Luther Seminary

A daily devotion brought to you by the alumni of Luther Seminary

Archives for July 17, 2003

Thursday, July 17, 2003

Mark 6:30-34, 6:53-56 (NRSV)

Read Mark 6:30-34, 6:53-56 on biblegateway.com

Verse 30The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. Verse 31He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Verse 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Verse 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. Verse 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Verse 53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. Verse 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, Verse 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Verse 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Devotion

So many people came and went around Jesus and his disciples that they didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus is quite the Lord of motion – always moving or causing movement.

In my studies of the Gospel of Mark, I’ve learned about the gathering and scattering that happens. Those who we would judge as being far off are the ones who come near to Christ. Those who logically should be close (because of their vocation) are revealed as ones who are diametrically opposed to Christ and his mission. The people chased after Christ, and Christ Jesus had compassion on those shepherd-less sheep, taught them and fed them.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, teach me the rhythm of coming and going, for my energy is not bottomless. Amen.

James Aalgaard St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ontario, Ore.