A New Way of Life (Mark 6:45-56)

How is Jesus a new way of life for us? How can we experience his presence in our midst, especially in the midst of struggles and challenges? How do we escape from troubles after troubles? Is it preventive? Or, must we go through? Who can rescue us from dangers and difficulties? Physical pains, mental depression, uncertainty in the future, etc., etc. All kinds of relationship issues between husband and wife, among families, with collegues and neighbors. Can we handle the incessable desire and passion of wanting something more in body and soul? We’re under pressure in every way, living in like a time bomb that at any moment can explode, tearing down the peaceable time and space into pieces. Jesus calls this world as an adulterous and wicked generation (Mark 8:38). It is difficult and challenging! But thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is keeping and protecting us safe and secure no matter what. In love and grace, he cares for us as his dear children. In mercy and compassion, he protects us from the evil one. In love, he disciplines us to be equipped and molded like him. Most of all, he is teaching and revealing us a new way of living in him. Complete and total dependence on him is the goal. In this story of Jesus’ walking on the water tells how to live a new life in Christ. It is a resurrection life, the eternal life. God never wants us to be bound in chains and slavery but to be free indeed in him as Jesus demonstrated the life, walking on the water. No wind nor storm could hinder him at all. He even talked to the wind to quite down and it listened and obeyed him in fear and trembling. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. 

“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Mark 6:45-56)

Water is hostile to man, especially raging waters with gusty winds. It is hazardous to man when storms rise and the strong winds blow. We can’t stay long in the water, even if no storms around. The disciples are quite used to the waters for they used to be fishermen in the Lake Galilee. However, still the raging waters are scaring them a great deal on the night when they were sent out into the boat ahead of the Lord Jesus. During that day, they had witnessed a great miracle of feeding five thousands with five loaves and two fish. It is an amazing and impressing moment to witness such a wonderful miracle of Jesus. However, the amazement of the miracle is long gone and fizzled because of the windy storm. Now they are straining and struggling a great deal to go through. That’s life. Is it not? 

It seems life is tough and difficult. True. I believe it never meant to be easygoing to all mankind. One challenge after another. One trouble after another. One obstacle after another. Sometimes double or triple storms at the same period of time. It never get easy but tougher get going. The disciples of Jesus aren’t exception. But when they bump into troubles, what help is available? Jesus Christ is the help only. Nothing can help the problem of ours. Humans cannot help others although they say they can. Materials cannot help humans although it seems likely so temptingly. Drugs cannot help at all but make worse. Only God is our help in time of trouble. And he makes the ends meet sufficiently and adequately. Our God is compassionate and merciful and willing to help the poor and the needy. He is no delay to reach out his hands for help. God tells Abraham that he protects and rewards him when he is going through the troublesome time. In fact, only he can to all man.

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

How does Jesus help his disciples? Jesus walks on the water to reach out to them. This is entirely new in history. No one had been walking on the water and will. No wonder the disciples think that it is a ghost. They are even more terrified seeing some moving object in the likeness of man on the water. They had never seen such a thing before. They can never imagine it is Jesus walking on the water. That is how God sends his help. Unexpected, unpresented, unforeseen, unimaginable, unthinkable, unorthodox it is. Our God has eternal different and unimaginable way of helping us out. Walking on the water indicates that Jesus has already reigning and controlling the nature. He is stepping down on it. The raging waters cannot hinder nor harm him. Not a bit. The gushing winds cannot scare nor fright him at all. Instead, they are in fact obeying and submitting him in terror. That is how God led his people out of bondage and slavery from Egypt to the land of promise.

“The waters saw you, God,

the waters saw you and writhed;

the very depths were convulsed.

The clouds poured down water,

the heavens resounded with thunder;

your arrows flashed back and forth.

Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,

your lightning lit up the world;

the earth trembled and quaked.

Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen.” (Psalm 77:16-19)

No one can fathom how deep and high the divine wisdom of God. No Moses nor Joshua could break the iron grip of King Pharaoh. But God demonstrated that he was able to deliver his people just as he had promised to a man of faith, Abraham. God carried them out of the land of chains on eagle’s wings (Exodus 19:4). God unleashes his mighty power and authority to deliver us from storms and winds. No one can resist or fight against the rage waters and gushing winds. Mother nature unbridles its power and mightiness, bringing down much havoc and destruction of homes, lands, and lives of man. However, God restrains the nature and it pays careful attention to and obeys him without any reservations. 

In time of pain and suffering, God defends us for his name’s sake. So, we believe in him, trusting in the promise of deliverance. Let him defend for us. Because we cannot defend ourselves. In vain is our efforts and struggles in time of pain. God is ready to do his work unexpectedly, suddenly, and divinely. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we pray. He is invisible yet powerful enough to bind up the opponent, the devil called Satan and rescue his prisoners. “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. “ (Luke 11:21-22) No power can do that. No authority is able to release the captives in the dungeon. Any organization or institution is far short of doing such an impossible task. No wisdom of man is intelligent enough to find the cause of man’s inability and incapability of helping out humans themselves. It is a mystery, the mystery of man. Only God can reveal the mystery what it is and why it is and how it is. 

