Marcos 6
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 6
Spurgeon - our Lord will not proceed till He has worshipped and rendered thanks. There is something in His glance and gesture—He looked up to heaven. What did that mean? “O Father, these loaves and fishes are Yours. You have given them to us. We thank You for them. And now, O Father, the power to make these sufficient for the emergency comes from heaven. Grant it, we pray You.” Brethren, always give that look upward before you begin your work. Say, “Lord, here am I, a poor nobody, trying to teach others and to bring souls to Christ. For what I am, I thank You, for I am that by Your grace, but if I am to be useful, You must make me so. Lord, I look up with the hope that You will look down.” After our Lord had looked up to heaven, we find that He blessed and then He broke the loaves. Jesus must bless our labor or it will be fruitless. He could bless the bread for Himself, but we must look away from ourselves for the blessing. May Jesus bless you all, and He will, if you look up, and say, “Lord, bless us.” (The Miracle of the Loaves) Cleon Rogers - In Judaism it was a stringent rule that nothing should be eaten without thanking God before and after the meal Utley on looking up toward heaven - The common physical position for Jewish prayer was standing with the arms and head raised and eyes open. Jesus was showing that the source of His authority was the heavenly Father. Lane - “Jesus faithfully followed the accepted form: he took the bread in his hands, pronounced the blessing, broke the bread into pieces and distributed it. The only deviation from normal practice was that while praying Jesus looked toward heaven rather than downward, as prescribed.” (NICNT-Mark) He looked up to heaven - In working for God, first look to Heaven. It is a grand plan. Over and over again our Lord Jesus Christ looked to Heaven and said, “Father.” Let us imitate Him; although standing on the earth, let us have our conversation in Heaven. Before you go out, if you would feed the world, if you would be a blessing in the midst of spiritual dearth and famine, lift up your head to Heaven. Then your very face will shine, your very garments will smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces where you have been with your God and Saviour. There will be stamped upon you the dignity and power of the service of the Most High God. (McNeil) He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them - Here we see the Creator spontaneously continuously creating! Incredible! Giving is the vivid imperfect tense picturing Jesus giving portions to each disciple and the disciples continually (paratithemi in present tense - also in Mk 8:6, 7+) set before the people in groups.
Marcos 6
Spurgeon - “The apostolic crew rowed, and rowed, and rowed, and it was no fault of theirs that they made no progress, ‘for the wind was contrary unto them.’ The Christian man may make little or no headway, and yet it may be no fault of his, for the wind is contrary. Our good Lord will take the will for the deed, and reckon our progress, not by our apparent advance, but by the hearty intent with which we tug at the oars.” The Jews divided the night into three watches. The Romans divided it into four watches. FIRST WATCH 6pm-9pm SECOND WATCH 9pm-12 midnight THIRD WATCH Midnight-3am FOURTH WATCH 3am-6am At about the fourth watch of the night He came to them - Implies the Roman reckoning of four night watches. About 3-6 AM. What is fascinating is they had begun to row in the early evening and yet they were still visible by Jesus some 8-10 hours later! This was a powerful wind! The sovereign God had sent it for a test of their faith. There had been another storm on sea but then Jesus was in the boat (Mk 4:35-41+). Despite the severity of the storm notice that the boat did not capsize but remained afloat the entire time they were straining at the oars! The point is that things are not always as bad as they seem (see illustration). God kept them afloat. Recall that they were in the will of the Lord, for Jesus had sent them across. ILLUSTRATION - A man was walking along a railroad track on a very dark night when he came to a bridge. He had gotten halfway across when he heard a train whistle up ahead. He quickened his pace, but soon could see the light of the oncoming locomotive approaching. With nowhere else to turn, he got down and lowered himself over the side, hanging onto the trestle as the train thundered past above him. However, after the train had passed, he found that he hadn’t the strength to pull himself back up. He called out for help, but there was no answer. He hung there all night, terrified that he might slip and fall into the yawning abyss below. As day broke, he looked down to see a drop of only six inches. We are like that man. We look at our situation and it looks really bad. If we could only