Mark 6

Mark 6:1

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:2

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:3

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:4

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:5

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:6

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:7

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:8

A Demon Possessed Set Free

Then the great Deliverer appears on the scene. Without it appearing that the man has seen the Lord Jesus before, he recognizes Him from afar and runs to Him. The man does not know Him, but the demons who dwell in him know Him. They acknowledge Him as their Superior and honor Him through the man.

The man is identified with the unclean spirit. He doesn’t say ‘do not torment us’, but “do not torment me”. Thus in the believer the Holy Spirit identifies Himself with the believer in the most intimate way. Here too the demons acknowledge through the mouth of the man that there is no connection whatsoever between them and the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:24). They can rightly say “what business do we have with each other?” when it comes to any connection with Him. In another way they indeed do have to do with Him. For He is their Judge and will condemn them and cast them into hell. They speak to Him as “Jesus” – demons never speak to Him as “Lord”! – while they acknowledge Him as “Son of the Most High God”.

To these statements the unclean spirit comes after Christ’s command to leave the man. The Lord Jesus explicitly calls him “unclean spirit”. The man will have become very filthy spiritually with all kinds of ideas, so that he will not be able to think soundly. It is therefore a great grace of Christ that He comes to the man without him calling for help. The man could not do that. This is how Christ came to us when we were in the power of the devil.

The Lord wants the unclean spirit to fully speak out and expose himself. There must be nothing left behind in this man. Now it becomes clear that there are many demons in him: a legion. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 men. Once the devil has entered someone’s life, he will take possession of that person more and more by letting as many demons as possible dwell in him.

After the Lord has asked for his name, the unclean spirit urgently implores Him not to send him and his fellow demons outside of the country. In doing so, they acknowledge His power. There appears to be a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The possession of swine indicates disobedience on the side of God’s people, for they are unclean beasts. He who owns a herd of them does not heed God’s precepts. The demons implore Him to send them into the swine. They want to exchange the man in the tombs for a new home in the swine.

The Lord allows the demons to go into the swine. Unclean spirits go into unclean beasts. By the demons going into the swine it is clearly shown that the dwelling of demons in humans is as certain and real as it is terrible. Their urge for destruction also becomes clear here. If the demons are capable of killing two thousand swine, how terrible the man must have been. How fortunate that the Lord Jesus appears in his life and sets him free!

The swine keepers haven’t been able to protect the herd from this outbreak. Powerless and anxious, they will have watched the behavior and demise of the swine. Instead of bowing down to the power of Christ, they flee to the city to tell there, and also in the fields, what happened. The people who hear it want to see it for themselves. They come to see what has happened.

Mark 6:9

Set Free and Sent Out

When we read of the people of that region that “they came to Jesus,” it seems a wonderful deed. Unfortunately, they did not come to honor Him. When they come to Him, they see the man they have so often wanted to shackle and subdue, sitting with Him in complete peace. He is no longer naked and frightening, but clothed and in his right mind. He has changed both outwardly and inwardly. He is as it were clothed with “the garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and he knows the Son of God with his understanding (1 John 5:20). This is the man who has had the legion of demons.

Instead of praising the grace of the Lord for this deliverance, the people of that area become afraid. They fear Him Who is able to destroy the captivity of the devil (1 John 3:8). They fear Christ and His grace more than the devil and his works!

When they have seen that, they are going to testify again about what they have seen. Again they will tell their story about this wonderful deliverance. They also tell about the swine. The effect of the story of the witnesses is not that people acknowledge Christ as Savior. He is for them someone who has destroyed their livelihood. Such a person they are better off without. Alas, they consider the demons and the swine to be more pleasant company than the Son of God. This is a new work of satan in the hearts of men. The Lord is goes away. He does not force Himself on anyone.

The healed man does not only feel at ease with the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:18), but all his love goes out to Him. He longs to follow Him wherever He goes. However understandable and good the man’s desire may be, the Lord does not allow him to accompany Him. That is because He has another commission for him. He wants the man to go to his family to testify of his deliverance, allowing him to function normally again.

The Lord Jesus also wants the man to tell of the beneficence that He has shown His mercy on him. He does not only perform acts of power, but also shows His mercy. He performs acts of power from a heart full of compassion. He wants that where men know us well, we should testify of what He has done to us.

The man obeys immediately. It takes no effort for him to fulfill the commission. It is wonderful to read that he preaches “all that Jesus had done to him”, even though the Lord had told him to report what “the Lord” had done to him. For the man, ‘the Lord’, that is ‘Yahweh’, is the Same as ‘Jesus’. So it is. It may be easier for us to speak about God than about the humiliated Jesus, but God is concerned with the glory of the Lord Jesus and that should be our concern as well.

Mark 6:10

Set Free and Sent Out

When we read of the people of that region that “they came to Jesus,” it seems a wonderful deed. Unfortunately, they did not come to honor Him. When they come to Him, they see the man they have so often wanted to shackle and subdue, sitting with Him in complete peace. He is no longer naked and frightening, but clothed and in his right mind. He has changed both outwardly and inwardly. He is as it were clothed with “the garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and he knows the Son of God with his understanding (1 John 5:20). This is the man who has had the legion of demons.

Instead of praising the grace of the Lord for this deliverance, the people of that area become afraid. They fear Him Who is able to destroy the captivity of the devil (1 John 3:8). They fear Christ and His grace more than the devil and his works!

When they have seen that, they are going to testify again about what they have seen. Again they will tell their story about this wonderful deliverance. They also tell about the swine. The effect of the story of the witnesses is not that people acknowledge Christ as Savior. He is for them someone who has destroyed their livelihood. Such a person they are better off without. Alas, they consider the demons and the swine to be more pleasant company than the Son of God. This is a new work of satan in the hearts of men. The Lord is goes away. He does not force Himself on anyone.

The healed man does not only feel at ease with the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:18), but all his love goes out to Him. He longs to follow Him wherever He goes. However understandable and good the man’s desire may be, the Lord does not allow him to accompany Him. That is because He has another commission for him. He wants the man to go to his family to testify of his deliverance, allowing him to function normally again.

The Lord Jesus also wants the man to tell of the beneficence that He has shown His mercy on him. He does not only perform acts of power, but also shows His mercy. He performs acts of power from a heart full of compassion. He wants that where men know us well, we should testify of what He has done to us.

The man obeys immediately. It takes no effort for him to fulfill the commission. It is wonderful to read that he preaches “all that Jesus had done to him”, even though the Lord had told him to report what “the Lord” had done to him. For the man, ‘the Lord’, that is ‘Yahweh’, is the Same as ‘Jesus’. So it is. It may be easier for us to speak about God than about the humiliated Jesus, but God is concerned with the glory of the Lord Jesus and that should be our concern as well.

Mark 6:11

Set Free and Sent Out

When we read of the people of that region that “they came to Jesus,” it seems a wonderful deed. Unfortunately, they did not come to honor Him. When they come to Him, they see the man they have so often wanted to shackle and subdue, sitting with Him in complete peace. He is no longer naked and frightening, but clothed and in his right mind. He has changed both outwardly and inwardly. He is as it were clothed with “the garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and he knows the Son of God with his understanding (1 John 5:20). This is the man who has had the legion of demons.

Instead of praising the grace of the Lord for this deliverance, the people of that area become afraid. They fear Him Who is able to destroy the captivity of the devil (1 John 3:8). They fear Christ and His grace more than the devil and his works!

When they have seen that, they are going to testify again about what they have seen. Again they will tell their story about this wonderful deliverance. They also tell about the swine. The effect of the story of the witnesses is not that people acknowledge Christ as Savior. He is for them someone who has destroyed their livelihood. Such a person they are better off without. Alas, they consider the demons and the swine to be more pleasant company than the Son of God. This is a new work of satan in the hearts of men. The Lord is goes away. He does not force Himself on anyone.

The healed man does not only feel at ease with the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:18), but all his love goes out to Him. He longs to follow Him wherever He goes. However understandable and good the man’s desire may be, the Lord does not allow him to accompany Him. That is because He has another commission for him. He wants the man to go to his family to testify of his deliverance, allowing him to function normally again.

The Lord Jesus also wants the man to tell of the beneficence that He has shown His mercy on him. He does not only perform acts of power, but also shows His mercy. He performs acts of power from a heart full of compassion. He wants that where men know us well, we should testify of what He has done to us.

The man obeys immediately. It takes no effort for him to fulfill the commission. It is wonderful to read that he preaches “all that Jesus had done to him”, even though the Lord had told him to report what “the Lord” had done to him. For the man, ‘the Lord’, that is ‘Yahweh’, is the Same as ‘Jesus’. So it is. It may be easier for us to speak about God than about the humiliated Jesus, but God is concerned with the glory of the Lord Jesus and that should be our concern as well.