Therefore, in time of pain and suffering, we will need a divine intervention to break out the deeply rooted stubbornness and troublesomeness within. Because no human mind, wisdom, experience, nor career and achievements can do that. The sin within attacks brutally and viciously, seizing the opportunity triggered by storms and winds in our midst. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Such an attack usually causes depression, meaninglessness, powerlessness, emptiness, and inappropriateness. We fail and experience the sense of inadequacy often. We sigh over and over again, desperately wanting to know how to be fit and adequate to all challenges and obstacles of lives. 

Jesus is our help, only hand adequate and appropriate for any and all troubles of man. Walking on the water is the way. It is a new way of life. Reign and cope with the lives of one pain after another. Eternal life it is. The resurrection life it is. Yes, walking on the water indicates the new life after the death of the old self. The old has gone, the new is, Paul says. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) It is a new creation in Christ Jesus the Lord. So, it works entirely different from the old way of living. We used to strive hard pressed to achieve something in life and in church. Sense of inadequacy pops up and haunts us down. Thus, we contend harder to be adequate and sufficient to make the ends meet. It is not working and never will. We know that. 

The old self must die first. Otherwise, no new life comes in and takes charge. Jesus sets the example how it works. He never deserved to die. He is the Judge, only the rightful one. He could have gone back to the Father instantly like he was transfigured on the mountain right before Peter, John and James. Instead, he came down from the mountain and took up the cross of suffering and humiliation in our place. He bled and died for the sin of the world. He was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. On the third day, according to the Scriptures, as he had told his disciples, he has risen from the dead. God made the Son as firstfruits of the resurrection. No death, no resurrection. No disappearance of the old life, no new life. 

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

March 29, 2019

© 2018-2019 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved. 

Jesus, the Bread of Life (Mark 6:30-44)

How does man live? What is the essential thing for life? How are we going to calm down the incessable desires to have more? Is it a way out of this seemingly boundless covertness hidden deep inside in mankind? Where can we find out the ultimate settlement in body and soul? Where is not found cries and yearnings? Could we pass one day without making a cry of sigh? Here is a passage in the tiny corner of the Scripture which tells of the true bread of life, Jesus Christ. He fed so many people with five loaves and two fish. It just reminds of Moses’ time when the manna fell down from heaven to feed over two million people daily for forty years during the wilderness wandering. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” God feeds man and all his creatures in the universe. He provides the needs because he knows exactly what they are in need. Rain falls down and sun shines on the earth to produce grains, vegetables, and fruits. He gives not only in the physical aspect of life, but in the realm of soul which is far more significant and affective. What are we in need? Food and shelter. Of course, but much more than that. How do we subdue things like anxiety, fear, guilt, worries, etc? The burden and pressure of our lives are tremendous and unfathomable. Christ Jesus meets our needs indeed because he is compassionate and merciful that he died for our guilts and sins. Jesus is a way out because he paid the price on our behalf. Whosoever comes and believes in him shall have eternal life. The good news is in our midst because Jesus is available anywhere and whenever in spirit. He is the bread of life for all who believes in him.

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘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. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 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. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. ‘This is a remote place,’ they said, ‘and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.’ But he answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?’ ‘How many loaves do you have?’ he asked. ‘Go and see.’ When they found out, they said, ‘Five—and two fish.’ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.” (Mark 6:30-44)

First, people are hungry and thirsty. For what? Everything. When the Son of Man was speaking the words and healing the sick, people were astonished and began to follow him everywhere he went. Economically difficult in the first century? Yes. How about politically? Crucially difficult. There were lots of challenges and struggles for the people just like us. As Jews they were, they had Tora, worship, sacrifices, promise, and the patriarchs. They had a lasting legacy which they cherished as the treasured traditions. Those were the pillars and backbones of their society. 

However, something’s missing and lacking severely. They did not recognize the promised Messiah though he was seen plainly everyday before their eyes and minds. What’s the problem? They were busy-minded, being stricken and overwhelmed by day-to-day things which should have been done. Paying the bills, taking care of kids, dealing with health issues, the burden and pressure of lives were crushing them down. The newspaper headlines were all depressing and shockingly despicable. So are these days. No difference at all. Precisely the same. Injustice and immorality are everywhere in our cities and communities. Though church buildings are found in every corner, it seems they do nothing for the community. 

In reality and truth, all people is crying and crying over the misery and sorrow they are experiencing and witnessing. In a word, all is in thirst and hunger. The problem is that we do not know what we are thirsty and hungry for. Virtually everything. How daunting and scary it is to quench the thirst of man! Impossible. The people were thronging to Jesus, hoping to find out something missing and lacking in their lives and thus to quench their thirst and fill their hunger. Likewise, people are dashing to someone or something if they think it may possibly give back for them. It would be career, money, or both. People desire to be rich and successful, thinking that it may give and relieve stress and pressure hanging upon their shoulders. People are weary and tired in the first century and in our days as well. 