see it from God’s perspective, it would be nothing at all. Jesus said that with faith we could move mountains. But the reverse is also true. Without faith, we tend to build our own mountains. (Stevenson) Gotquestions - Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life. This is reminiscent of the words of God to Isaiah: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2). The Lord may not come at the time we think He should come, because He knows when we need Him the most. Jesus had waited until the boat was as far from land as possible, when all their hope was gone. In essence, Jesus was testing the disciples’ faith, and this meant removing every human prop. Why did Jesus walk on the water? To show His disciples that the very thing they feared, the raging, seething sea, was merely a set of steps for Him to come to them. Often we fear the difficult experiences of life such as illness, loss of loved ones, and financial hardships only to discover that these experiences can bring Jesus closer to us. Walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them - "The word “on” is epi which when used with the genitive case as it is here, signifies contact. Our Lord’s sandals had actual contact with the water. He walked on the surface of the sea as we walk on a hard pavement." (Wuest) Wuest on intended to pass by them - Both Expositors and Robertson understand the meaning to be that Jesus desired to pass by the disciples, and parerchomai has that meaning. But it also means “to come near.” The context is decisive for the latter, in the judgment of the present writer, since the reason why Jesus went out to the disciples, was, not to pass by and leave them to their fate, but to come near and help them in their difficulty, which thing He proceeded to do. (Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader) NET NOTE - The statement he wanted to pass by them is somewhat difficult to understand. There are at least two common interpretations: (1) it refers to the perspective of the disciples, that is, from their point of view it seemed that Jesus wanted to pass by them; or (2) it refers to a theophany and uses the language of the Greek Old Testament (LXX) when God "passed by" Moses at Sinai (cf. Ex 33:19, 22). According to the latter alternative, Jesus is "passing by" the disciples during their struggle, in order to assure them of his presence with them. See W L. Lane, Mark (NICNT), 236. Mark 6:48 - "He Would Have Passed By" He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. Mark 6:48. With the Emmaus disciples, "he made as though he would have gone further." Here He walks the waves, while the amazed disciples suppose they have seen a spirit. He assures them, "It is I." Joseph and Mary supposed He was with them when He was not. Here others supposed He was not with them when He was. Mary in the garden supposed Him to be the gardener. No wonder the old Negro maid said, "I never sposes. Dem sposes will get you into trouble." When the storm rages, He is there. But He will pass by if you do not avail yourself of His presence. "He would have passed by them.... He made as though he would have gone further." Call upon Him. "Pass me not, O gentle Saviour: do not pass me by." He came to them in their distress, but He did not come into the boat until they called. He did not go into the Emmaus home until they constrained Him. He will not intrude. There is a point beyond which He will not go. If we do not invite Him in, He will go on. (Vance Havner) The Beacon He came to them, walking on the sea. — Mark 6:48 Today's Scripture: Mark 6:45-52 When a helicopter crashed in a cold, mountainous wilderness, the pilots survived but were seriously injured. The frozen afternoon stretched toward an even more freezing night. The situation seemed hopeless—until a rescue helicopter appeared, its searchlights illuminating the darkness. It spotted the wreckage, landed nearby, and carried them off to safety. “How did you know where we were?” an injured man asked. “The homing device on your aircraft,” the rescuers told him. “It went off automatically when you went down. All we had to do was follow it.” The disciples of Jesus also experienced the joy of being rescued. They had been struggling as they rowed their boat against wind and waves in the darkness of night on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 6:45-47). Then Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and calmed the sea (vv.48-51). We may experience similar times when all is dark and foreboding. We can’t help ourselves, and it seems that no one else can either. No one knows how terrified and exhausted we are. No one, that is, except Jesus. There is only One who knows All the answers to my woes; He will all my needs supply When in faith to Him I cry. —Morgan Jesus hears even the faintest cry for help. Mark 6:45-52 