How to Be Courageous - Mark 6:35-52

Anyone with courage has the ability to conquer fear or despair and are said to be courageous. A coward is one who lacks courage. Most men have vanity and pride and are devastated at the thought of being called a coward. Any father that believes his children reorganize him as a coward is most miserable. Children who have parents that they believe to be non courageous are never proud of their heritage. Therefore, it becomes absolutely and imperatively necessary for all adults and especially parents to strive to be courageous. Mark thought it to be so important that he spent some time teaching us how to be courageous. It really is not difficult since the only requirement is that we recognize that all power and strength comes from God.

As a young person I was afraid of the dark. I felt uncomfortable around a grave yard at night. Walking alone at night caused uncomfortable sensations that I did not understand. For me to be totally free from fear became an elusive goal. This was more important to me than it would have been to many of you, because I lived during a time when a young man needed to be strong and independent. His family had faith in him and trusted their security into his keeping. As a young man during the depression years I was involved in hunting and trapping for fur barren animals. One of the constant fears that plagued me was that I would encounter a rabid animal. The common ones were the dog, skunk, mink, and fox; with any of which I might have some contact at any given time. Survival required more than just courage, it also required plain common sense in how to prepare for and handle courageously any circumstance that presented itself.

It is amazing to me that the hazards of life present circumstances that cause us fear and we always find ways within our own power to work them out…but when the danger involves the demons of evil at work in this world today that affect the lives of our love ones, children, grandchildren, and sometimes us individually, we hesitate and sometimes refuse to go to the God of all power for the strength we need to survive and even find happiness in some of our sorrows.

In our lesson today we find one woman that had lived in constant fear for twelve years. She had been loosing blood for all these years before she finally submitted to the source of power to heal, and simply touched the tassels on the corner of Jesus’ robe and was healed by her faith…Mark 5:34. This woman detained Jesus who was on his way to heal the daughter of a synagogue ruler. The daughter died, but fear did not overcome the parents because Jesus encouraged the ruler, urging him to have faith. He went in alone to the girl’s room assuring all that she was only sleeping. As the world still does…they laughed at Him; but as He still does, he raised her from her from death.

If you study this passage you will find that he was at home with his own people who DID NOT HAVE FAITH in Him. He tells us that he had to leave his own people in Nazareth, his home town, because of their lack of faith he could not do any more for them. Notice, it is only when WE LOOSE OUR FAITH, that the power is removed. The power is not in OUR FAITH, but it is the ONE IN WHOM WE BELIEVE. It takes both…our faith and Jesus. We not only become courageous by faith in Him, but we receive our power to survive by our faith in Him.

In order to increase the spread of the gospel, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to preach throughout the Galilean area. The crowds grew, and their work increased until they had problems finding a time to eat and rest. When Jesus found his disciples on the banks of the lake, he disembarked and was amazed at the crowds that had gathered. Fear had overtaken his disciples because they were tired and hungry and had no time to rest. Note: They were allowing their fear to overwhelm them. The press of the people depending on them was great, and they FORGOT where the power could be found that would solve the problem.

When Jesus appeared, they let him know their fears and suggested that He send the crowd away into some town where they could get food and lodging. His answer must have been a shocker. It was, “You give them something to eat.” Their question was one such as you and I might ask Him. Do you want us to go buy bread? Where will we get the money? As you will recognize this is the beginning of the feeding of the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. It must have been the greatest of all his miracles because it is the only one that is recorded in all four of the gospels.

The application that we should make here is that there is no need for our fear of anything that we are ordered to do if it is in God’s will…He will furnish the power and provision. We only must furnish the faith and follow the command. There is a wonderful contrast in this story as it shows us the difference in the attitude of Jesus and the attitudes of the disciples regarding those in need. It shows us two reactions to human need. We must never say send them away…get rid of them. When we meet those in need…we must be ready to give them something that will meet their need.

This story tells us there are two reactions to human resources. Some would say it is too expensive and I just can not afford the cost—anything I have would not meet the need…it would be of no use at all. Jesus simply asks...What have you got? And then he says use it. I know what you are thinking…but if we put ourselves into the hands of Jesus Christ, thee is no telling what He can do with and through us. There is one thing for sure; we do not have to fear what ever he does.

Mark says that when the crowd had eaten, Jesus sent the disciples away before he dismissed the multitudes of people. Mark does not tell us why, but I think you can find the answer in John’s account of this incident. John says that there was a move among the crowd to take Jesus to the mountain top and crown him their new King. I do not think that Jesus wanted his disciples to witness this outburst of affection…it was not the time or place. As soon as he was alone he went up into a mountain to pray and was there alone with God his Heavenly Father.

This must have happened about mid April, it was time for Passover. Passover was scheduled at full moon…Easter still is. It was about three o’clock in the morning, still dark but the moon allowed Jesus to see that there was a mighty wind on the lake and his friends were having trouble staying afloat. Note: This is just another incident in the life of Christ. He took care of the 5000, was alone with God only a short time dealing with his own problems and immediately he saw his disciples in trouble and went to their rescue. To Him the cry of his people for help surpassed any personal need that he suffered. He came to them treading the waves under his feet, and so he does today, put all our tumults of life under his feet. Why are we ever afraid? How can we be courageous? Why can we not see and believe that when our storms of life threaten…He is the one that will always be there to calm the winds. There is a condition for us to meet—we must walk with Christ and that is what brings us the power of conquest over our storms.