.
Mar 6:43  And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

This miracle is recorded in all 4 of the "Gospels".

Before Jesus started, He looked up to Heaven.

This world we live in cannot supply our greatest need!

Before Jesus brakes the bread He blesses it.

The food we receive from the Lord is already blessed, so God who gives it, then deserves our thanks.

Man cannot bless the things of God!

They did all eat!

They were all filled!

There were many of them that had not realized that a miracle taken place but the chosen 12 became very aware when they gathered 12 baskets full of fragments!

We can see that the baskets that the 12 carried their own provisions were now filled.

Psa 78:72  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

The Lord Jesus will always have more than enough for those that call on His name!

*****Mar 6:44  And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

Matthew adds:

Mat 14:21  And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

We see when the word multitude is written it can well mean more than 10,000 people.

It is very obvious that the world of that day was taking a great notice of Jesus of Nazareth!

*****Mar 6:45  And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
Mar 6:46  And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Jesus did not force His disciples to sail without Him, He just convinced them that is was the necessary thing to do.

The disciples did not want to leave Jesus behind because there were no more boats left for Him to come later.

They still did not understand the power of God, that was Jesus Christ.

Bethsaida was the native home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip. and Jesus would soon meet a blind man here.

Joh 6:22  The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

With these things settled Jesus went up alone on the mountain to pray!

Jesus was finally alone with Our Father who is in Heaven!

We can see that Jesus felt it was important to spend some quiet time with His Father!

This is also something that we must all do!

We should also see this as a "type" of  the church without the Holy Spirit.

The 12 disciples were launched in the sea of this world without the power of Christ Jesus.

****Mar 6:47  And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

Remember what Jesus said to them later:

Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

But we can also get a picture of the modern day Church tossing in the storms and waves of the Laodicean Church Age patiently waiting on the return of Jesus Christ to get His Church.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

*****Mar 6:48  And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

Jesus watches over all His disciples as we travel through the storms of life!

That word "toiling" meant that it was like "torture" to row against that contrary wind!

That wind was blowing in the opposite direction from which they were headed.

We know this world we live in is going in the opposite direction from the Word of God!

The fourth watch of the night would have been between 3 AM and 6 AM.

We know that our world is dark and getting darker but we are to continue to do the work the Lord has given us to do!

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

And there are other reasons to continue:

1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was not going to pass by His disciples, they only thought this!

It may not always appear that the Lord is with us in our time of need but He is keeping a close watch on each and every one of us!

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Jesus would not say this if it were not true!

*****Mar 6:49  But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
Mar 6:50  For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
Mar 6:51  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

Not only were these experienced fishermen in fear of the storm, they believed they were seeing things and they thought they were seeing a ghost.

After all, they believed that no mortal man can walk on water!

And they also remembered those pigs filled with evil spirits had drowned near this same water not to long ago.

So they cried out to God and as God does, He hears our cries!

" It is I"***** Exo 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exo 3:15  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

It is Jehovah that answered:

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

It is the Lord that answered "be not afraid"!

And the Lord climbed into the ship and the wind ceased!

We know that Mark was led to the Lord by Peter and after his dispute with the Apostle Paul, Mark spent a great deal of time with Peter.

So maybe Peter did not want Mark to write down how he had himself walked on the water also but had let his faith falter and began to sink:

Mat 14:27  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Again the Lord showed His power over the forces of nature.

But why was their faith weak?

*****Mar 6:52  For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Just as the world is today, we just do not consider the full power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When each miracle is only looked at on it’s merits we sometimes miss the big picture.

When Jesus fed that crowd of much more than 5000, they had not understood the full breadth of that power.

They should not have been astonished, that the sea again calmed and that wind ceased.

Today we can say that those that live in the so called Bible Belt are "Gospel Hardened".

When we should know what to expect from the Lord, we allow doubts to interfere with good judgment.

The Lord has said what He will do!

We cannot have our joy in this world until we accept the full truth of the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After all it is His "Gospel"——-AND,  It is Good News not bad news!

1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

*****Mar 6:53  And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
Mar 6:54  And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
Mar 6:55  And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

The land of Gennesaret has been called "the Paradise of Galilee".

Gennesaret means the "garden of the prince".

But this day would be a day when good things would happen.

It was a day to meet Jesus!

*****Mar 6:56  And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Many of the miracles that Jesus had done were soon forgotten but not His power to heal!

But Jesus was not seeking fame!

Jesus had come for a different reason:

Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!