Mark 6:53-56 (NRSV)
Read Mark 6:53-56 on biblegateway.com
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
If the first part of this week’s gospel showed us Jesus: the teacher (Mark 6:30-34), the second part shows us Jesus the shepherd; which seems to be the theme for the week. You may have noticed we skipped a few verses between yesterday and today. Don’t worry, all that happened in those verses was Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, and then walking on water. So the Jesus we meet at the end of Mark 6 has gained a bit of credibility since we last saw him. As word of Jesus spread, people simply could not stay away from him. They knew he had something they wanted (and needed) – healing, restoration, forgiveness, words that give life. Even if they could just touch his cloak, they believed they could receive these things. We want (and need) these same things today and we believe Jesus gives them freely. Now what?
Prayer
Jesus, our teacher and shepherd, help us to rest in your healing love and forgiveness, knowing that in you we have all that we need. There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve these things. They are free gifts from God. Amen.