Tuesday 12th April - Mark 6

Today’s chapter is Mark 6, you can read it here.

Tom writes:

Again we see the curious intermingling of compassion and authority played out across the Judean landscape. Jesus gives the disciples authority to cast out evil spirits. Jesus tells the disciples to go out to build dependent and lasting relationships with those who will receive them. Curiouser and curiouser. Authority and Compassion, arm in arm, expressed in words and deeds, in shaking off dust, in feeding the masses, in rebuking the king, in burying a friend. And miracle after miracle flows from these unexpected bedfellows; the beautiful offspring of power and mercy. If we can get this right - to harness both the spiritual authority that gives no truck to evil and the gentle compassion that cares for the needy - then we will see complete amazement restored to the church.

More and more I’m convinced that the “date night” of authority and compassion is the call to repent. The place where, more than anywhere, we draw together authority and compassion is in the deliberate decision to repent. And to offer that option to others. This call to repent must be protected if the marriage of power and mercy is going to last in our lives. We need to rhythm repentance into our routine. So what really is repentance? It’s choosing to turn from self-reliance and to trust God that He will provide for us. Sometimes that means deliberately leaving behind your bread and your bag. It’s valuing God enough such that we know friendship with Him is greater than any other relationship. Sometimes that means leaving other friendships behind and shaking off the dust. It’s choosing to place ourselves under the leadership of Jesus. Sometimes that means serving too little food to too many people when you are too tired to bother. So, if I may be so bold, which of these tangible acts of repentance have you recently performed? If your life was written in a book, would it remotely look like Mark chapter 6? The invitation is there, the door is open to you. Will you walk on in or will you walk on by?

Question for Reflection

Which of these stories about Jesus captures your attention the most? Why?