Luther Seminary

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Archives for July 18, 2024

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 (NRSV)

Read Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 on biblegateway.com

Verse 30The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. Verse 31He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Verse 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Verse 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. Verse 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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

The crowds are rushing to keep up with Jesus. Why? Because he was meeting their perceived needs—their needs for health and food (today’s reading omits the story of the feeding of the 5,000). However, food only puts off hunger for a while. Healing only puts off death for a while. So, does Jesus consider the people to be shallow or short-sighted? No. He has compassion for them:

In his compassion, Jesus has come to free us from hunger and death.
In his compassion, Jesus has come to free us from our sin and our identity as a victim.
In his compassion, Jesus has come to take our history and absolve it.

Prayer

Jesus, we pray that you will have compassion for us even when we focus only on our own earthly needs. Teach us and empower us to meet the needs of others and teach them about your Good News. Amen.

Lon Kvanli ’08 D.Min. Retired, Sioux Falls SD


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