A CONTRARY WIND
Rev. Mike Jones,
Mark 6:1-56
This chapter reveals numerous obstacles faced by Christ as He did His God given job. These same difficulties will face us as we serve Him.
I. Familiarity Rejection 6:1-6. It is hard for family and friends to see beyond the person they know to the person God is trying to use- And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58). Sometimes it is difficult to see past the messenger to the message.
II. Faith Required 6:7-13. The Disciples were sent only to the Jews (Matt 10:5-7) to preach the coming of the Kingdom. They were to depend on the hospitality of people to meet their needs. Sometimes obeying God means going against “Human” reasoning and walking by faith.
III. Foes Victorious 6:14-29 John the Baptist was killed in prison because a woman hated his sermons and this woman’s daughter enticed her father into a rash statement. Sometimes the “bad guys” win and the “good guys” suffer.
IV. Faithfulness Tested 6:30-44. The disciples wanted time to mourn but the people wanted their needs met. The disciples wanted the people to provide for themselves but Jesus wanted to meet their needs (which added extra work and stress to the disciples as they organized the crowd and distributed the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Then they had to clean up after the crowd finished eating- 12 baskets of fragments).
V. Followers Buffeted 6:45-52 (Note- This is when Peter walked on the water. In “his” gospel he does not think it is even worth mentioning!). Having faced a very busy day the disciples now must content with a Contrary Wind because they have obeyed the command given them by the Lord.
A) The Problem- Jesus “constrained” (greatly persuaded) the disciples to leave Him and go across the sea. God sometimes sends us to face the contrary wind.
- They were toiling in rowing (Could not use the sail because the wind was contrary).
- Their work had gone on for a long time. They left land before nightfall and it was after midnight (4th watch of the night).
- “Their heart was hardened” so they thought Jesus was an evil spirit (Word for “spirit” in the passage). They were “troubled” by the appearance of the Lord.
B) The Master- While we work He prays (I John 2:1).
- He sees us when we are toiling in the contrary wind (vs 48)
- It seems He is passing by but He is really just awaiting our call to Him
- He is able to calm the Contrary Wind when we get Him back in the boat with us.
VI. Fame Results 6:53-56. Now we see part of the reason for all these problems. The fame of Jesus brought great crowds and great results. It would have also brought great Pride to the disciples had God not prepared their hearts ahead of time by walking them through the valley before the mountain top. This “Popularity Pride” may be the greatest obstacle any disciple will face- It led to Satan’s downfall !!