Mark 6:12

Set Free and Sent Out

When we read of the people of that region that “they came to Jesus,” it seems a wonderful deed. Unfortunately, they did not come to honor Him. When they come to Him, they see the man they have so often wanted to shackle and subdue, sitting with Him in complete peace. He is no longer naked and frightening, but clothed and in his right mind. He has changed both outwardly and inwardly. He is as it were clothed with “the garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and he knows the Son of God with his understanding (1 John 5:20). This is the man who has had the legion of demons.

Instead of praising the grace of the Lord for this deliverance, the people of that area become afraid. They fear Him Who is able to destroy the captivity of the devil (1 John 3:8). They fear Christ and His grace more than the devil and his works!

When they have seen that, they are going to testify again about what they have seen. Again they will tell their story about this wonderful deliverance. They also tell about the swine. The effect of the story of the witnesses is not that people acknowledge Christ as Savior. He is for them someone who has destroyed their livelihood. Such a person they are better off without. Alas, they consider the demons and the swine to be more pleasant company than the Son of God. This is a new work of satan in the hearts of men. The Lord is goes away. He does not force Himself on anyone.

The healed man does not only feel at ease with the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:18), but all his love goes out to Him. He longs to follow Him wherever He goes. However understandable and good the man’s desire may be, the Lord does not allow him to accompany Him. That is because He has another commission for him. He wants the man to go to his family to testify of his deliverance, allowing him to function normally again.

The Lord Jesus also wants the man to tell of the beneficence that He has shown His mercy on him. He does not only perform acts of power, but also shows His mercy. He performs acts of power from a heart full of compassion. He wants that where men know us well, we should testify of what He has done to us.

The man obeys immediately. It takes no effort for him to fulfill the commission. It is wonderful to read that he preaches “all that Jesus had done to him”, even though the Lord had told him to report what “the Lord” had done to him. For the man, ‘the Lord’, that is ‘Yahweh’, is the Same as ‘Jesus’. So it is. It may be easier for us to speak about God than about the humiliated Jesus, but God is concerned with the glory of the Lord Jesus and that should be our concern as well.

Mark 6:13

Set Free and Sent Out

When we read of the people of that region that “they came to Jesus,” it seems a wonderful deed. Unfortunately, they did not come to honor Him. When they come to Him, they see the man they have so often wanted to shackle and subdue, sitting with Him in complete peace. He is no longer naked and frightening, but clothed and in his right mind. He has changed both outwardly and inwardly. He is as it were clothed with “the garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and he knows the Son of God with his understanding (1 John 5:20). This is the man who has had the legion of demons.

Instead of praising the grace of the Lord for this deliverance, the people of that area become afraid. They fear Him Who is able to destroy the captivity of the devil (1 John 3:8). They fear Christ and His grace more than the devil and his works!

When they have seen that, they are going to testify again about what they have seen. Again they will tell their story about this wonderful deliverance. They also tell about the swine. The effect of the story of the witnesses is not that people acknowledge Christ as Savior. He is for them someone who has destroyed their livelihood. Such a person they are better off without. Alas, they consider the demons and the swine to be more pleasant company than the Son of God. This is a new work of satan in the hearts of men. The Lord is goes away. He does not force Himself on anyone.

The healed man does not only feel at ease with the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:18), but all his love goes out to Him. He longs to follow Him wherever He goes. However understandable and good the man’s desire may be, the Lord does not allow him to accompany Him. That is because He has another commission for him. He wants the man to go to his family to testify of his deliverance, allowing him to function normally again.

The Lord Jesus also wants the man to tell of the beneficence that He has shown His mercy on him. He does not only perform acts of power, but also shows His mercy. He performs acts of power from a heart full of compassion. He wants that where men know us well, we should testify of what He has done to us.

The man obeys immediately. It takes no effort for him to fulfill the commission. It is wonderful to read that he preaches “all that Jesus had done to him”, even though the Lord had told him to report what “the Lord” had done to him. For the man, ‘the Lord’, that is ‘Yahweh’, is the Same as ‘Jesus’. So it is. It may be easier for us to speak about God than about the humiliated Jesus, but God is concerned with the glory of the Lord Jesus and that should be our concern as well.

Mark 6:14

Set Free and Sent Out

When we read of the people of that region that “they came to Jesus,” it seems a wonderful deed. Unfortunately, they did not come to honor Him. When they come to Him, they see the man they have so often wanted to shackle and subdue, sitting with Him in complete peace. He is no longer naked and frightening, but clothed and in his right mind. He has changed both outwardly and inwardly. He is as it were clothed with “the garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10) and he knows the Son of God with his understanding (1 John 5:20). This is the man who has had the legion of demons.

Instead of praising the grace of the Lord for this deliverance, the people of that area become afraid. They fear Him Who is able to destroy the captivity of the devil (1 John 3:8). They fear Christ and His grace more than the devil and his works!

When they have seen that, they are going to testify again about what they have seen. Again they will tell their story about this wonderful deliverance. They also tell about the swine. The effect of the story of the witnesses is not that people acknowledge Christ as Savior. He is for them someone who has destroyed their livelihood. Such a person they are better off without. Alas, they consider the demons and the swine to be more pleasant company than the Son of God. This is a new work of satan in the hearts of men. The Lord is goes away. He does not force Himself on anyone.

The healed man does not only feel at ease with the Lord Jesus (Mark 5:18), but all his love goes out to Him. He longs to follow Him wherever He goes. However understandable and good the man’s desire may be, the Lord does not allow him to accompany Him. That is because He has another commission for him. He wants the man to go to his family to testify of his deliverance, allowing him to function normally again.

The Lord Jesus also wants the man to tell of the beneficence that He has shown His mercy on him. He does not only perform acts of power, but also shows His mercy. He performs acts of power from a heart full of compassion. He wants that where men know us well, we should testify of what He has done to us.

The man obeys immediately. It takes no effort for him to fulfill the commission. It is wonderful to read that he preaches “all that Jesus had done to him”, even though the Lord had told him to report what “the Lord” had done to him. For the man, ‘the Lord’, that is ‘Yahweh’, is the Same as ‘Jesus’. So it is. It may be easier for us to speak about God than about the humiliated Jesus, but God is concerned with the glory of the Lord Jesus and that should be our concern as well.

Mark 6:15

An Official of the Synagogue Comes to the Lord

The Lord Jesus goes aboard and crosses over again to the other side. There a large crowd gathers around Him. Out of the crowd comes a man who is looking for Him. When he discovers Him, he falls down at His feet. The man lying there at the Lord’s feet is not one of the common people. He is an official of the synagogue. Mark says his name is Jairus.

Jairus has a prominent religious function, but he does not belong to the group of leaders who hate the Lord. He is, just like Nicodemus (John 3:1-2), an exception. He is in great distress. If there is still salvation, he knows, it is only with Christ. He makes an urgent appeal to Him for his little daughter. His words show his faith in the power of the Lord.

In spite of the good surroundings, the synagogue, in which the girl grew up, she died. There are many young people who grow up in a Christian family under the Word of God, but who still have no life from God. At first they went with their parents to church, but as they grew older the interest in the things of the Lord disappeared. What a blessing it is then to have a father like this girl.

Without saying a word the Lord Jesus goes with him. He is followed and surrounded by a large crowd that gives him little freedom of movement. He doesn’t get a wide passage from the crowd that seems to feel that something special is going to happen again. Because of their pressure, they prevent a quick trip to the girl who is in such a bad condition.

Mark 6:16

An Official of the Synagogue Comes to the Lord

The Lord Jesus goes aboard and crosses over again to the other side. There a large crowd gathers around Him. Out of the crowd comes a man who is looking for Him. When he discovers Him, he falls down at His feet. The man lying there at the Lord’s feet is not one of the common people. He is an official of the synagogue. Mark says his name is Jairus.

Jairus has a prominent religious function, but he does not belong to the group of leaders who hate the Lord. He is, just like Nicodemus (John 3:1-2), an exception. He is in great distress. If there is still salvation, he knows, it is only with Christ. He makes an urgent appeal to Him for his little daughter. His words show his faith in the power of the Lord.

In spite of the good surroundings, the synagogue, in which the girl grew up, she died. There are many young people who grow up in a Christian family under the Word of God, but who still have no life from God. At first they went with their parents to church, but as they grew older the interest in the things of the Lord disappeared. What a blessing it is then to have a father like this girl.

Without saying a word the Lord Jesus goes with him. He is followed and surrounded by a large crowd that gives him little freedom of movement. He doesn’t get a wide passage from the crowd that seems to feel that something special is going to happen again. Because of their pressure, they prevent a quick trip to the girl who is in such a bad condition.

Mark 6:17

An Official of the Synagogue Comes to the Lord

The Lord Jesus goes aboard and crosses over again to the other side. There a large crowd gathers around Him. Out of the crowd comes a man who is looking for Him. When he discovers Him, he falls down at His feet. The man lying there at the Lord’s feet is not one of the common people. He is an official of the synagogue. Mark says his name is Jairus.

