by Eric Holter on October 10, 2004
“And He said to them ‘come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have enough time to eat.)”
“…and when He went ashore He saw a great multitude.”
Mark 6:31-34
The disciples had just returned from their circuit preaching and were reporting to Jesus. They were tired from their journeys and yet there was so much activity around them that they didn’t even have time to grab a bite to eat. Jesus recognized that it was time for rest, the disciples truly needed rest. Yet as they landed on the shore, hoping to get away by themselves for a time, they were met by the needy multitudes. Their well deserved and needed rest was withheld. Yet Jesus was not irritated, He and the disciples picked up again with their teaching and serving the crowds with compassion.
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by Eric Holter on June 5, 2004
“But Jesus answered and said, ‘you are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God.’”
Matthew 22:29
Look at the connection between understanding the scriptures and understanding the power of God. The Sadducees were mistaken on both points, but these are probably not two points, but one. In order to understand the scriptures we must have in view the awesome power of God. Having such a view of God’s magnificence will open our eyes and our understanding of the scriptures, which will themselves then reinforce and strengthen our view of God as the almighty Lord of all.
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by Eric Holter on February 10, 2004
“The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their pounding waves,
More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.”
Psalm 93:3-4
When the waves decide they want to roar, nothing on earth can stop them. When the ocean rages, stand back because nothing will hold back its force. When it storms the waves have a voice, a crashing exploding voice. The pounding of the waves is incessant, wave after smashing wave clamor and break upon the rocks of the shore. Nothing can stop the waves, nothing can hold them back, nothing can silence them. No army on earth can withstand its advance, no scientific breakthrough can quell or quiet their sound. A roaring and stormy ocean is a frequent reminder of man’s frailty and helplessness in the face of such raw power.
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