"From the Pulpit" - reflections on the weekly texts, from Pastor Greg at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Vero Beach, FL
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
A Day at the Lake
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the LORD Jesus Christ.
What do you think of when you hear that term - a day at the lake? Maybe a nice quiet time with the family, the kids? Leisurely laying around on the shore as the kids play in the water? Renting a canoe or a kayak? A picnic lunch?
I'm guessing that for this particular crowd, this particular day in 1st century Palestine, a day at the lake was anything but relaxing. The lake, by the way, is the Sea of Galilee, often referred to as a lake because it's not really that big. More on this later.
Jesus, knowing that the disciples were exhausted from their ministering with Jesus (read Chapter 5 and the first 29 verses of Chapter 6), and invites them for some rest in a "deserted place by themselves" - on the other side of the lake (the Sea of Galilee.) I mean, if you've been on a mission trip or done work with those in need, you know how exhausting it can be, and how tired you are after it's over.
But what happens next? People saw Jesus and the disciples get into the boat and begin crossing over to the other side. If you've been to the Sea of Galilee, you'll know it's not really that big. About 12 miles or so from top to bottom, and about 7 miles wide. Sea? Lake? But here's the thing. Mark says that many who saw them recognized them (Jesus and his disciples) and hurried there on foot, and arrived there ahead of them. Ahead of the guys in the boat!!! Which means that many of them ran around the lake, and arrived ahead of the disciples, who were paddling across the lake (Sea of Galilee.) In other words, many ran to the other side of the lake. Ran. To the other side of the lake. And beat Jesus and his disciples. Think about that. It was likely miles!
Why would they have run so fast and so far for them? What was their motivation? Why would they have been willing to run until they're completely exhausted, just to see or touch Jesus? You can imagine this scene that Mark is describing. Probably families, with kids, all moving to get a glimpse of Jesus. To get a chance to see him. To touch his robe. To be healed by him or one of his disciples. This was serious business for these people.
We don't have to stretch our imaginations to think of what this "day at the lake" must have been like for those Mark is describing here. We see this same thing played out on our screens every day, in places like our southern border. Or in Gaza/Palestine. Or in Ukraine. Or Sudan, or a million other places around our world where people are on the move. On the move to get away from something. Oppression. War. Famine. Lack of work. Money. Their entire worldly possessions on their backs, or on a tote, or animal of burden. With nothing. Except hope. Seeking something better than what they're leaving behind.
And so we can only imagine what these people "on the lake" this day were willing to give up just to get a glimpse of Jesus. To hear him offer words of hope. Of restoration. Of grace. Of healing. Just to hear his voice, for Pete's sake! And those few who got to touch the hem of his robe...you can only imagine what that might have been like for them. A real miracle. Just like the feeding of the 5,000. Or the raising of Lazarus. Or the restoration of sight to the blind. Or more.
As I think about our gospel for this Sunday, I can't help but think that in some ways, we are both the disciples, and the folks on the side of the lake, willing to do anything to get healing, and receive hope again, or maybe for the first time. We're like the disciples, who, called in our baptism to bring healing to the world in the name of Jesus, do so so often and so well. But we also are exhausted by our work. We're in need of rest. Of healing. Of time to get away from this exhausting work.
And we're in some way, just like those folks who ran around the lake just to get a glimpse of Jesus. We are in need of his healing. His power of forgiveness. And restoration. And we'll do just about anything to get it. Because we know that it is only in Christ our LORD that all of these things are possible.
So, as we contemplate our own mortality, as we reflect on our own need for Christ in our lives, take that imaginative journey around that lake. Be there when Jesus arrives. Be open to his healing. Be open to the possibility that you may get to touch the hem of his garment, and in that touch, be restored yourself. Because Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, never tires of finding the lost sheep, and bringing them back to the sheepfold. Jesus never tires of seeing one of his flock restored to themselves and their community.
So, today, tomorrow, or any time we need Jesus in our lives, remember that he's just a quick trip around the lake away. And he'll be there for you. Energized and ready to heal, to restore, to embrace you in his loving arm. Amen? Amen.
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