Jairus has a prominent religious function, but he does not belong to the group of leaders who hate the Lord. He is, just like Nicodemus (John 3:1-2), an exception. He is in great distress. If there is still salvation, he knows, it is only with Christ. He makes an urgent appeal to Him for his little daughter. His words show his faith in the power of the Lord.

In spite of the good surroundings, the synagogue, in which the girl grew up, she died. There are many young people who grow up in a Christian family under the Word of God, but who still have no life from God. At first they went with their parents to church, but as they grew older the interest in the things of the Lord disappeared. What a blessing it is then to have a father like this girl.

Without saying a word the Lord Jesus goes with him. He is followed and surrounded by a large crowd that gives him little freedom of movement. He doesn’t get a wide passage from the crowd that seems to feel that something special is going to happen again. Because of their pressure, they prevent a quick trip to the girl who is in such a bad condition.

Mark 6:18

An Official of the Synagogue Comes to the Lord

The Lord Jesus goes aboard and crosses over again to the other side. There a large crowd gathers around Him. Out of the crowd comes a man who is looking for Him. When he discovers Him, he falls down at His feet. The man lying there at the Lord’s feet is not one of the common people. He is an official of the synagogue. Mark says his name is Jairus.

Jairus has a prominent religious function, but he does not belong to the group of leaders who hate the Lord. He is, just like Nicodemus (John 3:1-2), an exception. He is in great distress. If there is still salvation, he knows, it is only with Christ. He makes an urgent appeal to Him for his little daughter. His words show his faith in the power of the Lord.

In spite of the good surroundings, the synagogue, in which the girl grew up, she died. There are many young people who grow up in a Christian family under the Word of God, but who still have no life from God. At first they went with their parents to church, but as they grew older the interest in the things of the Lord disappeared. What a blessing it is then to have a father like this girl.

Without saying a word the Lord Jesus goes with him. He is followed and surrounded by a large crowd that gives him little freedom of movement. He doesn’t get a wide passage from the crowd that seems to feel that something special is going to happen again. Because of their pressure, they prevent a quick trip to the girl who is in such a bad condition.

Mark 6:19

A Woman Healed of the Flow of Her Blood

The slowing down which the Lord experienced on the way to Jairus’ daughter even becomes a delay. He is stopped by a woman in great distress who, in her misery, knows no one else who can offer a solution but He. For twelve years she has had a flow of blood. She is unclean as long as the little girl is old. She feels life slowly flowing away from her. By herself, like the little girl, she is incapable of changing her condition.

In the little girl we can see a picture of Israel that is temporarily set aside. Although the Lord has come for Israel as a whole, His attention goes first to the few in the people who call upon Him. We see this in the woman who comes to Him.

The woman has already tried everything to find healing. It has cost her everything, but without result. No, all the attempts to stop the ailment have only made it worse. This is how it is with someone who lives without God and sees that this life does not satisfy. He tries everything to make his life livable. He spends all his money on it. But the emptiness remains and only gets bigger after every attempt. Only when the Lord Jesus comes into his life is it possible to live the true life.

Just like Jairus, there is nothing left for the woman but to go to Christ. But unlike Jairus, she does not dare to come openly to Him. She therefore approaches Him as inconspicuously as possible from behind and touches His cloak.

The woman has so much faith in Him that she believes that even a touch of His garments will heal her from her affliction. This speaks of a faith that sees in Him the unique Man. Why should His garments have more strength than other people’s garments? Because He wears them. His garments speak of His outer revelation. As a Man He has always done only the will of God. No other man has ever done that.

His garments speak of the perfection of His life, a life that has never known or done anything of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). There is no sin in Him (1 John 3:5), no sinful nature. For He is “that holy Child” Who was born (Luke 1:35). That makes Him the unique Man also now in heaven and that He will remain forever.

The touch of faith is not without results. The woman receives according to her faith. As soon as she has touched Him, she notices that the flowing of blood has stopped.

Mark 6:20

A Woman Healed of the Flow of Her Blood

The slowing down which the Lord experienced on the way to Jairus’ daughter even becomes a delay. He is stopped by a woman in great distress who, in her misery, knows no one else who can offer a solution but He. For twelve years she has had a flow of blood. She is unclean as long as the little girl is old. She feels life slowly flowing away from her. By herself, like the little girl, she is incapable of changing her condition.

In the little girl we can see a picture of Israel that is temporarily set aside. Although the Lord has come for Israel as a whole, His attention goes first to the few in the people who call upon Him. We see this in the woman who comes to Him.

The woman has already tried everything to find healing. It has cost her everything, but without result. No, all the attempts to stop the ailment have only made it worse. This is how it is with someone who lives without God and sees that this life does not satisfy. He tries everything to make his life livable. He spends all his money on it. But the emptiness remains and only gets bigger after every attempt. Only when the Lord Jesus comes into his life is it possible to live the true life.

Just like Jairus, there is nothing left for the woman but to go to Christ. But unlike Jairus, she does not dare to come openly to Him. She therefore approaches Him as inconspicuously as possible from behind and touches His cloak.

The woman has so much faith in Him that she believes that even a touch of His garments will heal her from her affliction. This speaks of a faith that sees in Him the unique Man. Why should His garments have more strength than other people’s garments? Because He wears them. His garments speak of His outer revelation. As a Man He has always done only the will of God. No other man has ever done that.

His garments speak of the perfection of His life, a life that has never known or done anything of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). There is no sin in Him (1 John 3:5), no sinful nature. For He is “that holy Child” Who was born (Luke 1:35). That makes Him the unique Man also now in heaven and that He will remain forever.

The touch of faith is not without results. The woman receives according to her faith. As soon as she has touched Him, she notices that the flowing of blood has stopped.

Mark 6:21

A Woman Healed of the Flow of Her Blood

The slowing down which the Lord experienced on the way to Jairus’ daughter even becomes a delay. He is stopped by a woman in great distress who, in her misery, knows no one else who can offer a solution but He. For twelve years she has had a flow of blood. She is unclean as long as the little girl is old. She feels life slowly flowing away from her. By herself, like the little girl, she is incapable of changing her condition.

In the little girl we can see a picture of Israel that is temporarily set aside. Although the Lord has come for Israel as a whole, His attention goes first to the few in the people who call upon Him. We see this in the woman who comes to Him.

The woman has already tried everything to find healing. It has cost her everything, but without result. No, all the attempts to stop the ailment have only made it worse. This is how it is with someone who lives without God and sees that this life does not satisfy. He tries everything to make his life livable. He spends all his money on it. But the emptiness remains and only gets bigger after every attempt. Only when the Lord Jesus comes into his life is it possible to live the true life.

Just like Jairus, there is nothing left for the woman but to go to Christ. But unlike Jairus, she does not dare to come openly to Him. She therefore approaches Him as inconspicuously as possible from behind and touches His cloak.

The woman has so much faith in Him that she believes that even a touch of His garments will heal her from her affliction. This speaks of a faith that sees in Him the unique Man. Why should His garments have more strength than other people’s garments? Because He wears them. His garments speak of His outer revelation. As a Man He has always done only the will of God. No other man has ever done that.

His garments speak of the perfection of His life, a life that has never known or done anything of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). There is no sin in Him (1 John 3:5), no sinful nature. For He is “that holy Child” Who was born (Luke 1:35). That makes Him the unique Man also now in heaven and that He will remain forever.

The touch of faith is not without results. The woman receives according to her faith. As soon as she has touched Him, she notices that the flowing of blood has stopped.

Mark 6:22

A Woman Healed of the Flow of Her Blood

The slowing down which the Lord experienced on the way to Jairus’ daughter even becomes a delay. He is stopped by a woman in great distress who, in her misery, knows no one else who can offer a solution but He. For twelve years she has had a flow of blood. She is unclean as long as the little girl is old. She feels life slowly flowing away from her. By herself, like the little girl, she is incapable of changing her condition.

In the little girl we can see a picture of Israel that is temporarily set aside. Although the Lord has come for Israel as a whole, His attention goes first to the few in the people who call upon Him. We see this in the woman who comes to Him.

The woman has already tried everything to find healing. It has cost her everything, but without result. No, all the attempts to stop the ailment have only made it worse. This is how it is with someone who lives without God and sees that this life does not satisfy. He tries everything to make his life livable. He spends all his money on it. But the emptiness remains and only gets bigger after every attempt. Only when the Lord Jesus comes into his life is it possible to live the true life.

Just like Jairus, there is nothing left for the woman but to go to Christ. But unlike Jairus, she does not dare to come openly to Him. She therefore approaches Him as inconspicuously as possible from behind and touches His cloak.

The woman has so much faith in Him that she believes that even a touch of His garments will heal her from her affliction. This speaks of a faith that sees in Him the unique Man. Why should His garments have more strength than other people’s garments? Because He wears them. His garments speak of His outer revelation. As a Man He has always done only the will of God. No other man has ever done that.

