Wednesday 15th July, 2015
Mark 6:53-56
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.
Oh Lord Jesus, please fill me with your power today. Open my eyes to the “greater things” that you have planned for me to do before the world was even created.
Call me higher and deeper into your very presence that I’m soaked by your love – that I’m unable to stop the flow of blessing reaching everyone around me. May the thought of you not existing, not loving them, not calling them feel absolutely ridiculous because you are so clearly in me.
May you call me ever higher up and further in with you that even my clothes and drenched with your unexplainable healing power, your soul-cleansing mercy and your breath-taking love for the eternal sake of those around me that you love so much. Amen!
Written by Boudy Van Noppen
For me verse 54 stood out as i read this passage this morning. The one thing that preceeded all the excitement about Jesus being around was that the people “immediately recognised Jesus.” Clearly from their response, the people had hope in what he would bring into their lives and they thus responded accordingly.
I ask of myself, how do I need to change what I am doing so that people will more easily “immediately recognise Jesus” in what I am doing. How do I need to be a witness so that Christ will be immediately recognised in His church?
Lord, help me to wear my faith more publicly and speak of you so that all who hear about you will recognise you and respond with faith and hope and love.
The people recognised Him.
Jesus was circulating in an area with only a small population, nothing like the city of Sydney, nothing like Carlingford even, but still they recognised Him.
They didn’t just recognise Him, they were aware of His miracle working power.
I wonder if that is what Jesus wanted to be recognised for?
This was also a time when the benefits of modern medicine were not available, so to have a healer around was a big thing.
The people approached Jesus in a level of faith, even if it was a limited faith, even a magic tainted or superstitious faith as expressed by touching the hem of His robe.
What I love about Jesus here is that He responds to this faith.
I need to continually remind myself that it is faith that God responds to, not need and as a result I need to live in faith.
Father help me to live a life of faith.
Amen amen !
I love this where they RAN to Him.
They CARRIED the sick on mats to Him.
Help me Lord to run to you.
Help me to carry others and be prepared and equipped to carry them to you.
Teach me.