This is a copy of my talk given at Ayia Kyriaki and Saint Stephen’s in the Anglican Church of Paphos on Sunday 21 July 2024. The Bible reading was Mark 6:30-34 & 53-56

Prayer

Heavenly Father
I thank You for Your word
By the power of the Holy Spirit
May You speak to my heart
And change my life
In the precious name of Jesus I pray
Amen.

Introduction

Today’s Gospel reading is an interesting one. And by interesting, I mean if you weren’t listening carefully, you may have missed it! For those that listened intently, you were probably waiting for something to happen that never did. That was certainly my first reaction when I read it! The Gospel reading are the verses immediately preceding and following two miracle stories, The Feeding Of The 5000 and Walking On Water.

I never understand the mind of the Lectionary Committee in what they leave in or out! Sometimes it doesn’t make sense. That is theologian NT Wright’s view, when he comments: Like an art thief taking the canvas but leaving the woodwork, today’s Gospel omits the story, replacing it next week with someone else’s version and leaves the framework. No comment! 

But that’s where I disagree with NT Wright! These verses from Mark 6:30-34 & 53-56 are often seen as an introduction or an afterthought. But today the Lectionary calls them into focus (when they could be lost in the midst of the miracle stories), and they reveal the compassion of Jesus.

  1. A Solitary Place

Remember how earlier in Mark 6, Jesus had sent out the apostles two by two. They preached repentance, drove out demons, healed the sick and spoke about Jesus the Messiah. Here we read how The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 

We’re not really told how long this took or how many people they met along the way. But I’m guessing quite a few were curious enough about Jesus to want to go see him for themselves. Perhaps this is why so many people were around when they returned to report back. But, even with all the opportunities before them, Jesus says to his disciples: Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So, they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  

Jesus knew what his disciples needed. They needed a quiet place to rest. This is the origin of the Christian practice of making a retreat. Brother Ramon, an Anglican Franciscan from Glasshampton Monastery, suggests:

A retreat does not mean running from the difficulties and responsibilities of life, but rather withdrawing from their immediate and insistent claims in order to be totally available to God. This calls for a certain passivity, receptivity and letting go, in a place of comparative solitude and silence, so that the interior Word may be heard in the depths of your being.

Imagine the alternative. Imagine the disciples serving people faithfully, hour after hour, so that they didn’t have time to eat or rest. How long could they keep that up? There’s a reason God has given us a cycle of day and night, work and rest. There’s a reason he commanded us to ‘Remember the Sabbath day.’ Our shepherd knows that his sheep need regular rest – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our souls need time to listen to our Shepherd’s voice.

When we don’t make time for regular rest, or when our schedule is too busy, what often happens?  We focus more and more on just getting things done, trying to check things off our ‘to-do’ list.  “I’ve got to do this, then I’ve got to do that …”  All our attention goes to what needs to be done and not to why we do it. There is always the risk of ‘burn out’. This is always a danger in the church and for those serving the church – not just clergy. We risk losing both the joy of service and the purpose of service. So, Jesus says: Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place.

  1. Sheep Without A Shepherd

We see Jesus’ great shepherding care in vs33-34: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began teaching them many things. Jesus was moved to compassion when he sees the people wandering like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus is saying:

I am your shepherd, and you are my sheep. You are mine. I will lay down my life for you. I will supply your every need. I am your defence and your protection. You are safe with me. 

Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd

People in Jesus’ day were sadly not being fed with God’s Word. Instead, the message was more about man-made laws and self-righteousness. They were ‘like sheep without a shepherd.’

Many of these people followed Jesus more to see a miracle than to learn from him. In fact, like a shepherd would, he was moved to compassion and jumped at the chance to speak into their lives. And what did he to do shepherd them?

