Jesus demonstrates principles of service....continued
- The martyrdom of John the Baptist vv14-29. Serving God in this world can be a dangerous business. There are forces at work in opposition, and some people can become instruments of cruelty to the messengers of God. As the apostles set off in their mission of preaching, the are given a timely reminder of the dangers of the task. We are introduced to Herod the king in this portion; previously they have experienced legal opposition in the scribes, religious (ceremonial) opposition in the Pharisees; now we have political opposition in Herod. Herod was the Edomite usurper on Israel's throne, supported by Rome with whom he was in partnership. He was an adulterer, living with his brother's wife, to whom John had said "It is not lawful for thee to have her." John's pointed message to the king was unwelcome in the palace and brought resentment and murderous intent from Herodias. Part of the preaching of God's word will involve condemnation of evil and John was faithful in this respect. This cost him his life as the story unfolded, and Herod who had resisted calls for John's demise succumbed to the wishes of his wife. We note that John was esteemed by Herod as a "just man and an holy" and Herod liked to hear him. However the trappings of high office and the need to keep peace in the palace overcame him and John was beheaded. The history of martyrdom for the word of God is imprinted in holy scripture and it still goes on today. Many speakers for God have paid with their lives, and if we read the word rightly there will be many more. Scriptures as Mark 9vv12-13; Revelation 6vv9-11 make this clear. Those who gave their lives have a special place in heaven. Many prophets were martyred in the past (Matthew 23vv34-36); most of the apostles of Christ were martyred; this present age is strewn with the blood of martyrs. A world which "crucified the Lord of glory" will also kill His followers. It is a subject often avoided but it is relevant in every period of time as long as this world lasts. We are to be like the apostle Paul who said when his life was threatened in Acts chapter 21v13 "...I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of our Lord Jesus."
- Recharging the spiritual batteries vv30-34 The rigours of service for God, the heart-breaking burial of their dear friend John, the separation from normal family life, Jesus well understood the need for time apart. They came and reported to Him all they had done and what they had taught. He calls them apart in a private place "Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile". If power drained from Jesus in the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, so it would from them in their exhausting itineries and teaching ministry. This is an aspect we need to learn, that in the propagation of Divine truth, we lose power and we need to recharge. It was for this reason God instituted the Sabbath rest every week; for the same reason people take holidays.....we all need sleep every night. It is necessary for the servants of God today to know that they cannot continue to give out if they will not take time apart. This time apart is best with Him, and not for self indulgence. Such are the demands of service we need constant strengthening and restoration to continue. The prophet Isaiah took up this theme in chapter 40 vv28-31 where he speaks of"renewing strength". We should learn from the rhythm of life....the heartbeat, where the heart works and rests and works and rests, billions of times in a normal lifespan. The word "selah" used in the old testament in the wisdom literature of the bible means "pause for a while and think about that." Work and rest, work and rest, is the rhythm of life and an imbalance of both is not good. These disciples were so busy, they didn't have time to even eat. Then soon after the pressing crowd followed them and Jesus immediately came out to them and he had compassion on them for they were as sheep without a shepherd. Jesus still has compassion on the masses. Thus the disciples were learning all the time of His ways, where the needs of others came before his own needs.
- Give ye them to eat! vv35-44 Not only did the disciples have no time to eat, the multitudes which followed them were so committed to hearing Jesus they had nothing to eat either and the day was far spent. The immediate response from the disciples was "send them away" to get their own food. Jesus immediate reply was "Give ye them to eat". Now He was really testing their faith in Him and teaching them His way. The Lord who fed several million in a desert for 40 years has no problem feeding a few thousand in a desert for one day!....but they really didn't know who He was. The scale of it was beyond them; two hundred pennyworth of bread would be required, the equivalent of 200 days wages for a grown man. He asked them what they had....they only had five loaves and two small fishes. Suddenly they felt their own inadequacy..."what are these among so many?" The first lesson is that He only wants us to bring what we have...we cannot bring what we don't have. In His service He does not require us to have much, He just wants us to bring the little we have. Our little in His hands will multiply to satisfy all! Later in chapter 8 vv1-9 there is another instance like this, where 4000 were fed, but that came from seven loaves and a few fishes. Taking the two together, He fed more from less contribution, and less from more contribution; the lesson is that His ability to meet people's needs is independent of the size of our contribution. The second important lesson is that He expects us to do what we can do, He will do what we cannot, and so He commanded them to sit down in manageable groups, and He sent the disciples to serve them....we are to do the administration, He does the miracle. The third lesson in this beautiful story is that there was plenty for all and to spare, but that our Lord was economically and environmentally conscious...no food was wasted and the resultant mess was cleaned up as they filled 12 baskets with the fragments. In a world where food is wasted, and the environment is polluted, there is a testimony we as Christians can bring by attention to this kind of detail.
