Mark 6:45-56 | Romans 1:1-17
The gospel of Mark is saturated with the miracles of Jesus. In contrast, the gospel of John only tells of seven miraculous signs (eight if you want to include the resurrection). Matthew & Mark tell of many miracles as well, but Mark, in its brevity, seems significantly focused on the miraculous power of Jesus.
Food multiplied, crowds healed, walking on water without sinking…all here in chapter 6 alone. But why? We don’t get to witness these miracles other than by reading them. (It’s John who tells us Jesus once said to the disciples: “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”)
Jesus did not come just to perform miracles. The whole of the gospel witness tells us that Christ came to bring salvation. But salvation countless possibilities. Many have focused on spiritual salvation - Christ delivering people from an inner sinfulness. This is of great importance, but this is not the whole gospel. Christ’s ministry was indeed to deliver people - save people from a multitude of incapacities. Paul calls the gospel God’s “power of salvation.” As such, people can participate in and contribute to a liberating gospel in many ways.
Mark 6:45-56
Right then, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake, toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying good-bye to them, Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray. Evening came and the boat was in the middle of the lake, but he was alone on the land. He saw his disciples struggling. They were trying to row forward, but the wind was blowing against them. Very early in the morning, he came to them, walking on the lake. He intended to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost and they screamed. Seeing him was terrifying to all of them. Just then he spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” He got into the boat, and the wind settled down. His disciples were so baffled they were beside themselves. That’s because they hadn’t understood about the loaves. Their minds had been closed so that they resisted God’s ways.
When Jesus and his disciples had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret, anchored the boat, and came ashore. People immediately recognized Jesus and ran around that whole region bringing sick people on their mats to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he went—villages, cities, or farming communities—they would place the sick in the marketplaces and beg him to allow them to touch even the hem of his clothing. Everyone who touched him was healed.
Romans 1:1-17
From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news. God promised this good news about his Son ahead of time through his prophets in the holy scriptures. His Son was descended from David. He was publicly identified as God’s Son with power through his resurrection from the dead, which was based on the Spirit of holiness. This Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we have received God’s grace and our appointment to be apostles. This was to bring all Gentiles to faithful obedience for his name’s sake. You who are called by Jesus Christ are also included among these Gentiles.
To those in Rome who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the news about your faithfulness is being spread throughout the whole world. I serve God in my spirit by preaching the good news about God’s Son, and God is my witness that I continually mention you in all my prayers. I’m always asking that somehow, by God’s will, I might succeed in visiting you at last. I really want to see you to pass along some spiritual gift to you so that you can be strengthened. What I mean is that we can mutually encourage each other while I am with you. We can be encouraged by the faithfulness we find in each other, both your faithfulness and mine.
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I planned to visit you many times, although I have been prevented from coming until now. I want to harvest some fruit among you, just as I have done among the other Gentiles. I have a responsibility both to Greeks and to those who don’t speak Greek, both to the wise and to the foolish.
That’s why I’m ready to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. I’m not ashamed of the gospel: it is God’s own power for salvation to all who have faith in God, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness for faith, as it is written, The righteous person will live by faith.
Prayer
God,
I want to know the width and breadth of your hand at work. Open me up to the various ways you work your gospel in the world. Help me to see your salvation at work in worship and prayer, through discipleship and fellowship. But also show me the goodness of your liberating gospel in the things of the body, healing, people raised up from life’s difficulty and trials.
And in the end, may all these things be for your glory as you seek reconciliation and the holistic community you have intended all along.
On this Sunday, a day of worship throughout the world, take root in people everywhere and have your way.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.