Written by: Graham Reeves
Mark 5 v 35-43
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of the synagogue leader. They said, “Your daughter is dead. There is no need to bother the teacher anymore.”
But Jesus paid no attention to what they said. He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Jesus let only Peter, James, and John the brother of James go with him.
When they came to the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus found many people there making lots of noise and crying loudly.
Jesus entered the house and said to them, “Why are you crying and making so much noise? The child is not dead, only asleep.”
But they laughed at him. So, after throwing them out of the house, Jesus took the child’s father and mother and his three followers into the room where the child was.
Taking hold of the girl’s hand, he said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (This means, “Young girl, I tell you to stand up!”)
At once the girl stood right up and began walking. (She was twelve years old.) Everyone was completely amazed.
Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell people about this. Then he told them to give the girl something to eat.
Notes
Jairus, the synagogue leader, realised his daughter was seriously ill. He believed that Jesus had the power to save her life. His only hope is that Jesus will reach his home in time. Imagine how he must have been urging Jesus to hurry on, forcing his way through the crowd. “Come on, quickly, she’s dying”. Imagine his frustration as Jesus stops when the woman touches his clothes to be healed. Any hope Jairus still had must have been fading fast. Then the news breaks: “Your daughter is dead.” Jairus must have been devastated. All hope has gone.
Jesus, however, does not begin to grieve with Jairus. Jesus paid no attention to the news. Jesus still offered hope. Picture Jesus looking Jairus in the eye and saying, “Don’t be afraid; just believe”.
At last Jesus comes to the girl and demonstrates his power. Jesus speaks. The girl stands up and walks. Jesus is practical, being resurrected is apparently hungry work, Jesus tells her parents to bring her some food.
There are times in life when hope seems to slip away. Our hope in people can be dashed. Sometimes we hope that certain things will happen and they don’t. We may have asked God to help, just as Jairus did, but He seems to be taking His time in answering.
When it feels like all hope has gone hear Jesus say to you, “Do not be afraid; just believe”. It strikes me that the emphasis here is on the word just. The only thing that will bring hope is to believe in Jesus. The only thing we need to do is believe in Jesus. Never underestimate the power of God. When God speaks things happen. Remember God is interested in the details of life and wants to meet all our needs.
Mark 6 v 1-6
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, and his followers went with him.
On the Sabbath day he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and were amazed, saying, “Where did this man get these teachings? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And where did he get the power to do miracles?
He is just the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us.” So the people were upset with Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and with his own people and in his own home.”
So Jesus was not able to work any miracles there except to heal a few sick people by putting his hands on them.
He was amazed at how many people had no faith.
Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught
Notes
A friend of mine named Andy left home and went to Bible college. Towards the end of his studies he was invited back to his home church to preach one Sunday morning. I remember Andy saying afterwards that he sensed people in the congregation saying, “He was such a nice boy”. Andy was no longer the same “nice boy”. He spoke a message that may well have been too challenging for some people.
People who had known Jesus when he was a teenager had a similar attitude. Here was the carpenter, son of Mary, teaching, displaying great wisdom and performing miracles. The people were amazed as they heard and watched Jesus.
I was fortunate to have some very good teachers when I was at school, but I was not amazed by their teaching. I knew where their teaching came from; their experience and studying at college. Jesus was a young man, had not studied the Scriptures for years, was just another carpenter. People were amazed because Jesus knew so much, and performed miracles. People were upset with Jesus.
It might seem strange that people were so upset with Jesus think, though, about people you know who do well at school without having to try too hard. Who do you know that are brilliant at sport, are like a magnet to the opposite sex. How do you feel about them? You may well feel the same as people felt about Jesus: upset, annoyed, irritated, angry, resentful or jealous.
These feelings and attitudes are sinful. They divide people. It may be hard but we need to try and rejoice in the abilities others have and thank God for them. Remember that God calls everyone to serve Him and gives certain gifts and abilities to all His people, and that includes you.