His garments speak of the perfection of His life, a life that has never known or done anything of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). There is no sin in Him (1 John 3:5), no sinful nature. For He is “that holy Child” Who was born (Luke 1:35). That makes Him the unique Man also now in heaven and that He will remain forever.

The touch of faith is not without results. The woman receives according to her faith. As soon as she has touched Him, she notices that the flowing of blood has stopped.

Mark 6:23

A Woman Healed of the Flow of Her Blood

The slowing down which the Lord experienced on the way to Jairus’ daughter even becomes a delay. He is stopped by a woman in great distress who, in her misery, knows no one else who can offer a solution but He. For twelve years she has had a flow of blood. She is unclean as long as the little girl is old. She feels life slowly flowing away from her. By herself, like the little girl, she is incapable of changing her condition.

In the little girl we can see a picture of Israel that is temporarily set aside. Although the Lord has come for Israel as a whole, His attention goes first to the few in the people who call upon Him. We see this in the woman who comes to Him.

The woman has already tried everything to find healing. It has cost her everything, but without result. No, all the attempts to stop the ailment have only made it worse. This is how it is with someone who lives without God and sees that this life does not satisfy. He tries everything to make his life livable. He spends all his money on it. But the emptiness remains and only gets bigger after every attempt. Only when the Lord Jesus comes into his life is it possible to live the true life.

Just like Jairus, there is nothing left for the woman but to go to Christ. But unlike Jairus, she does not dare to come openly to Him. She therefore approaches Him as inconspicuously as possible from behind and touches His cloak.

The woman has so much faith in Him that she believes that even a touch of His garments will heal her from her affliction. This speaks of a faith that sees in Him the unique Man. Why should His garments have more strength than other people’s garments? Because He wears them. His garments speak of His outer revelation. As a Man He has always done only the will of God. No other man has ever done that.

His garments speak of the perfection of His life, a life that has never known or done anything of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). There is no sin in Him (1 John 3:5), no sinful nature. For He is “that holy Child” Who was born (Luke 1:35). That makes Him the unique Man also now in heaven and that He will remain forever.

The touch of faith is not without results. The woman receives according to her faith. As soon as she has touched Him, she notices that the flowing of blood has stopped.

Mark 6:24

The Woman Sent Away in Peace

This deed of healing is not a deed that costs the Lord nothing. As with any healing, in healing this affliction He feels the pain of the disease (Matthew 8:17). He notices that power has gone forth from Him. Of course, He also knows who has touched Him. However, He asks for it because He wants the woman to make herself known. Otherwise she would live on with a stolen blessing, as it were.

The disciples still understand little of their Master. They think they have to point out to Him a self-evident matter. In their eyes it is not logical to ask such a question. However, they do not understand that He knows every person who touches Him, whether accidentally or consciously. He also knows that among all these people only this woman has touched Him because she has faith in Him.

He knows all those people who profess to be connected with Him and are recorded in church records as members of this or that denomination. He also knows all those people who preach about Him. They are all people who have some connection with Him. He knows among all those people also those who truly have faith in Him.

The Lord does not respond to the well-intentioned but very misplaced comments of His disciples. All His attention goes to the woman “who had done this”, who has accomplished this act of faith. He searches especially for her. His interest is always in those who seek Him in their need. He not only wants to heal them, but also to give them His peace.

Because the woman has, as it were, stolen the blessing, she must come forward. The Lord wants her to receive His blessing as a free, complete gift in a personal and open encounter with Him. With fear and trembling, she tells “Him the whole truth”. The Lord Jesus confirms His blessing by assuring her of being made well, peace and healing. He thereby puts His seal, as it were, on her faith.

He is the Son of God Who has life in Himself (John 5:26). Faith therein reveals its power by touching Him. Outwardly He is in the midst of Israel, but only faith enjoys the blessing because it has a sense of its own need and of His glory. Where man’s need is brought into connection with His glory, the consequence is that the need disappears and His glory becomes radiantly visible.

Mark 6:25

The Woman Sent Away in Peace

This deed of healing is not a deed that costs the Lord nothing. As with any healing, in healing this affliction He feels the pain of the disease (Matthew 8:17). He notices that power has gone forth from Him. Of course, He also knows who has touched Him. However, He asks for it because He wants the woman to make herself known. Otherwise she would live on with a stolen blessing, as it were.

The disciples still understand little of their Master. They think they have to point out to Him a self-evident matter. In their eyes it is not logical to ask such a question. However, they do not understand that He knows every person who touches Him, whether accidentally or consciously. He also knows that among all these people only this woman has touched Him because she has faith in Him.

He knows all those people who profess to be connected with Him and are recorded in church records as members of this or that denomination. He also knows all those people who preach about Him. They are all people who have some connection with Him. He knows among all those people also those who truly have faith in Him.

The Lord does not respond to the well-intentioned but very misplaced comments of His disciples. All His attention goes to the woman “who had done this”, who has accomplished this act of faith. He searches especially for her. His interest is always in those who seek Him in their need. He not only wants to heal them, but also to give them His peace.

Because the woman has, as it were, stolen the blessing, she must come forward. The Lord wants her to receive His blessing as a free, complete gift in a personal and open encounter with Him. With fear and trembling, she tells “Him the whole truth”. The Lord Jesus confirms His blessing by assuring her of being made well, peace and healing. He thereby puts His seal, as it were, on her faith.

He is the Son of God Who has life in Himself (John 5:26). Faith therein reveals its power by touching Him. Outwardly He is in the midst of Israel, but only faith enjoys the blessing because it has a sense of its own need and of His glory. Where man’s need is brought into connection with His glory, the consequence is that the need disappears and His glory becomes radiantly visible.

Mark 6:26

The Woman Sent Away in Peace

This deed of healing is not a deed that costs the Lord nothing. As with any healing, in healing this affliction He feels the pain of the disease (Matthew 8:17). He notices that power has gone forth from Him. Of course, He also knows who has touched Him. However, He asks for it because He wants the woman to make herself known. Otherwise she would live on with a stolen blessing, as it were.

The disciples still understand little of their Master. They think they have to point out to Him a self-evident matter. In their eyes it is not logical to ask such a question. However, they do not understand that He knows every person who touches Him, whether accidentally or consciously. He also knows that among all these people only this woman has touched Him because she has faith in Him.

He knows all those people who profess to be connected with Him and are recorded in church records as members of this or that denomination. He also knows all those people who preach about Him. They are all people who have some connection with Him. He knows among all those people also those who truly have faith in Him.

The Lord does not respond to the well-intentioned but very misplaced comments of His disciples. All His attention goes to the woman “who had done this”, who has accomplished this act of faith. He searches especially for her. His interest is always in those who seek Him in their need. He not only wants to heal them, but also to give them His peace.

Because the woman has, as it were, stolen the blessing, she must come forward. The Lord wants her to receive His blessing as a free, complete gift in a personal and open encounter with Him. With fear and trembling, she tells “Him the whole truth”. The Lord Jesus confirms His blessing by assuring her of being made well, peace and healing. He thereby puts His seal, as it were, on her faith.

He is the Son of God Who has life in Himself (John 5:26). Faith therein reveals its power by touching Him. Outwardly He is in the midst of Israel, but only faith enjoys the blessing because it has a sense of its own need and of His glory. Where man’s need is brought into connection with His glory, the consequence is that the need disappears and His glory becomes radiantly visible.

Mark 6:27

The Woman Sent Away in Peace

This deed of healing is not a deed that costs the Lord nothing. As with any healing, in healing this affliction He feels the pain of the disease (Matthew 8:17). He notices that power has gone forth from Him. Of course, He also knows who has touched Him. However, He asks for it because He wants the woman to make herself known. Otherwise she would live on with a stolen blessing, as it were.

The disciples still understand little of their Master. They think they have to point out to Him a self-evident matter. In their eyes it is not logical to ask such a question. However, they do not understand that He knows every person who touches Him, whether accidentally or consciously. He also knows that among all these people only this woman has touched Him because she has faith in Him.

He knows all those people who profess to be connected with Him and are recorded in church records as members of this or that denomination. He also knows all those people who preach about Him. They are all people who have some connection with Him. He knows among all those people also those who truly have faith in Him.

The Lord does not respond to the well-intentioned but very misplaced comments of His disciples. All His attention goes to the woman “who had done this”, who has accomplished this act of faith. He searches especially for her. His interest is always in those who seek Him in their need. He not only wants to heal them, but also to give them His peace.

Because the woman has, as it were, stolen the blessing, she must come forward. The Lord wants her to receive His blessing as a free, complete gift in a personal and open encounter with Him. With fear and trembling, she tells “Him the whole truth”. The Lord Jesus confirms His blessing by assuring her of being made well, peace and healing. He thereby puts His seal, as it were, on her faith.

He is the Son of God Who has life in Himself (John 5:26). Faith therein reveals its power by touching Him. Outwardly He is in the midst of Israel, but only faith enjoys the blessing because it has a sense of its own need and of His glory. Where man’s need is brought into connection with His glory, the consequence is that the need disappears and His glory becomes radiantly visible.

