May 5

Mark 6:45-8:26 We are in the Christ Stream reading more about the miracles of Jesus. We are reading from The Living Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis <blockquote>Jesus - you certainly show your wonderful deeds for us.  You feed and heal and instruct and love and welcome all who will come.  Thank you for being so marvelous <u>and</u> so loving. We wholeheartedly thank you. Amen.</blockquote> <div><strong>Jesus is now into his second full year of ministry.  From the feeding of the 5,000 (last story we read last week), to the final story today, (the healing of the blind man) this is an 8-month period. It is spent much in Galilee, Herod's jurisdiction, and the wonders of Jesus are making an eternal impression on many Greeks and Greek-speaking people as well. </strong> <div>6:45ff The theme of Mark is "Jesus the Wonderful" and we certainly read of this today.  His walking on water is universal proof that this is God's message bearer to us even to those who can't bring themselves to surrender to Him as of yet. Walking on water is deity in action. He enters the boat and the storm calms immediately. Remember, that Jesus sent them on ahead and they are caught in contrary winds that have them basically rowing in place through most of the night.  Jesus comes, all is calm and they proceed. Perhaps this is a good place to make a devotional point --> in evaluation of this story, "if we try to go on ahead without Jesus, we will likely find ourselves in a storm that we cannot deal with, and wasting our energy." We don't want to parse that illustration in a myriad of ways but it seems to be a helpful dab of wisdom.  They soon land on shore and Jesus is healing EVERYONE he touches. Imagine the joy that was raging through the countryside like a wind of happiness!</div> <div>Perhaps the day ended and the disciples -part elated, part in shock- and by nightfall they're thinking, "uh, let's stay with Jesus, avoid the storms, and watch all the wonders, eh?"</