Jesus and the disciples were escaping for some desperately needed peace and quiet after an exhausting day. But on reaching the other side of the lake they were greeted by crowds of people clamouring after Jesus to heal them. Everyone would have understood if Jesus had asked the disciples to row away from all these demands. But Jesus just couldn’t do that. His heart broke for these people. It still breaks for us today.
Life in the kingdom: Compassion
18 July 2021 • Pastor Michael Dutschke • Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Bible Passage: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
+ expand30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
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53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
New International Version (NIV) - for other versions see BibleGateway.com