- Trust me at all times especially in difficult times vv45-52 How soon the disciples forgot.....they have just witnessed the most amazing miracle, but they still did not fully know Him. He had sent them away in the ship to go toward Bethsaida, because He needed to pray, and so He sent away the multitude and His disciples to go on ahead. We have to take in every aspect of this. The previous time they crossed the sea He was with them in the ship, this time He was in the mountain and they in the midst of the sea. "He saw them toiling in rowing for the wind was contrary." Jesus is on the mountain praying, they are in the midst of a troubled sea...it's a picture of the present day, the Lord separate from His servants, and He on the mountain praying. He saw them...the fact He was apart from them did not mean He did not see them or know all about them. Secondly it says the wind was contrary...there is no guarantee that all will be smooth in Christian service, whether it be the winds of nature or the "winds of contrary doctrines" that will oppose, we must be ready for every eventuality. Now learn a principle that is often missed. He came by them to aid them but it was "about the fourth watch of the night". The nights were divided into four three hour watches starting at 6p.m. The Lord left them to toil until the last watch, He only moved to help when they had reached the end of their abilities. He does that for He wants us to trust Him more, to realise our weakness and His power, so that we come to rely on Him completely. In the words of the song "when we have exhausted our hoarded resources our Father's full giving has only begun". The other significance of the fourth watch of the night is that the darkness is at it's most intense just before the dawn. Our Lord wants us to learn our own weakness and depend on Him more than ourselves. Examples of this abound in scripture, this is how God works, because He will have us depend upon Himself. Exodus chapter14, Israel trapped in the desert with mountains all around, the Red Sea in front, and the murderous army from Egypt advancing fast....God opens the Red Sea; Genesis chapter 21, it was when Abraham and Sarah were past natural childbirth, that "the Lord visited Sarah"; It was when Jerusalem was surrounded by the armies of Assyria under Sennacherib, that the Lord stepped in and smote them (2 Kings chapter 19). He will come, but He will wait until we know our need of Him. However He will not allow us to be put to the test beyond which we are able (1 Corinthians 10v13). He came to them "walking on the sea", in total control of the situation; what were troubled waters to them were nothing to Him. Still He awaits their recognition; He appeared as a spirit to them and they cried out to Him. He said "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." As soon as He entered the boat, the wind ceased. He wants to hear our cry, He wants to know our trust. They were "sore amazed within and wondered..." They were very impressed, actually astounded, with His immediate calming of the storm. More astonishing was the comment on the state of their hearts...."they considered not the miracle of the loaves and fishes, for their heart was hardened." This miracle had taken place just hours before, but it had not registered with them. It is possible for the disciples of the Lord to become hardened to the things of God. We must consider Him, look intently at Him, study Him in His every word and deed, so that He becomes magnified in our hearts, instead of taking Him for granted. Hardness of heart can be a serious problem.
- Make yourselves available to all in need vv53-56 No sooner had they landed on the other side of the lake than people were flocking to them. The bits of rest they had soon gave way to the business of God in the world, that of saving men and women. The lesson of these last verses is that the need is great, and we must all be ready to meet it. They ran throughout the whole region carrying the sick in beds to Him. They followed Him wherever He went, they laid the sick in the streets waiting for Him to come......in the villages, in the cities, in the country...everywhere. The fame of the woman healed by touching His garment was everywhere, and they clamoured even just to touch Him....everyone who did was healed. Sometimes our problem is not ability, but availability. We are to be available to all at the point of need. Learning these stories of what actually happened makes you feel we are not doing half enough for our Lord. May we be challenged to do more.
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