Mark 6:45-56 ~ and all who touched Him were healed

  Mark 6:45-56

45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

53 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore 54 and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, 
and all who touched him were healed.

Loaves and Hearts

Guess who's coming to Dinner?

Well, Gladys. Oh Aunt Gladys! She is so Great Hearted. And Granpa John - know how to stick by you way past the thick and thin to the very gates of Hell.

Now the thing about Aunt Gladys, she is tremendously loving.
But she has some rules.
She listens only to Christian music and she expects no swearing, no violent video games. No drinking. No off color stories. She likes to be introduced to new people, but you need to prep them first so she isn't exposed to anything messy. Movies need to be screened. Because she really likes Sunday School atmosphere. It's not that she's uptight, so we are off to a bad start explaining Aunt Gladys - it is that she is vastly holy. She rescues people who are doing the right things. She will get up in the middle of the night give you the shirt off your back. You just have to show that you are putting your good foot forward upwards. You have to modify every thing first to see if Aunt Gladys is pleased. Because, well, to be honest, Aunt Gladys has some vast temper. But even if you make her mad, she is going to forgive you. Immediately. Then you need just to keep working really hard to hold up your end of the relationship.

Cousin Irving says Glad is isn't.

And next we will talk Granpa John.

He has been in the thick of war. He has seen people at their very worst.
He has seen good people have hard times. He has seen good people go wrong. He will tell you some stories that make your mouth fall open. Dealing with drunkenness. He has a few stories of incest where he had to intervene.

He has seen some things we just wouldn't want to see like the lepers in biblical times. He had to go into heavy combat with a friend and tried his best to save the man, and still will cry about that. He has seen a good man have his name dragged into litigation over mere rules of conduct.

And Granpa John in his extreme old age can do authority to make people see the straight path to getting along. In spite of seeing really difficult and horrible things,

Granpa John has Joy. He listens like no other and is quick to point out when you do the brilliant, courageous thing and he will honestly shake his head and tell you when you did WRONG and Need To Start Over After You Earnestly Apologize.

Because Granpa John has seen so much and has a story to tell about all the drama and the crime and the war and the success he has rejoiced over - you can pretty well tell Granpa John ANYTHING. And you are going to get a straight answer that will not humiliate you or cause you to have to say, "No, that's not what I meant, no, you don't understand." Granpa John will encourage you in what you do best. He loves to cheer his loved ones on.

And then there is our cousin Patrick. He was in the navy, but the oddest thing happened. He became enslaved to a group of people who seemed to have religion of nature, but they - liked human sacrifice. And snakes. And fortunately, Patrick escaped and got to come home.

Patrick like joined the Peace Corpes or something. Because he got sorta funny. And went back to the enslaved people to save them.

So Patrick came back and we asked him about that. And Patrick said he had to save the people from the snakes. Irving said grown people should be able to kill snakes. Patrick glared at Irving. And Patrick said the snakes are people who make religion their goal and then bite the hell out of anyone who would break a rule for life happening.

Patrick said that there aren't any manuals on bringing people to Jesus Christ the Lord. At that point Gladys became really angry. Especially when Patrick told Gladys she didn't walk on water.

Patrick informed us then,
that
this whole post is an analogy.

Patrick is St. Patrick who did indeed bring Jesus Christ to cast the snakes of so called religion off the island.

Gladys is the way we so very badly represent the God who became Man. Who from the beginning was Light. The Light that Shines in All Men. From whom we are blessed to be given Grace upon Grace. We need to bring witness to the Light of God's Love.

Granpa John? Is Of Course - the man who would follow Jesus to the Hell on earth of dying for us to be given Salvation. And when you look at the life of John, praising the other Gospels to Bishop Papias of Hierapolis. Encouraging the brethren. Loving people. Polycarp. Being firm on what Jesus is.

The Word of God covers all the messes we could ever get into. The Word of God is not squeamish in the situations where the Light will Shine. Jesus healed lepers by touch. Deaf men privately with gestures. The blind asked Jesus to heal and He did. Jesus put His hand into the fish and the loaves to get past
verse 52 -  hardheartedness.

Jesus had people like His own brothers disappoint Him. He knew they needed time. John told us what God is - God Is Love.

What did Jesus expect of His own brothers? To grow into their idea of God and then to take wife and all and tell people about the Goodness of God. I don't recall one time Jesus rushed up to people to tell them off. Except. When the Church/Temple were selling in His Place. Jesus was known to speak tartly to religious Nicodemus coming to Him privately at night.

There is something about a God Sized Mission Statement about Saving the World. Jesus knew and understood the two natures in all of humankind.

John 2
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

And Jesus had a Response to this as GOD about the requirements of internal dwelling of God and Salvation:

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Father God You are still Working. Salvation is only possible as a Gift from God. Let us be loving and encourage others, especially those we Love,  to see You Are a God of Love.God requires little of us for what He has given primarily gratitude and conversation. Father let us willingly give this to you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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