Mark 6:28

The Woman Sent Away in Peace

This deed of healing is not a deed that costs the Lord nothing. As with any healing, in healing this affliction He feels the pain of the disease (Matthew 8:17). He notices that power has gone forth from Him. Of course, He also knows who has touched Him. However, He asks for it because He wants the woman to make herself known. Otherwise she would live on with a stolen blessing, as it were.

The disciples still understand little of their Master. They think they have to point out to Him a self-evident matter. In their eyes it is not logical to ask such a question. However, they do not understand that He knows every person who touches Him, whether accidentally or consciously. He also knows that among all these people only this woman has touched Him because she has faith in Him.

He knows all those people who profess to be connected with Him and are recorded in church records as members of this or that denomination. He also knows all those people who preach about Him. They are all people who have some connection with Him. He knows among all those people also those who truly have faith in Him.

The Lord does not respond to the well-intentioned but very misplaced comments of His disciples. All His attention goes to the woman “who had done this”, who has accomplished this act of faith. He searches especially for her. His interest is always in those who seek Him in their need. He not only wants to heal them, but also to give them His peace.

Because the woman has, as it were, stolen the blessing, she must come forward. The Lord wants her to receive His blessing as a free, complete gift in a personal and open encounter with Him. With fear and trembling, she tells “Him the whole truth”. The Lord Jesus confirms His blessing by assuring her of being made well, peace and healing. He thereby puts His seal, as it were, on her faith.

He is the Son of God Who has life in Himself (John 5:26). Faith therein reveals its power by touching Him. Outwardly He is in the midst of Israel, but only faith enjoys the blessing because it has a sense of its own need and of His glory. Where man’s need is brought into connection with His glory, the consequence is that the need disappears and His glory becomes radiantly visible.

Mark 6:29

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:30

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:31

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:32

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:33

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:34

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:35

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:36

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:37

The Daughter of Jairus Healed

The interruption with the woman who had a flowing of blood is also called ‘a wonder in a wonder’. After all, it is a wonder the Lord performs, while for another need an appeal has been made to Him and He is on His way. After the wonder of the woman’s healing, there is the little daughter of Jairus to whom He is on His way. During the delay, the little daughter has died. Now the case seems completely hopeless.

The messengers think it is no longer necessary to bother Him. There’s nothing to be done about it now. Satan always comes with these kinds of messages. He wants to feed unbelief with a feeling of hopelessness. But every delay gives Him the opportunity to show His glory (cf. John 11:4-6; 14-15). We never bother Him with our need that is unsolvable for us. On the contrary, He is eager to provide for such need. It is a work He loves to do.

He does not listen to the messengers’ comments. He deliberately does not listen to them. Such remarks testify of unbelief. Instead, He has a word of encouragement for the official of the synagogue: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” This word has been a great encouragement to countless believers throughout the ages.

When He hears the need, there is first an encouragement. We also see this in the other two cases of resurrection that He has performed. There, too, He has spoken a word of comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13; John 11:23). This shows that the revelation of His power is always accompanied by a revelation of His love and affection.

The Lord goes along to the house of Jairus, but does not allow anyone to follow Him except three of His disciples. They are permitted to be there when He raises the girl. They become witnesses to this wonder because He deems it necessary for them in view of their further service to Him. Thus He has special events for each of His own in preparation for or encouragement in the service for Him that others have no part in. This is not because those others are less important, but because He has other preparations or encouragement for them that are special to them.

When He and His disciples come into the house of the official of the synagogue, He observes how people express themselves in feelings of mourning. He sees the commotion and hears the loud weeping and wailing. This is what is left for man when death has come in. Death puts an end to all illusions and strikes a painful hole in the life of the immediate surroundings.

The Lord enters the scene of mourning and rebukes those who make commotion and weep. In His presence such expressions can disappear. May we not then be sad and weep at the death of a loved one? Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself also wept at the tomb of His beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). But these are people who look upon death blindly, without regard for Him. They think there is nothing more to be done while He is present. For Him, death is a sleep from which He can awaken someone.

When they hear His words, their grief immediately turns to mockery. He drives them all out. People with such a mentality cannot be present at the wonder of the girl’s raising from the dead. He allows only the father and mother and His three disciples to enter with Him into the room where the girl lies.

Without further preparation, He takes the hand of the child and speaks words of life. His word is power. Just as He created heaven and earth through His word (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3), so here He speaks with authority His word through which life returns. Also with the raising from the dead of the young man from Naïn and the raising from the dead of Lazarus, the command to come out of the dead sounds. This command will also be heard when He comes to take the believers to Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The words “talitha kum” are the untranslated Aramaic words that the Lord speaks literally on this occasion. The whole New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the Greek language. That is why it is special that He has Mark render the Aramaic words here, incidentally with the translation included.

Even more striking is that we hear three more times an Aramaic quotation from the Lord that is also only mentioned by Mark: “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34), “Abba!” (Mark 14:36) and “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34), each time with the translation. These are phrases that must have made a special impression on the writer. Mark did not belong to the circle of the twelve apostles, but there are strong indications that he recorded his Gospel from the mouth of Peter. From the end of Peter’s first letter it appears that there was a close connection between Mark and Peter. Peter calls him “my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13).

The result does not let up. The power of death gives way and lets her go whom he had made his prey. In the presence of the living God, death cannot endure. The girl, who is as old as the time that the woman had the flow of blood suffered from her affliction (Mark 5:25), stands up and walks. She is able to walk and live to the glory of God.

The Lord does not want this wonder to be widely recorded. He does not seek honor for Himself and does not want to attract attention through His wonders. But He is full of care for the girl and wants her to be fed. That is how He arranges the aftercare that He lets others do.

Someone who has been given new life must then receive good spiritual food in order to be able to live to the glory of God and serve Him. There is also a result with the two other resurrections:

1. The young man from Naïn begins to speak (Luke 7:15), indicating witnessing to the Lord Jesus.

2. Lazarus begins a walk in newness of life marked by worship (John 11:44; John 12:2).

Mark 6:39

Rejection in Nazareth

The Lord Jesus departs from the house of Jairus and goes to Nazareth, the city where He grew up, and where they have had Him in their midst for so long. There the disciples will receive new teachings for servants, and therefore He takes them with Him and they follow Him. This new teaching begins with Him being rejected. Every servant must take this into account.

On the Sabbath He goes in the synagogue, the usual place where teachings from the Scriptures are given. In the synagogue the law is studied and taught, but it only happens in an outward form. The heart is not involved. Religion means for the masses of visitors to the synagogue only tradition with forms. It’s about what the fathers say. The fathers may have said many good things, but in practice it takes up a larger place than Scripture.

The Lord comes to the synagogue for the third time. In Mark 1 we saw a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23) and in Mark 3 a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). They were both unable to serve because of their condition. We see in these two cases together that religion without “truth in the innermost being” (Psalms 51:6) makes incapable of serving.

This time it is about His Word. He is teaching here in the synagogue. His teaching amazes the many who hear Him. They wonder in amazement where He has got all His knowledge from, how He is so wise and where He has got the mighty deeds He performs with His hands. They experience something special; they know how to name it. However, it’s just a question of amazement, without really wanting to know the secret. That is no different today.

They know exactly who his family members are. And precisely because He comes from such a humble family, there is nothing through which He can be special to them. If He behaves in a special way, it must be because He imagines Himself to be something. That is why they take offence at Him, that is to say, they turn against Him and thereby shut themselves off from the blessing of His presence.

It makes clear how much the Lord has been on earth as an inconspicuous Man. He has worked as a simple carpenter. That was not according to the thoughts of people who believe that holy men do not work. He did not do powerful deeds as a little Boy, as the apocryphal books attribute to Him. Remarkably, they call Him “the Son of Mary” and not Joseph, as children are usually called.

We see here that even the despised inhabitants of Nazareth take offence to the humblest Lord of all, Who is also the humblest Servant of all. Even the smallest persons of humanity are not free of the same spirit of the world that blinds the most intelligent spirit. That the true Heir to the throne of David would be a “carpenter” was and is too insignificant for flesh and blood to accept.

They know him as “the carpenter”. This means that the Lord has learned and done this work of Joseph. This reveals much about the period of time which Scripture is virtually silent, the period of His life on earth until His thirtieth year when He began to travel the land. The Creator of heaven and earth spent a considerable part of His daily life in this world in this humble but so very beautiful handiwork.

The Lord knows that this is how they think of Him. His conclusion is what is always true for all those who want to do God’s work: someone who brings God’s Word into the immediate vicinity and closest family ties is not appreciated there. A prophet brings God’s Word to the heart and conscience of people. This is often more readily accepted from a stranger than from someone they think they know well.