When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, "Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." At three o'clock in the morning, the disciples, straining at their oars, could not see Jesus, who was praying on the hillside; but He saw them. Wending down the mountain, He spread an invisible carpet-runner across the waves, and by sunrise, all was well. The faith that pleases Jesus is the faith that adopts a sunrise attitude amidst a midnight storm. The Lord is pleased with a faith-attitude that knows in the darkness that Jesus is on His way. Exhausted and frightened, they battled the rain, The wind, the waves, enduring the strain, Till finally their nerves could stand it no more; And their strength was all gone, And their muscles were sore. But up on the mountain Jesus could see, Every white-capping wave on the rough Galilee. And treading the billows like a carpet of sod, He came to their aid With the power of God. They worshipped Him then, with rejoicing and awe For the marvels He did, and the wonders they saw. But better to praise Him with the storm at its worst; By remembering His power And promises first. (My All in All - Robert J Morgan) John Stevenson - I believe that there was something in the boat that should have comforted the disciples. There were 12 baskets of leftovers which bore mute testimony to the power and the compassion of God. When they looked at those 12 baskets, they should have realized that the God who provided for the needs of the multitudes would not fail to provide for them in the midst of this storm. We are guilty of the same thing. We have been blessed by the Lord in an abundant way. But when the storm comes, we forget. That is why we are instructed to remind one another. The world says, “Drink and forget your troubles.” Jesus says, “Drink and remember.” This storm was no accident. It started when the disciples got out into the middle of the Sea. It ended when Jesus got into the boat with the disciples. It had a script. It was there for a purpose and when that purpose was accomplished, the storm stopped. Storms are not very pleasant. They can be frightening. They are loud and wet and uncomfortable. But your storm is not an accident of nature. God has ordained your storm. It is His storm. He has a reason for it, even if you do not know what that reason is. And when that reason has been fulfilled, then your storm will end. Now I want to ask you a question. Why did Jesus come walking on the water? It is more than that He merely wanted to get to the other side. It is to teach the disciples something. But what is it? It is not to teach the disciples how to walk on water. They never learn to walk on water after this and most people running around today claiming to be able to perform miracles have problems with this one. (ED: SEE JOEL OSTEEN WALKING ON WATER...WELL, SORT OF) Jesus walks on water to prove to the disciples that He can. He can always do the impossible. Why do they need to know this? Because He is going to send them out to do the impossible, too. He is going to commission these very ordinary men to go out and make disciples of all men in every land. Impossible! They are not natural born leaders. They are not even seminary graduates. But they will accomplish the impossible. With God, all things are possible. Why do you need to know this? Because God has called you to do the impossible. He has called you to leave a clean life in a dirty world. He has called you to be a faithful witness of Him. He has called you to be Christ to the world. And He has shown you that this is possible because He is with you. Alan Carr - He came to them - He was already there: Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 1. In the darkest hour - Phil. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 2. The thing they feared most brought him to them - Our need is evidence of His supply in waiting, and the guarantee of His presence! Phil. 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. God is committed to you! 3. When all possibility of human help was removed - John 6:19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. (Ill. 3 or 4 miles!); Heb. 11:1 God demands that He receive all the glory - Isa. 42:8; Ex. 20:5) 4. He came in His own time - God is seldom early, but He is never late! A SAVIOUR WHO SEES “And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them.”—Mark 6:48. INTRODUCTION.