The Good Shepherd | Mark 6:33–34

33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Jesus and His disciples seek out a deserted place near the Sea of Galilee for a needed reprieve.  As they set sail, people in nearby towns recognized them and followed along the shoreline.  Perhaps Jesus and the disciples faced a headwind, and the younger of the Galileans ran ahead, but a crowd begins to form ahead of where they come ashore.  While some might be irritated or discouraged by a gathering in what was supposed to be an area of desolation, Jesus is moved to compassion.

Jesus is moved to compassion because they are like sheep without a shepherd.  The Lord chooses to show compassion on whomever He chooses (Ex 33:19), and we’ve seen Him move because of it (Mark 1:41).  Yet, Jesus’s heart is moved here because they lack someone to lead them (cf. Nm 27:16–17).  This is somewhat an indictment of the failed spiritual leadership in Israel.  It also looked forward to the reality of Christ’s character:

Jesus is moved to compassion because He is the Good Shepherd to His sheep.  In this desolate place, Jesus is about to feed the five thousand rather than send them away hungry (vv. 36–37.  Their true need is spiritual, however, and He grants it through His teaching (v. 34).  He will later say, “I am the good shepherd… [who] lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11), and, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (v. 28).


The Good Shepherd has compassion on His flock.  Ezekiel 34 condemns the lack of spiritual shepherding, but it also promises that Lord Himself will search out His sheep (v. 11).  Whenever they are in desolate places, His sheep will instead find green, grazing pastures (v. 14).  Know the only, true Shepherd, and praise Him for His provision.

Popular posts from this blog

RE: "Pastor Dayna Muldoon EXPOSED"

Image
It enough to make your heart ache.  "Pastor" Dayna Muldoon  has been pitching her tent in Florida, and like Todd Bentley before , false claims to miracles, healing, and prophecies litter her campsites. This video of a Calvary Chapel pastor exposing her as a false prophet has been appearing in various places, and its been uploaded to YouTube multiple times.  Even Todd Friel got animated about this , and nothing gets him hyper. Here's the deal: Muldoon set up her tent-meetings right down the road from Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg , peeking the interests of many attending the church.  When they listened to the message she presented, however, they found it not to be the Gospel, but instead the typical narcissistic message of health and blessings from God. This is coming from a Calvary Chapel crew, folks that are typically non-cessationists themselves.  Many churches, including this particular Calvary Chapel , host after-glow services where one expects similar claims
Click to read more...

Was Rebekah a child when she married Isaac?

Did Isaac marry a three-year-old?  If you've never pondered this question, it's because nothing in the straightforward reading of the text would suggest that Rebekah was a toddler or that their marriage was arranged. Even so, a couple of verses out of context could be used by skeptics to prove anything.  While perusing the web for a related topic, however, I found a thread stating that the Bible isn't against the raping of children .  The cited evidence was this issue, the claim being that Isaac engaged in pedophilia. The question comes from the fact that Genesis 22:23 announces the birth of Rebekah after the binding of Isaac.  Tradition states that Isaac was then thirty-seven, and Scripture says that the two wed when Isaac was forty (Gn 25:20).  Hence, Isaac robbed the cradle. The whole theory is fraught with assumptions, the primary being that Scripture never records a age marker for Rebekah.  Further complicating the matter, however, is Jewish tradition, which spe
Click to read more...

MacArthur: Calvinism in a Nutshell

Image
From YouTube: Calvinism (Also know by Doctrines of Grace or Reformed theology) John MacArthur use Romans 8:28-30 as main text. The five points of calvinism are Total depravity (total inability), Unconditional election, Limited atonement (Also called particular redemption or definite atonement), Irresistible grace (also called efficacious grace), and Perseverance of the saints. Full sermon http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-427 Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. And these whom He predestined, He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified. And these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Click to read more...