In chapter 6, Jesus starts to preach people about important matters of life and people were naturally amazed, "He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith." People were not only amazed, but they were also a bit confused. They did not know to trust Jesus and did not know where he got his powers, therefore did not trust him. I myself would fin it hard to trust someone who I know nothing about. I guess you just have to have faith as Jesus says.
We've all heard about the wonderful things Jesus does right?!? But walking on water seems very unlikely, even for Jesus, "He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." This has been by far the most amazing of Jesus's performances. I think this was a marking point for the Christian faith because it is when Jesus proves to everyone he is powerful and no one doubts him at this point, because after this all the sick come begging to him to heal them.
More and more healing...
You know how we had read that Jesus would occasionally feed 4 or 5 people? well we read now that he feeds 4 thousand, "During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."
4His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"
5"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied.
6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. 7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha."
The people did not understand how he had done this so they asked, and Jesus said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." 13Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side." This shows that you don't always need tan explanation for everything just have faith and believe and the explanation will come. At least that's what Jesus says.
Jesus wants to stay incognito, "Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ.[b]"
30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him."
If Jesus is already showing off with everyone and people are confused about who he really is, why wouldn't he just tell them? Why does he feel the need to keep it a secret? If god wants everyone to believe his faith he shouldn't be lying to everyone about who he is, but Jesus knows what he is doing and must have a reason.
The last thing I noticed about these few chapters was in the last chapter, chapter 11, where the authority of Jesus is put into question, "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"
29Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"
31They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
This is almost exactly what we saw in Luke, except Luke is a little different, "One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. 2 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”
3 “Let me ask you a question first,” he replied. 4 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”
5 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 6 But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.” 7 So they finally replied that they didn’t know.
8 And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”
I'm really enjoying both Gospels but I think since Mark is a bit more simple it is better, but it might be too simple for my taste. Blog you later!
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