Mark 6:30-34 & Ephesians 2:13-18 (Sermon for the week of July 23)

Mk 6:30-34
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,“Come away by yourselves
to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves
to a deserted place. People saw them leaving
and many came to know about it. They hastened
there on foot from all the townsand arrived at the
place before them.When he disembarked and saw
the vast crowd,his heart was moved with pity for
them,for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.

SERMON:

These verses show us what great compassion Jesus has for those who are hungry for truth. Even though He was tired, Jesus never rejected those who came to Him because He knew they did not have a shepherd or anywhere else to go. This is what He meant by “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5). Those who followed after Jesus were those who were spiritually bankrupt and needed a Shepherd to give them hope and direction. This could not come from any one else, only Jesus. Jesus never rejected the crowds of people who constantly surrounded Him because He knew this was His purpose: to gather His sheep.

In the book of Genesis Jacob prophesies over Judah: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come: and unto him shall the gathering of the people be”(Gen. 49:10 KJV).

Shiloh (meaning, to whom dominon belongs) is Jesus and He comes out of the line of Judah, making Him a Jew. Those who came to Jesus during His ministry were all Jews. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who comes from Judah.

The first time He comes He fulfills the Law and gathers His sheep (the Church).
The second time Jesus comes He fulfills the scepter and gather the nations to Himself.

Jesus is not only the Shepherd over the Jews but He is also the Good Shepherd over the House of Israel. Joseph’s sons are the head of the House of Israel. Jacob prophesies over Joseph (Judah’s brother): “from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel” (Gen. 49:24). Jesus is the Shepherd, and the Shepherd is the Stone of Israel. Jesus preached peace to those who were afar off (Gentiles) and peace to those who were near (Jews). First to the Jew, then to the Gentile. By the precious blood of Jesus that was poured out for us and His flesh that was torn, both Jew and Gentile can now draw near to their Shepherd as One Body who is His Church. The two become one. Jesus was always the Shepherd who led the House of Israel (Gentiles after captivity) and the House of Judah (called Jews after captivity), but now both could have access to the Father through the Spirit of God who draws them. We are no longer enemies with God, because Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law and ushered in a New Covenant through His death and resurrection.

Final Reading:

Eph 2:13-18
Brothers and sisters: In Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity,
through his flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus said, “ I AM, the good Shepherd, and I lay down My life for My sheep” (John 10:11).

God bless you and your family this week.
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