Mark 6 v 7-13
He called his twelve followers together and got ready to send them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
This is what Jesus commanded them: “Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets.
Wear sandals, but take only the clothes you are wearing.
When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
If the people in a certain place refuse to welcome you or listen to you, leave that place. Shake its dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
So the followers went out and preached that people should change their hearts and lives.
They forced many demons out and put olive oil on many sick people and healed them.
Notes
Think back to the last time you went on a journey. Perhaps it was a short journey to the next town. Perhaps it was a longer journey for your holiday. Try and remember what you took with you. Your list might well include clothes, money, food, drink, book, spare shoes, a coat in case it rained, wash bag, sleeping bag, and games. I know that when I go away I think of everything I might possibly need and try to squeeze it into a bag. There are plenty of things that might just come in handy.
Jesus, however, was clearly a man who travelled light, and he instructed his disciples to do the same. As they went out to speak of Jesus and to do amazing things in his name, they were to trust in God to provide for all their needs. It’s often only when we don’t have enough or there is nothing we can do, that we begin to ask God to help us.
It is important to note that the disciples were sent out “two by two”. Being with at least one other person means we have support when things are not going so well. It means we can celebrate when things are going well. We can be encouraged when we are feeling down, and encourage others when they are feeling down. It also means that we can be given a kick when we are feeling that we don’t want to do anything.
Jesus sends us out into the world to serve him and it’s important that we are not alone. If you have Christian friends around you are you supporting each other? If you feel lonely look and pray for people who can support you and who you can support in return.
Mark 6 v 14-20
King Herod heard about Jesus, because he was now well known. Some people said, “He is John the Baptist, who has risen from the dead. That is why he can work these miracles.”
Others said, “He is Elijah.”
Other people said, “Jesus is a prophet, like the prophets who lived long ago.”
When Herod heard this, he said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has risen from the dead!”
Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison in order to please his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother, but then Herod had married her.
John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to be married to your brother’s wife.”
So Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t, because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew John was a good and holy man. Also, though John’s preaching always bothered him, he enjoyed listening to John.
Notes
King Herod was afraid of John the Baptist and protected him, even though he had challenged Herod’s lifestyle. John had told Herod that it was not lawful for him to be married to his brother’s wife. John was clearly a brave man who was not interested in status and position in society. He was not afraid to speak his mind and tell Herod that his lifestyle was not pleasing to God.
Herod was a powerful man and could have got rid of John at any time. Many leaders throughout history have simply removed those who got in their way. Instead he chose to lock him up. Herod clearly realised that John was no ordinary man. In verse 20 we read that Herod “knew John was a good and holy man.”
You may have friends or occasionally meet people who you have really enjoyed being with. There is something about them that you like. It might be their sense of humour, their conversation, their personality or something else. Whatever it is that you like about them you have a sense that they are a ‘good’ person. The world is full of good people.
John, however, was more than good. John was “a good and holy man.” What was it about John that made Herod know he was good and holy? Think of all the people you will come into contact with this week. Will they know that you are good and holy? Think about the things you do and say and think. Ask God to show you which things are pleasing to Him and which are not. Ask God to show you what it means for you to be good and holy. Ask that the Holy Spirit will empower you to live a life pleasing to God.
Mark 6 v 21-23
Then the perfect time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. On Herod’s birthday, he gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee.
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and the people eating with him.
So King Herod said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”
He promised her, “Anything you ask for I will give to you—up to half of my kingdom.”
Notes
Herod was clearly into impressing people. He wanted to keep in with the right people. It would have been important for Herod to be moving in the right circles socially in order to help maintain his own position.
Herod knew what would impress these men and so the daughter of Herodias begins to dance. This was no innocent piece of nimble footwork. The men looking on would probably not have later commented on what a skilful dancer the young woman was. The dance she performed was probably sexually explicit. She knew how to impress Herod and his guests.