Because of their unbelief, the blessing hand of God is held back from them. He cannot do great works there. He is always willing to serve, but is limited in the exercise of His love where the doors are not opened to undergo its influence. There is no breeding ground for God’s work. Only where there is a need, His tireless love works, yes, there it must work.

He heals the few sick who come. That’s all. It’s not that He tried to do mighty deeds here and it didn’t work out. No, He couldn’t do miracles because of their unbelief. That’s different from the preachers today who try miracles and when they fail attribute that to a lack of faith in those who want to experience the miracle.

In Matthew 8, the Lord marvels about the faith of a heathen who had only heard of Him (Matthew 8:10). Here He marvels about the unbelief of His fellow citizens who have experienced Him for so long. Yet He does not stop serving. There are other villages where He has to do His work. He leaves Nazareth to teach in the surrounding villages. The unbelief closes the manifestation of love only for itself. Love seeks other ways. Christ continues His work elsewhere.

Mark 6:40

Rejection in Nazareth

The Lord Jesus departs from the house of Jairus and goes to Nazareth, the city where He grew up, and where they have had Him in their midst for so long. There the disciples will receive new teachings for servants, and therefore He takes them with Him and they follow Him. This new teaching begins with Him being rejected. Every servant must take this into account.

On the Sabbath He goes in the synagogue, the usual place where teachings from the Scriptures are given. In the synagogue the law is studied and taught, but it only happens in an outward form. The heart is not involved. Religion means for the masses of visitors to the synagogue only tradition with forms. It’s about what the fathers say. The fathers may have said many good things, but in practice it takes up a larger place than Scripture.

The Lord comes to the synagogue for the third time. In Mark 1 we saw a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23) and in Mark 3 a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). They were both unable to serve because of their condition. We see in these two cases together that religion without “truth in the innermost being” (Psalms 51:6) makes incapable of serving.

This time it is about His Word. He is teaching here in the synagogue. His teaching amazes the many who hear Him. They wonder in amazement where He has got all His knowledge from, how He is so wise and where He has got the mighty deeds He performs with His hands. They experience something special; they know how to name it. However, it’s just a question of amazement, without really wanting to know the secret. That is no different today.

They know exactly who his family members are. And precisely because He comes from such a humble family, there is nothing through which He can be special to them. If He behaves in a special way, it must be because He imagines Himself to be something. That is why they take offence at Him, that is to say, they turn against Him and thereby shut themselves off from the blessing of His presence.

It makes clear how much the Lord has been on earth as an inconspicuous Man. He has worked as a simple carpenter. That was not according to the thoughts of people who believe that holy men do not work. He did not do powerful deeds as a little Boy, as the apocryphal books attribute to Him. Remarkably, they call Him “the Son of Mary” and not Joseph, as children are usually called.

We see here that even the despised inhabitants of Nazareth take offence to the humblest Lord of all, Who is also the humblest Servant of all. Even the smallest persons of humanity are not free of the same spirit of the world that blinds the most intelligent spirit. That the true Heir to the throne of David would be a “carpenter” was and is too insignificant for flesh and blood to accept.

They know him as “the carpenter”. This means that the Lord has learned and done this work of Joseph. This reveals much about the period of time which Scripture is virtually silent, the period of His life on earth until His thirtieth year when He began to travel the land. The Creator of heaven and earth spent a considerable part of His daily life in this world in this humble but so very beautiful handiwork.

The Lord knows that this is how they think of Him. His conclusion is what is always true for all those who want to do God’s work: someone who brings God’s Word into the immediate vicinity and closest family ties is not appreciated there. A prophet brings God’s Word to the heart and conscience of people. This is often more readily accepted from a stranger than from someone they think they know well.

Because of their unbelief, the blessing hand of God is held back from them. He cannot do great works there. He is always willing to serve, but is limited in the exercise of His love where the doors are not opened to undergo its influence. There is no breeding ground for God’s work. Only where there is a need, His tireless love works, yes, there it must work.

He heals the few sick who come. That’s all. It’s not that He tried to do mighty deeds here and it didn’t work out. No, He couldn’t do miracles because of their unbelief. That’s different from the preachers today who try miracles and when they fail attribute that to a lack of faith in those who want to experience the miracle.

In Matthew 8, the Lord marvels about the faith of a heathen who had only heard of Him (Matthew 8:10). Here He marvels about the unbelief of His fellow citizens who have experienced Him for so long. Yet He does not stop serving. There are other villages where He has to do His work. He leaves Nazareth to teach in the surrounding villages. The unbelief closes the manifestation of love only for itself. Love seeks other ways. Christ continues His work elsewhere.

Mark 6:41

Rejection in Nazareth

The Lord Jesus departs from the house of Jairus and goes to Nazareth, the city where He grew up, and where they have had Him in their midst for so long. There the disciples will receive new teachings for servants, and therefore He takes them with Him and they follow Him. This new teaching begins with Him being rejected. Every servant must take this into account.

On the Sabbath He goes in the synagogue, the usual place where teachings from the Scriptures are given. In the synagogue the law is studied and taught, but it only happens in an outward form. The heart is not involved. Religion means for the masses of visitors to the synagogue only tradition with forms. It’s about what the fathers say. The fathers may have said many good things, but in practice it takes up a larger place than Scripture.

The Lord comes to the synagogue for the third time. In Mark 1 we saw a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23) and in Mark 3 a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). They were both unable to serve because of their condition. We see in these two cases together that religion without “truth in the innermost being” (Psalms 51:6) makes incapable of serving.

This time it is about His Word. He is teaching here in the synagogue. His teaching amazes the many who hear Him. They wonder in amazement where He has got all His knowledge from, how He is so wise and where He has got the mighty deeds He performs with His hands. They experience something special; they know how to name it. However, it’s just a question of amazement, without really wanting to know the secret. That is no different today.

They know exactly who his family members are. And precisely because He comes from such a humble family, there is nothing through which He can be special to them. If He behaves in a special way, it must be because He imagines Himself to be something. That is why they take offence at Him, that is to say, they turn against Him and thereby shut themselves off from the blessing of His presence.

It makes clear how much the Lord has been on earth as an inconspicuous Man. He has worked as a simple carpenter. That was not according to the thoughts of people who believe that holy men do not work. He did not do powerful deeds as a little Boy, as the apocryphal books attribute to Him. Remarkably, they call Him “the Son of Mary” and not Joseph, as children are usually called.

We see here that even the despised inhabitants of Nazareth take offence to the humblest Lord of all, Who is also the humblest Servant of all. Even the smallest persons of humanity are not free of the same spirit of the world that blinds the most intelligent spirit. That the true Heir to the throne of David would be a “carpenter” was and is too insignificant for flesh and blood to accept.

They know him as “the carpenter”. This means that the Lord has learned and done this work of Joseph. This reveals much about the period of time which Scripture is virtually silent, the period of His life on earth until His thirtieth year when He began to travel the land. The Creator of heaven and earth spent a considerable part of His daily life in this world in this humble but so very beautiful handiwork.

The Lord knows that this is how they think of Him. His conclusion is what is always true for all those who want to do God’s work: someone who brings God’s Word into the immediate vicinity and closest family ties is not appreciated there. A prophet brings God’s Word to the heart and conscience of people. This is often more readily accepted from a stranger than from someone they think they know well.

Because of their unbelief, the blessing hand of God is held back from them. He cannot do great works there. He is always willing to serve, but is limited in the exercise of His love where the doors are not opened to undergo its influence. There is no breeding ground for God’s work. Only where there is a need, His tireless love works, yes, there it must work.

He heals the few sick who come. That’s all. It’s not that He tried to do mighty deeds here and it didn’t work out. No, He couldn’t do miracles because of their unbelief. That’s different from the preachers today who try miracles and when they fail attribute that to a lack of faith in those who want to experience the miracle.

In Matthew 8, the Lord marvels about the faith of a heathen who had only heard of Him (Matthew 8:10). Here He marvels about the unbelief of His fellow citizens who have experienced Him for so long. Yet He does not stop serving. There are other villages where He has to do His work. He leaves Nazareth to teach in the surrounding villages. The unbelief closes the manifestation of love only for itself. Love seeks other ways. Christ continues His work elsewhere.

Mark 6:42

Rejection in Nazareth

The Lord Jesus departs from the house of Jairus and goes to Nazareth, the city where He grew up, and where they have had Him in their midst for so long. There the disciples will receive new teachings for servants, and therefore He takes them with Him and they follow Him. This new teaching begins with Him being rejected. Every servant must take this into account.

On the Sabbath He goes in the synagogue, the usual place where teachings from the Scriptures are given. In the synagogue the law is studied and taught, but it only happens in an outward form. The heart is not involved. Religion means for the masses of visitors to the synagogue only tradition with forms. It’s about what the fathers say. The fathers may have said many good things, but in practice it takes up a larger place than Scripture.

The Lord comes to the synagogue for the third time. In Mark 1 we saw a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23) and in Mark 3 a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). They were both unable to serve because of their condition. We see in these two cases together that religion without “truth in the innermost being” (Psalms 51:6) makes incapable of serving.