—Jesus saw much that escaped the eyes of others. He saw when others did not. May we not believe that He still sees as of old? I. That He sees when His faithful disciples are distressed by earth’s vicissitudes. Cite text; also Acts 4:23–31. II. That He sees when His servants have difficult tasks to perform. Acts 18:9. III. That He sees when a Christian needs courage to face the future. Acts 27:23, 24. Read or quote “Does Jesus Care?” in closing. (Lappin's Sermon Outlines) Streams in the Desert - September 3 “And he saw them toiling in rowing.” (Mark 6:48.) STRAINING, driving effort does not accomplish the work God gives man to do. Only God Himself, who always works without strain, and who never overworks, can do the work that He assigns to His children. When they restfully trust Him to do it, it will be well done and completely done. The way to let Him do His work through us is to partake of Christ so fully, by faith, that He more than fills our life. A man who had learned this secret once said: “I came to Jesus and I drank, and I do not think that I shall ever be thirsty again. I have taken for my motto, ‘Not overwork, but overflow’; and already it has made all the difference in my life.” There is no effort in overflow. It is quietly irresistible. It is the normal life of omnipotent and ceaseless accomplishment into which Christ invites us today and always.—Sunday School Times. Be all at rest, my soul, O blessed secret, Of the true life that glorifies thy Lord: Not always doth the busiest soul best serve Him, But he that resteth on His faithful Word. Be all at rest, let not your heart be rippled, For tiny wavelets mar the image fair, Which the still pool reflects of heaven’s glory— And thus the image He would have thee bear. Be all at rest, my soul, for rest is service, To the still heart God doth His secrets tell; Thus shalt thou learn to wait, and watch, and. Labor, Strengthened to bear, since Christ in thee doth dwell. For what is service but the life of Jesus, Lived through a vessel of earth’s fragile clay, Loving and giving and poured forth for others, A living sacrifice from day to day. Be all at rest, so shalt thou be an answer To those who question, “Who is God and where?” For God is rest, and where He dwells is stillness, And they who dwell in Him, His rest shall share. And what shall meet the deep unrest around thee, But the calm peace of God that filled His breast? For still a living Voice calls to the weary, From Him who said, “Come unto Me and rest.” —Freda Hanbury Allen. “In resurrection stillness there is resurrection power.” Mark 6:49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; NET Mark 6:49 When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, NLT Mark 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. ESV Mark 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, NIV Mark 6:49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, GNT Mark 6:49 οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης περιπατοῦντα ἔδοξαν ὅτι φάντασμά ἐστιν, καὶ ἀνέκραξαν· KJV Mark 6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: YLT Mark 6:49 And they having seen him walking on the sea, thought it to be an apparition, and cried out, ASV Mark 6:49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; CSB Mark 6:49 When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; they saw - Job 9:8 supposed - Job 4:14-16 Mt 14:25,26 Lu 24:37 Mark 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Matthew 14:26+26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. John 6:19+ Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. THE SAVIOR IN THE STORM But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out - This was the last thing they expected to see! They had never seen Jesus walk on water, and natural reasoning told them this could not be the actual person of Jesus! Cried out is anakrazo which Mark had used earlier to describe the loud cry of demonized man, the sense being to scream or shout (Mk 1.23+); It was a popular belief that spirits of the night brought disaster, which may explain why they cried out. The sense is that they raised a cry from the depth of the throat, letting out a shriek of terror! They looked with "natural" eyes, not eyes of faith, and instead of seeing the God-Man, they "saw" a Ghost-Mirage! THOUGHT - They saw Him in the middle of the storm and they called Him a ghost. They saw the glow but did not recognize God. They saw the light but missed the Lord. When we see small lights on the horizon of our storms, we often have the same reaction. Because we look for the bonfire, we miss the candle. Because we expect the shout, we miss the whisper. But God often comes in the still, small voice. And the next time you are in the midst of your storm, stop and listen. He's closer than you think. (Stevenson) Gotquestions - why did they not recognize Jesus? The answer is they were not looking for Him. Had they been waiting by faith, they would have known Him instantly. Instead, they jumped to the false conclusion that His appearance was that of a ghost. The point is this: fear and faith cannot live in the same heart, for fear frequently blinds the eyes to the presence of the Lord. Ghost (5326)(phantasma) means an apparition, phantom, a specter, a spirit, ghost. A supernatural being that has become visible but not material. This is a strong term used of “mental and spiritual agitation and confusion” (BDAG)