Jesus was not excepted in his hometown; therefore he could do no work of power their except to heal a few sick people. Jesus sent out the twelve to cast out demons, heal the sick and preach that men should repent; they were to trust that their own needs would be provided through hosts in each town. The people were saying that Jesus was either John the Baptist risen from the dead, or Elijah, or like one of the other old testament prophets. Herodias used Herod’s pride to coerce him to kill John the Baptist because she hated him for preaching that her marriage to Herod was unlawful. When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they did and taught. Jesus took them to a secluded place at which he feed five thousand to their satisfaction from five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus sent his disciples away in a boat and sent the people away, so he could be alone to pray. Sometime between 3-6 a.m., Jesus came walking on water to the disciples who were struggling with the wind and waves; and they were completely astonished. Wherever Jesus went, people brought to him those who were sick.
Jesus’ main power was not healing but preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God. Jesus healed the body, that he might reach the soul. The people in his hometown would not except him as a prophet; therefore, they would not listen to his preaching and teaching. As is often the case, people go outside of their local church to listen to the teaching of some celebrity preacher but ignore the teaching of a hometown pastor. When Jesus sent out the twelve he gave them the power to cast out demons and heal the sick, that they might preach the gospel of God (Mk. 1:14) and say, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk. 1:15-16)
In the interlude between the sending out the twelve and their return, the fate of John the Baptist was recalled. People where speculating about Jesus and one of the persons whom they were saying that he was, was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod focused on that saying because he knew that his beheading of John was unjust. The disciples reported to Jesus all that they had done and taught. They attempted to go to a secluded place across the sea for respite but the people ran ahead and met them their. Jesus was compassionate because they were like sheep without a shepherd; therefore, he taught them and provided for their physical needs. He told his disciples to feed them but they could not; therefore, he feed the five thousand men who had gathered there with what the disciples had. Jesus created a situation in which he might get respite by sending the disciples away in a boat and sending the crowd away. We must serve God through serving people but we also need rest.
