Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 – Mark 6:1-52
If we just look at the last eight verses of today’s reading, there is a lot going on here. This is the second time in this chapter that Jesus has sought out solitude. The first time he was followed by over 5,000 people. Gratefully, he is able to escape to the hills to pray alone for a while.
This is a great example for us. We are told on a regular basis about the value of alone time, but I want to remind you that the alone time that Jesus took wasn’t really alone time. He was taking valuable time with God the Father. This is how we see Jesus recharge throughout his ministry. This is what we too should be turning to for recharge when we feel depleted. God provides comfort, security, patience, and grace like nothing else can.
While Jesus is the example we strive for, we can probably relate much more to the disciples in this passage. The disciples, after seeing Jesus perform all sorts of miracles, still seem to be astonished by what Jesus is capable of. Their nature seems to be doubt and disbelief. Jesus has just fed over 5,000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. But they repeatedly do not understand, as is stated in verse 52.
Mark, the writer of this Gospel, really likes to emphasize the difficulties that the disciples had throughout Jesus' ministry. Here, he uses the words: "they didn’t understand" and "their hearts were too hard to take it in." Unfortunately, this is probably what is most like our own experiences. When our hearts and minds are hard, we struggle to comprehend the power of God, and we get stuck in unbelief and lack of care. Jesus works to chip away at that hardness both in the disciples and in us today. Our daily quiet times with God are where a lot of that work can take place. Jesus demonstrated that and invites us into that space with him.
Questions for reflection:
- What hardness is in your heart? How is it inhibiting your relationships?
- How often do you step away from the chaos of life to be alone with God?