This time it is about His Word. He is teaching here in the synagogue. His teaching amazes the many who hear Him. They wonder in amazement where He has got all His knowledge from, how He is so wise and where He has got the mighty deeds He performs with His hands. They experience something special; they know how to name it. However, it’s just a question of amazement, without really wanting to know the secret. That is no different today.

They know exactly who his family members are. And precisely because He comes from such a humble family, there is nothing through which He can be special to them. If He behaves in a special way, it must be because He imagines Himself to be something. That is why they take offence at Him, that is to say, they turn against Him and thereby shut themselves off from the blessing of His presence.

It makes clear how much the Lord has been on earth as an inconspicuous Man. He has worked as a simple carpenter. That was not according to the thoughts of people who believe that holy men do not work. He did not do powerful deeds as a little Boy, as the apocryphal books attribute to Him. Remarkably, they call Him “the Son of Mary” and not Joseph, as children are usually called.

We see here that even the despised inhabitants of Nazareth take offence to the humblest Lord of all, Who is also the humblest Servant of all. Even the smallest persons of humanity are not free of the same spirit of the world that blinds the most intelligent spirit. That the true Heir to the throne of David would be a “carpenter” was and is too insignificant for flesh and blood to accept.

They know him as “the carpenter”. This means that the Lord has learned and done this work of Joseph. This reveals much about the period of time which Scripture is virtually silent, the period of His life on earth until His thirtieth year when He began to travel the land. The Creator of heaven and earth spent a considerable part of His daily life in this world in this humble but so very beautiful handiwork.

The Lord knows that this is how they think of Him. His conclusion is what is always true for all those who want to do God’s work: someone who brings God’s Word into the immediate vicinity and closest family ties is not appreciated there. A prophet brings God’s Word to the heart and conscience of people. This is often more readily accepted from a stranger than from someone they think they know well.

Because of their unbelief, the blessing hand of God is held back from them. He cannot do great works there. He is always willing to serve, but is limited in the exercise of His love where the doors are not opened to undergo its influence. There is no breeding ground for God’s work. Only where there is a need, His tireless love works, yes, there it must work.

He heals the few sick who come. That’s all. It’s not that He tried to do mighty deeds here and it didn’t work out. No, He couldn’t do miracles because of their unbelief. That’s different from the preachers today who try miracles and when they fail attribute that to a lack of faith in those who want to experience the miracle.

In Matthew 8, the Lord marvels about the faith of a heathen who had only heard of Him (Matthew 8:10). Here He marvels about the unbelief of His fellow citizens who have experienced Him for so long. Yet He does not stop serving. There are other villages where He has to do His work. He leaves Nazareth to teach in the surrounding villages. The unbelief closes the manifestation of love only for itself. Love seeks other ways. Christ continues His work elsewhere.

Mark 6:43

Rejection in Nazareth

The Lord Jesus departs from the house of Jairus and goes to Nazareth, the city where He grew up, and where they have had Him in their midst for so long. There the disciples will receive new teachings for servants, and therefore He takes them with Him and they follow Him. This new teaching begins with Him being rejected. Every servant must take this into account.

On the Sabbath He goes in the synagogue, the usual place where teachings from the Scriptures are given. In the synagogue the law is studied and taught, but it only happens in an outward form. The heart is not involved. Religion means for the masses of visitors to the synagogue only tradition with forms. It’s about what the fathers say. The fathers may have said many good things, but in practice it takes up a larger place than Scripture.

The Lord comes to the synagogue for the third time. In Mark 1 we saw a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23) and in Mark 3 a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). They were both unable to serve because of their condition. We see in these two cases together that religion without “truth in the innermost being” (Psalms 51:6) makes incapable of serving.

This time it is about His Word. He is teaching here in the synagogue. His teaching amazes the many who hear Him. They wonder in amazement where He has got all His knowledge from, how He is so wise and where He has got the mighty deeds He performs with His hands. They experience something special; they know how to name it. However, it’s just a question of amazement, without really wanting to know the secret. That is no different today.

They know exactly who his family members are. And precisely because He comes from such a humble family, there is nothing through which He can be special to them. If He behaves in a special way, it must be because He imagines Himself to be something. That is why they take offence at Him, that is to say, they turn against Him and thereby shut themselves off from the blessing of His presence.

It makes clear how much the Lord has been on earth as an inconspicuous Man. He has worked as a simple carpenter. That was not according to the thoughts of people who believe that holy men do not work. He did not do powerful deeds as a little Boy, as the apocryphal books attribute to Him. Remarkably, they call Him “the Son of Mary” and not Joseph, as children are usually called.

We see here that even the despised inhabitants of Nazareth take offence to the humblest Lord of all, Who is also the humblest Servant of all. Even the smallest persons of humanity are not free of the same spirit of the world that blinds the most intelligent spirit. That the true Heir to the throne of David would be a “carpenter” was and is too insignificant for flesh and blood to accept.

They know him as “the carpenter”. This means that the Lord has learned and done this work of Joseph. This reveals much about the period of time which Scripture is virtually silent, the period of His life on earth until His thirtieth year when He began to travel the land. The Creator of heaven and earth spent a considerable part of His daily life in this world in this humble but so very beautiful handiwork.

The Lord knows that this is how they think of Him. His conclusion is what is always true for all those who want to do God’s work: someone who brings God’s Word into the immediate vicinity and closest family ties is not appreciated there. A prophet brings God’s Word to the heart and conscience of people. This is often more readily accepted from a stranger than from someone they think they know well.

Because of their unbelief, the blessing hand of God is held back from them. He cannot do great works there. He is always willing to serve, but is limited in the exercise of His love where the doors are not opened to undergo its influence. There is no breeding ground for God’s work. Only where there is a need, His tireless love works, yes, there it must work.

He heals the few sick who come. That’s all. It’s not that He tried to do mighty deeds here and it didn’t work out. No, He couldn’t do miracles because of their unbelief. That’s different from the preachers today who try miracles and when they fail attribute that to a lack of faith in those who want to experience the miracle.

In Matthew 8, the Lord marvels about the faith of a heathen who had only heard of Him (Matthew 8:10). Here He marvels about the unbelief of His fellow citizens who have experienced Him for so long. Yet He does not stop serving. There are other villages where He has to do His work. He leaves Nazareth to teach in the surrounding villages. The unbelief closes the manifestation of love only for itself. Love seeks other ways. Christ continues His work elsewhere.

Mark 6:44

Rejection in Nazareth

The Lord Jesus departs from the house of Jairus and goes to Nazareth, the city where He grew up, and where they have had Him in their midst for so long. There the disciples will receive new teachings for servants, and therefore He takes them with Him and they follow Him. This new teaching begins with Him being rejected. Every servant must take this into account.

On the Sabbath He goes in the synagogue, the usual place where teachings from the Scriptures are given. In the synagogue the law is studied and taught, but it only happens in an outward form. The heart is not involved. Religion means for the masses of visitors to the synagogue only tradition with forms. It’s about what the fathers say. The fathers may have said many good things, but in practice it takes up a larger place than Scripture.

The Lord comes to the synagogue for the third time. In Mark 1 we saw a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23) and in Mark 3 a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). They were both unable to serve because of their condition. We see in these two cases together that religion without “truth in the innermost being” (Psalms 51:6) makes incapable of serving.

This time it is about His Word. He is teaching here in the synagogue. His teaching amazes the many who hear Him. They wonder in amazement where He has got all His knowledge from, how He is so wise and where He has got the mighty deeds He performs with His hands. They experience something special; they know how to name it. However, it’s just a question of amazement, without really wanting to know the secret. That is no different today.

They know exactly who his family members are. And precisely because He comes from such a humble family, there is nothing through which He can be special to them. If He behaves in a special way, it must be because He imagines Himself to be something. That is why they take offence at Him, that is to say, they turn against Him and thereby shut themselves off from the blessing of His presence.

It makes clear how much the Lord has been on earth as an inconspicuous Man. He has worked as a simple carpenter. That was not according to the thoughts of people who believe that holy men do not work. He did not do powerful deeds as a little Boy, as the apocryphal books attribute to Him. Remarkably, they call Him “the Son of Mary” and not Joseph, as children are usually called.

We see here that even the despised inhabitants of Nazareth take offence to the humblest Lord of all, Who is also the humblest Servant of all. Even the smallest persons of humanity are not free of the same spirit of the world that blinds the most intelligent spirit. That the true Heir to the throne of David would be a “carpenter” was and is too insignificant for flesh and blood to accept.

They know him as “the carpenter”. This means that the Lord has learned and done this work of Joseph. This reveals much about the period of time which Scripture is virtually silent, the period of His life on earth until His thirtieth year when He began to travel the land. The Creator of heaven and earth spent a considerable part of His daily life in this world in this humble but so very beautiful handiwork.

