Doing What Jesus Did

 January 6, 2023

In Mark 6:7, Jesus called his disciples to himself, not so they could merely enjoy being with him, but so that he could send them out to fulfill his mission of bringing the Good News to everyone they could reach. He does the same today. We aren’t called merely to gather and worship or fellowship or study, but to be with him, to learn from him so he can confidently send us into the world. Notice how Mark states the matter: “He began to send them out,” which means he wasn’t finished back then. He continues to send his followers into the world.

In vv. 12-13, when the disciples went out, they called on people to repent, ie. to change their way of thinking. When people change how they think, miracles happen. Demons leave, sickness departs. More than 50 years ago, I learned in beginning psychology class that more than 80% of our illnesses are psychologically induced, which means people could be free from many of their physical ailments if they changed how they think about their lives. I wonder what would happen in the Church if we Christians got serious about repentance—changing how we think.

In v. 30, Having told his disciples to go and preach, they went, and reported back the results. The response was far more than they could have imagined. Five thousand people wouldn’t have gathered to hear Jesus teach if the disciples hadn’t prepared the way by their spreading out through the land preaching. It’s the same methodology the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association used successfully for decades. At least a year before the event, teams of advance workers would actually move into the city where the crusade was to be held. The result was massive crowds when Dr. Graham arrived to preach. He merely copied Jesus’ method.

In v. 37, we read that Jesus commanded his disciples to do what they could not possibly do. When they told Jesus the people were getting hungry, he simply said, “You feed them.” I can imagine them looking at each other with incredulity. “There’s no way we can do this, Jesus; you’re the one who can provide the food. We’ve seen what you can do, so do it again.” But Jesus was adamant: this was their job. We don’t know what they were thinking when it all began, but I can imagine them muttering, “This is crazy; there’s no way. Why is he telling us to sit them down in groups?” 

But they brought the little they had and began to do the impossible thing he commanded. That which they couldn’t do on their own happened when they simply obeyed. It’s not our talent, our ability, or even our resources that determine what we can accomplish. It’s our faith and obedience that makes the difference. This entire sixth chapter of Mark is designed to teach us that what Jesus did, he wants us to do. He still feeds the five thousand, the same way he did back then, through the obedience of his followers who against all logic, believe his Word enough to act upon it.