  1. He Taught Them Many Things!

He began teaching them many things! He taught them about the Kingdom of God. He feeds his sheep with his Word, restoring our souls (Psalm 23) that we might truly live for him and find our purpose each day in him. He doesn’t remove all trials and afflictions from their lives. He doesn’t shepherd them by healing all their diseases and pains. He doesn’t shepherd them by lavishing upon them whatever they ask for with a magical shepherd’s staff. No – when Jesus had a crowd of sheep without a shepherd, he taught them about the Kingdom of God. Matthew 7:29: … the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

This speaks volumes as to the importance of God’s Word in our discipleship and how Jesus shepherds us! These are not just words, not mere teaching, but Jesus’ saving Word! This is the voice of your shepherd as he rescues you! The Word is his shepherd’s rod and staff. This Word is his warning cry and his watchful eye! This Word is his comforting embrace! This Word is his guiding footstep! Without his Word, we too are like sheep without a shepherd.

The late American evangelist Billy Graham once said:

Millions of people today are searching for a reliable voice of authority. The Word of God is the only real authority we have. His Word sheds light on human nature, world problems and human suffering. But beyond that, it clearly reveals the way to God. The message of the Bible is the message of Jesus Christ who said: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). 

On the Alpha Course, when it comes to the session on how God guides us through the Bible, I often say:

Find a version you will enjoy reading: There are many different versions available – one to suit every taste.

Plan ahead: Set time aside to read and get into a regular pattern.

Place: Go to somewhere quiet here there are no distractions.

Method: The Bible is not a book of abstract philosophy – it is a book about life and people in real situations. As we open our lives to the Bible’s message, we can expect God to guide us (1 Samuel 3:10; Revelation 1:3). There will be passages that puzzle us, so use Bible reading notes to help you understand and/or join the Bible study group in September.

Ask: Ask God to speak to you as you read the passage. What does it say?  What does it mean?  What is obscure in one part of the Bible may be made clear in another. To interpret the Bible by the Bible means that we must not set one passage of the Bible against another passage. Aim for a full and balanced appreciation of all that the Bible teaches on any given topic.

Read prayerfully: The Bible isn’t simply an interesting book to read, it’s a book to become involved with. It deals with issues that vitally concern your life, character, spiritual development and, in many ways, destiny.

Put it into practise: As we read the Bible, we will be challenged, surprised, even shocked by some of the events/teachings that act as warnings within its pages. God’s word ‘cuts to the heart’ as it were because it’s counterculture.

All of these suggestions sound like a prescription, don’t they? A prescription for understanding God’s word. Perhaps I should add: Take a minimum of twice daily!

Why do we read it? Why should we read it! We read it because it’s often a gateway into the heart of God. This collection of literature with incredible variety and texture, written across centuries has woven through it the message of a generous extravagant God who delights in each one of us. It’s a book that has the amazing power to come and find us on which ever page we choose to read. It reminds us that God has met with ordinary people and has been present throughout history, and that at the center of history he gave us the gift of his son, an example to follow and a Saviour to trust in, who laid down his life for his friends. 

No one factor, it seems to me, is more influential in shaping a person’s moral, social, ethical and Christian behaviour than regular Bible reading. And that is why Jesus began teaching them many things. 

Conclusion

It’s been a busy season at the Galilean seashore. Comings and goings, revival meetings, feedings, exorcisms, and healings of one sort of another. Jesus, it seems to me, is never content simply to remain where he is. He is always ‘crossing over’ to a new territory. And this isn’t simply geographic traversing. He crosses social boundaries as well, conversing with leader and peasant, man, and woman, alike.

Most of the early chapters of Mark’s Gospel describe Jesus’ moving between the familiar and expected haunts of a teacher of his stature and the unfamiliar and foreign lands of those who are different than his own people. As the reading from Ephesians 2:12-13 reminded us: … remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

One thing remains constant across Jesus’ travels: He meets all those in need and restores them, bringing God’s abundance to them wherever they are by showing his compassionate heart for those who are sheep without a shepherd.

May we, too, have a similar heart of compassion for those we know who are like sheep without a shepherd – family, friends and neighbours. And may we, too, be able to share something of how God’s word has spoken into, and changed, our lives.

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author, Revd Paul A. Carr. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name.