Mark chapter six is so long and filled with so much and I found a few gems to grow from.

Jesus used truth, example and assignment to build into the lives of His disciples with the end goal of them being a people of faith, hope and love.

Imagine going back to your hometown – definitely unpredictable and most likely impossible. Jesus took them there to show them how some of their assignments might end up.

First thing – sharing the gospel with family has been something I have noted before and others have as well. Here are the results. So while we do, we also learn what rejection looks like. If you remember the last visit – they wanted to throw Jesus off a cliff. So when He arrives there are no crowds or people waiting for Him. There is no one glad to see Him. He has to wait for Saturday in order to speak to people at the temple.

They acknowledge the wisdom and power but they cannot see the truth of who He is. The only thing they see is His family relations. Funny thing about their logic – they think Jesus is trying to be more than He really is. The call to repent is actually quite offensive. This sounds so familiar to me.

While this was one example that turns out to be the most encouraging to me, I loved that the twelve still had to be sent out and they still did go out. Rejection is not an excuse not to do or be what Jesus has called us to do and be.

So the twelve are sent out. There is something about communicating the good news in person – by word of mouth. Jesus stressed more the how they would preach as opposed to what they would preach. That preaching was more than their words, but their lifestyle as well.   The was the next example that I learned.

Near the end of the chapter, I am challenged and yet encouraged even though I see the Church sometimes as the ship at sea, tossed with storms and not comforted. Christ does walk with me even though there may be wind and waves against me. No difficulties can hinder what Jesus wants to do for me. When the time is right He silences my fears and makes Himself known to me. It is well with my soul just as long as Jesus walks with me.

Somehow my smile in knowing this is the best part of what I look like when people think there is something different about the way I live.