Second, Jesus is only the one who meets all thirst and hunger for mankind. Jesus is compassionate on the people in the solitary place, a wilderness where Jesus wanted to have rest with his disciples. Jesus is compassionate because the people are like without a shepherd. Jesus is always compassionate and merciful for all people because they are like without a true shepherd. Shepherd feeds sheep, leading them into green pastures and protecting them from the ferocious wolves. 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

How has our Lord Jesus become a true shepherd for man? Jesus fed five thousands with five loaves and two fish. He broke the bread again and again until all the people in the remote place had been filled and satisfied in full. It was out of nowhere in the wilderness. But the food was abundantly supplied to make ends meet. How could it be? The Father in heaven outpoured them in response to the Son’s prayer. It is a picture, showing that God’s blessings is coming down on people through the Son Jesus Christ. 

Why only through Jesus Christ does God’s blessing come down from heaven? Because Jesus paid the price with his own blood. God’s love has been rekindled by the blood of Jesus. God is giving eternal life to those who keep on believing in the Son. In order to give life, Jesus broke his body to the point of death. He is the bread of life. He says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) What man really hungers and thirsts is not material things in the world, but God alone. Man is made in God’s image and his likeness. That is why. Our food, the real food cannot be something from this world, even the silver and gold. That is why tremendous achievements and success do not quench the thirst of man. 

Things in the world could be glittering and charming and even tempting. Yes, they seem to be like solving the problem of our hunger and thirst. Money is one and powerfully seduces many throughout the centuries. Reputation is another and lures many a great deal for the young and old. Recognition is still another and attracts every man and woman. Sex is yet another. However, those things cannot make the ends meet because man is made in God’s image. It seems so, but fails miserably. It seems offering much, but fails with no reservations. So, only things in heaven can make man satisfy and fulfill in the fullness of life. 

How can we obtain things in heaven? It is a hard problem for man. So, God chose his Son to be the price to redeem man from the fall and the lost. No man can find a way out from darkness, a mystery of darkness to where man has been fallen since in Adam. It is not a simple darkness but the dark forces of evil in heaven. It is a real being, the fallen angel who rebelled against God. This angel masqueraded himself as an angle of light and deceived the woman to fall down to death. We weren’t even born when that happened. So, how could we know a way out of darkness? It is impossible. Man doesn’t understand that they are lost and fallen in the darkness. But the fact is all man is fallen and lost as the victims of the malevolent evil one, the devil according to the Scriptures. 

That is why God sent his only Son for the sin of the world to liberate man from the bondage of the devil. No things in the world can win over the devil who is cunning and crafty. He is a liar and the father of lies. No man can win over the devil. So, the destiny of man is doomed except a divine intervention according to the promise of God in the Scriptures. It is that Jesus broke his body on a cross, paying the full ransom price. It was not an afterthought, but meant to be even before the creation of the world. The Son of Man came and bound the devil and finally delivered the prisoners because he is stronger than the evil one. 

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.” (Luke 11:21-22)

The old allegiance for the devil has been broken up and the new one for God has just begun through the death of the Son Jesus Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Whatever we need, Jesus is whatever we need. He is the bread of life. In truth, he lives in us, making his eternal resident in us, the hope of glory. Need love? Jesus is love. Need light? He is light. Need strength and conform? He is. Need forgiving someone? Christ is the life and the resurrection. We don’t walk always in line with the truth revealed but fail over and over again. No, we don’t achieve the goal in a day. Rather, it is a lifelong process, learning that we are eternally inadequate how to handle lives. It is the full submission to the Lord Jesus Christ just like he did to the Father in heaven. Because the Son of Man on the earth was in the likeness of man. He was tired and thirsty and hungry as well. He slept at night. He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness forty days and nights. He was poor and broke. So, the Son of Man depended everything on the Father from A to Z. He believed that the Father would feed five thousands. Jesus believed that God the Father would act out of his infinite mercy and compassion as he prayed. Jesus had nothing in the world, but everything in the Father. He remained completely selfless, always being in the Father and he in the Son. He even gave up his life to the Father. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

So do we. We do not have anything dependable, being broke in entirety. The Scripture calls man in Adam the wicked and corrupt, so were we by nature deserving of wrath. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:1-3) But in his great mercy, God raised us up from the dead, making alive with Christ. We have been saved by grace. Also, God seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6). For what? “…in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7) In Christ, now we have what it takes. It is him who indwells in us by means of the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, we do not live by sight, but by faith. Because it is not done by works. We had nothing to deserve his grace. Still, we don’t have anything to deserve his grace. We simply trust and believe in him. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) That is it. Keep on believing and we will keep on living his life, the eternal life. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) We are not here on earth by accident. We are not here to hunger and thirst endlessly. We are here for purpose to do his work which is to love and forgive one another with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ the Lord. We are here to learn how to handle lives in Christ. That is to submit ourselves to the Lord as he did to the Father from A to Z. 

March 8, 2019

© 2018-2019 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.