Herod was obviously impressed himself and pleased that his guests were impressed too: “Anything you ask for I will give to you - up to half of my kingdom.” Herod is not actually being quite as generous as it might seem. The words “up to half my kingdom” are probably not literal, but a way of saying that the reward will be great. Herod is once again showing off by displaying his generosity. He is concerned once more with impressing his guests.
It is easy for us to spend a lot of time and energy trying to impress others. Like Herod we want to be with the right crowd. We want to be accepted and respected. We want other people to think that we are wonderful, the person to be with. So we wear the ‘right’ clothes and shoes, spend an age in front of the mirror, say the ‘right’ things, do the ‘right’ things.
Think about how and why you try to impress others. Think about how your efforts to impress others fit in with God’s call to live out the Christian life. Remember that nothing you do will impress God more - he loves you already.
Mark 6 v 24-29
The girl went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”
At once the girl went back to the king and said to him, “I want the head of John the Baptist right now on a platter.”
Although the king was very sad, he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard it. So he did not want to refuse what she asked.
Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John’s head. The soldier went and cut off John’s head in the prison and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
When John’s followers heard this, they came and got John’s body and put it in a tomb.
Notes
This passage made me start to think about all the promises I have made - and how few I have kept. It also reminds me of the times when I have stubbornly kept on saying that I am right about something, even when I have begun to realise that I couldn’t be more wrong and someone else is right after all.
Herod had made a promise in front of his guests. He had promised the young woman anything she wanted. After seeking her mother’s advice she drops the bombshell: “I want the head of John the Baptist right now on a platter.” Imagine how Herod felt.
Herod believed John to be a good and holy man. He had protected him. He enjoyed listening to him. Now he was asked to kill John and have his head brought in on a platter. Herod had the power to refuse the request, but what about the guests? Herod knew his wife had asked for John’s head. It would not do his marriage much good if he said “No.” The Youth Bible says that Herod was “very sad.” That is probably a bit like a Manchester Utd fan being a “little disappointed” at being knocked out of the FA Cup by Grimsby. The New International Version says that Herod “was greatly distressed.”
Herod had made a promise without thinking about the consequences. Think clearly before you make a promise. If you realise that you should never have made the promise be honest with the person you made it with. Don’t be frightened about backing down, even if you think you will look stupid. It’s okay to admit that sometimes we get it wrong. It might be hard at the time, but honesty with people can bring healing to them and to us.
Mark 6 v 30-34
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught. Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.”
So they went in a boat by themselves to a lonely place.
But many people saw them leave and recognized them. So from all the towns they ran to the place where Jesus was going, and they got there before him.
When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.
Notes
The disciples return from their trip and tell Jesus all that has happened during their first missionary adventure alone. They were being interrupted by crowds of people which meant they didn’t even get a chance to eat. Jesus sees the need for them to spend some time alone: “So they went in a boat by themselves to a lonely place.”
Once again Jesus saw a need to take some time out with those closest to him. He wanted to learn about their experiences and for the disciples to learn from him. As they had not been able to eat Jesus was probably hoping they would sit down together for a meal. If we are to develop friendships and make them work we have to be prepared to go to “a lonely place.” We need to listen to our friends. We need to share our experiences, thoughts and feelings with our friends. We also need to chill out with our friends and have a laugh. Think about who your true friends are, how can you invest time and energy in developing your friendships.
The plan to spend some time alone with his disciples did not work this time. The crowds ran ahead and arrived first. Jesus was not angry with them for interrupting. He felt sorry for them because it was so obvious to him that these people had no direction and purpose in their lives: “they were like sheep without a shepherd.” This is a familiar image and it’s easy to think of a shepherd caring for his flock. However, a shepherd also moves his flock. Jesus does not want us to stay the way we are, in the spiritual place we are in. He has much more in store for us than we can imagine. He wants to show us new things and new places.
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version
(Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes