We read this week about more miracles and healings, and also more conflicts with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Both miracles and conflicts seem to increase in number and magnitude, and Jesus ends this week knowing that his time is near.
Jesus begins this week’s passages with the healing of two blind men and a demon possessed man. He and the disciples find, again, that a prophet is “not without honor” except in his home country (Mark 6:4). All the disciples, not just the twelve, are sent out to preach, to heal, and to cast out demons.
Soon after this, Jesus hears of the death of his cousin John the Baptist. He took a small chance to retreat and mourn, but a massive crowd followed Jesus wherever he went and he ended up feeding 5,000 of them with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Incidentally, this is the only miracle that is recorded in all four gospels. Jesus retreats to pray again, but sees his buddies floundering in a storm. He walks to them on the water, and once again, "they were completely astonished” (Mk 6:51).
Ya think?
The Pharisees challenge almost everything Jesus says, and they go toe to toe several times over the interpretation of the Law. As God has said before, what is important is not the sacrifice, or the following of the letter of the Law, but the heart behind it.
A Canaanite woman, one of the many Undesirables according to Jewish tradition, comes to ask Jesus’ help for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus refuses at first; He says He has come only to help the Jews. That’s a strange answer, considering that by this time He has healed the servant of a Roman centurion and had a conversation with the woman at the well. She must have heard about this strange man Jesus, because she challenges him. “You have come to feed the children, but even the dogs get crumbs that fall from the children’s table,” she replies. I can see Jesus laughing as he concedes her point. Her faith, greater than that of so many of the children, brings healing to her daughter. From here Jesus goes on to feed a crowd of 4,000 (not to be confused with the 5,000 he fed earlier--the details are different, and Matthew and Mark tell both stories).
More rumors have been circulating about Jesus’ identity. He has the audacity to claim that God is actually His Father. Herod, who had John the Baptist beheaded, was afraid that Jesus was John come back from the grave and wanted to meet him. Others were saying that Jesus was Elijah or another prophet. Peter sets the record straight, stating “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16, KJV). Of course, in true Peter fashion, the very next thing that happens is that Jesus tells them He will die and Peter says he will do anything to prevent this happening. “Get thee behind me, Satan!” Jesus shouts at Peter (Matt 16:23). He’s having quite a day! In one final act of confirmation, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John onto a mountain and he is Transfigured. The three men see Moses and Elisha and hear the voice of God say, “This is My beloved Son...listen to Him” (Matt 17:5).
Of course, this further proof does nothing to improve Jesus’ standing in the Pharisees’ eyes. Jesus goes secretly to a feast in Jerusalem, listening to people talk about him, wondering about his identity and his origins. “I thought the Messiah was supposed to come from Bethlehem. Jesus is from Nazareth.” He must have chuckled at that one. The speculation drives some to love Him more, and the more the people adore and follow Him, the angrier the Pharisees become. Jesus knows this. He senses the plot thickening.
But it is not yet His time.
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