The Lord knows that this is how they think of Him. His conclusion is what is always true for all those who want to do God’s work: someone who brings God’s Word into the immediate vicinity and closest family ties is not appreciated there. A prophet brings God’s Word to the heart and conscience of people. This is often more readily accepted from a stranger than from someone they think they know well.

Because of their unbelief, the blessing hand of God is held back from them. He cannot do great works there. He is always willing to serve, but is limited in the exercise of His love where the doors are not opened to undergo its influence. There is no breeding ground for God’s work. Only where there is a need, His tireless love works, yes, there it must work.

He heals the few sick who come. That’s all. It’s not that He tried to do mighty deeds here and it didn’t work out. No, He couldn’t do miracles because of their unbelief. That’s different from the preachers today who try miracles and when they fail attribute that to a lack of faith in those who want to experience the miracle.

In Matthew 8, the Lord marvels about the faith of a heathen who had only heard of Him (Matthew 8:10). Here He marvels about the unbelief of His fellow citizens who have experienced Him for so long. Yet He does not stop serving. There are other villages where He has to do His work. He leaves Nazareth to teach in the surrounding villages. The unbelief closes the manifestation of love only for itself. Love seeks other ways. Christ continues His work elsewhere.

Mark 6:45

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:46

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:47

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:48

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:49

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:50

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:51

Sending Out the Twelve

In His love for the miserable among His people the Lord is going to extend His service by sending out the twelve. He first calls them to Himself. From His presence He begins to send them out two by two. They do not leave on their own initiative. Only when He orders them to go somewhere, they can go. He also provides them with the necessary power over the opposition they will meet. They are sent two by two, that they may testify of Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). He also gives them authority over the unclean spirits. He is the Servant, but He is also God, for the giving of that authority can only be done by Someone Who is God.

They need take nothing but a staff to lean on in their walk. The starting point is this: trust in the mighty protection of Him Who has sent them and that they will lack nothing. He is the sovereign Lord. All things are available to Him.

Wearing sandals means that they will have to walk a lot. In order to do work for the Lord, effort must be made. Spiritually, it means that for this work it is necessary for the feet to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). That is to say, in order to do a work for the Lord, we ourselves must have the peace of the gospel in our hearts and show it in our walk so that we can pass it on wherever He sends us.

They also do not need to take extra precautions against the cold. It is not necessary to have two tunics. Unnecessary luxury is only a hindrance in the work. Service to the Lord is not a holiday trip.

He gives clear orders for the stay. They should not enter somewhere, stay there for a while, and then look for another place to lodge. Such behavior would not speak of inner peace, but of unrest. They can enter a house and they have to stay there until they go to the next town. They do not have to worry about housing. Where the Lord has prepared a heart to receive them, there they can stay.

If it turns out that somewhere they are not welcome and there is no ear that listens to their preaching, they should not stay there any longer. They must shake even the dust of that city from their feet, so that they will not take anything, not even the dust, from it. That will be a testimony against that city because they reject the gospel that is brought to them.

The disciples do what the Lord says. Their first work is to call people to repent. In their preaching they also use the authority they have been given to cast out demons. They also anoint many sick people with oil, possibly as a medicine, but perhaps even more so as a symbolic act that expresses the value of the sick person as a person. Where anointing happens in the New Testament, we see that it happens to honor someone (Luke 7:38; John 12:3), while not anointing is seen as dishonor (Luke 7:46). In the Old Testament, priests, kings, and sometimes prophets are anointed.

The fact that the disciples do this to the sick may mean that those who may be desperate for life are particularly encouraged by this act that they are important to God. They would know in the persons who anoint them that God is after all looking after them. The subsequent healing provides proof of this.

Mark 6:52

Herod Gets Restless

History is interrupted here to present Herod’s response to the works of the disciples in the Name of the Lord. In this way it is made clear in what kind of world the servants who have just been sent by the Lord Jesus are doing their service. It is a world in which evil powers are in control.

Herod is an instrument in the hand of satan. He is also under the power of his own carnal lusts. We see in him what the world is made of. He also has a conscience. The Name of the Lord is a blessing for some, while he is a threat to others. The latter is the case with Herod.

When he hears the Name that has become revealed from the works of the disciples, all kinds of suggestions come up. There are those who connect the powers that Christ does with a John the baptist raised from the dead. Others believe Elijah has come and is at work. Still others have the explanation that it is just another prophet, as there have been so many. All suggestions are based on the imagination of the spirit of people who have heard something, but have never examined Scripture themselves.

To Herod, however, it is certain that John himself is at work. To him, it cannot be otherwise than that John the baptist, whom he has beheaded, has risen. Although an executioner beheaded John (Mark 6:27), Herod knows that he actually did it himself, because he is the commissioner. He may have silenced John, but not his conscience, because that speaks.

Mark 6:53

Herod Gets Restless

History is interrupted here to present Herod’s response to the works of the disciples in the Name of the Lord. In this way it is made clear in what kind of world the servants who have just been sent by the Lord Jesus are doing their service. It is a world in which evil powers are in control.

Herod is an instrument in the hand of satan. He is also under the power of his own carnal lusts. We see in him what the world is made of. He also has a conscience. The Name of the Lord is a blessing for some, while he is a threat to others. The latter is the case with Herod.

When he hears the Name that has become revealed from the works of the disciples, all kinds of suggestions come up. There are those who connect the powers that Christ does with a John the baptist raised from the dead. Others believe Elijah has come and is at work. Still others have the explanation that it is just another prophet, as there have been so many. All suggestions are based on the imagination of the spirit of people who have heard something, but have never examined Scripture themselves.

To Herod, however, it is certain that John himself is at work. To him, it cannot be otherwise than that John the baptist, whom he has beheaded, has risen. Although an executioner beheaded John (Mark 6:27), Herod knows that he actually did it himself, because he is the commissioner. He may have silenced John, but not his conscience, because that speaks.

Mark 6:54

Herod Gets Restless

History is interrupted here to present Herod’s response to the works of the disciples in the Name of the Lord. In this way it is made clear in what kind of world the servants who have just been sent by the Lord Jesus are doing their service. It is a world in which evil powers are in control.

Herod is an instrument in the hand of satan. He is also under the power of his own carnal lusts. We see in him what the world is made of. He also has a conscience. The Name of the Lord is a blessing for some, while he is a threat to others. The latter is the case with Herod.

When he hears the Name that has become revealed from the works of the disciples, all kinds of suggestions come up. There are those who connect the powers that Christ does with a John the baptist raised from the dead. Others believe Elijah has come and is at work. Still others have the explanation that it is just another prophet, as there have been so many. All suggestions are based on the imagination of the spirit of people who have heard something, but have never examined Scripture themselves.

To Herod, however, it is certain that John himself is at work. To him, it cannot be otherwise than that John the baptist, whom he has beheaded, has risen. Although an executioner beheaded John (Mark 6:27), Herod knows that he actually did it himself, because he is the commissioner. He may have silenced John, but not his conscience, because that speaks.

Mark 6:55

The Testimony of John

It had begun when Herod had had John taken captive and put him in prison. He had done this for the sake of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of his brother Philip, but Herod had taken her and married her. His new marriage did not change the fact that she was “the wife of his brother Philip”. She was and remained so. John had spoken to Herod about his wrongful marriage and told him clearly that this was wrong.

That didn’t please Herodias. John had become someone who had to disappear from her life because of his condemnation of her marriage. But she did not have the authority to do so.

God had arranged for John to have access to Herod’s court. We see here an example that the Word reaches the conscience even where we least would have expected it. We also see here that an unconverted person can listen with reverence when the Word of God is brought. We also see that conscience remains active even when a person does not repent.

Herod had respect for what John said, also because John lived up to what he said. Herod knew him as a righteous and holy man. Out of a sense of reverence he protected John, without doing anything with what John said, although he was addressed and even liked to hear John. But the man was too much of a prisoner of his morally unrighteous and wicked life and of the distinguished position he held. It costs him too much to give that up.

Mark 6:56

The Testimony of John

It had begun when Herod had had John taken captive and put him in prison. He had done this for the sake of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of his brother Philip, but Herod had taken her and married her. His new marriage did not change the fact that she was “the wife of his brother Philip”. She was and remained so. John had spoken to Herod about his wrongful marriage and told him clearly that this was wrong.

That didn’t please Herodias. John had become someone who had to disappear from her life because of his condemnation of her marriage. But she did not have the authority to do so.

God had arranged for John to have access to Herod’s court. We see here an example that the Word reaches the conscience even where we least would have expected it. We also see here that an unconverted person can listen with reverence when the Word of God is brought. We also see that conscience remains active even when a person does not repent.

Herod had respect for what John said, also because John lived up to what he said. Herod knew him as a righteous and holy man. Out of a sense of reverence he protected John, without doing anything with what John said, although he was addressed and even liked to hear John. But the man was too much of a prisoner of his morally unrighteous and wicked life and of the distinguished position he held. It costs him too much to give that up.