Gospel: Mark 6:45-56 (Pentecost 10: Series B)
Gospel: Mark 6:45-56 (Pentecost 10: Series B)
He should not be there. He could not be there. But there Jesus was. It must be a ghost, so they cried out. “For they all saw Him and were terrified.”
Have you ever seen a ghost? I have... twice. Actually, on both occasions it turned out not to be, but even so, it took several minutes for my heart rate and breathing to return to normal.
The first time I thought I saw a ghost was in middle school. Grandma Weber had died several months earlier. To this day, the scent of certain flowers takes me right back to that funeral home. Months after Grandma died, I saw her in a crowd. In an instant, I felt my heart begin to pound, my breathing stopped with a gasp, and I was aware of the blood draining from my face as I felt myself about to faint. My eyes were round and terrified as I stared at this woman. I am fairly sure I terrified her as well with the shock of my own expression. My Grandma did not have a twin, but this woman was a dead-on doppelganger. After my gasp and horrified look, she simply walked away in the crowd. It took minutes before I could convince myself it was not my grandma. To this day, that moment lives on as one of the most frightening moments of my life.
The second time was just a couple of years ago. My mother died very suddenly from an aggressive cancer. I flew home for the funeral. We were gathered at my parent’s home, a place I was used to seeing my mom and hearing her voice, but she was dead. That is why I was home. I knew this, but here is what happened. My mom was the oldest of four sisters. They look remarkably similar. They sound even more similar. One of them laughing in the other room is indistinguishable from another. The days before and after the funeral were haunted by the ghost of my mom, embodied in her sisters. I would hear laughing in the kitchen and think, “I’ve been talking to everyone else, and I haven’t even given mom a hug yet, I should go in there and... oh wait... that’s not her.” Or I would turn a corner and see an aunt and think, “There you are Mom!” but then I would remember. Then I would cry.
I am not one for ghost stories or scary movies (though, ironically, my mom’s bookshelves are full of such things). I am also not one who is on the lookout for the paranormal. Perhaps that is part of what made these moments so terrifying. I was not looking to see my grandma or my mom, and I knew in my gut they should not be there. So, when I thought I saw them, I felt legitimate terror.
Jesus sent the disciples into the boat and across the sea of Galilee. Hours went by. Jesus prayed and the disciples rowed. More hours went by. Out on the sea, the disciples certainly were not looking for Jesus. They were busy with the task at hand, and they had no reason whatsoever to expect Jesus to be there. So, when they saw Him... my pulse quickens even now, imagining their legitimate terror. He should not be there. He could not be there. But there Jesus was. It must be a ghost, so they cried out. “For they all saw Him and were terrified.”
Mark uses a variety of synonyms for fear throughout his Gospel. The disciples were “terrified.” Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” And in Mark 16:5, the women were “alarmed.”
On that occasion, they were looking for Jesus. More specifically, they were looking for a dead Jesus: The One who had been crucified. They were expecting to see the One who had been and was dead. But he was risen! He was not there at all! Met with the unexpected sight of an empty grave, the angel sent the women to share the Easter message with Peter and the rest of the disciples, with the assurance that they would see Jesus too, just as He promised. Here, Mark gives us a couple more synonyms. He says “trembling” and “astonishment” seized them, for they were “afraid.” Wherever Mark finished his Gospel, the story does not end here with fear and silence. It ends with life-giving words, the gift of peace, and being together.
Wherever Mark finished his Gospel, the story does not end here with fear and silence. It ends with life-giving words, the gift of peace, and being together.
In Mark 6, Jesus speaks comforting words to His disciples, even as He calms the storm and takes His seat among them. We see the speaking of Jesus, the peace of Jesus and the presence of Jesus. Beyond Mark 6, looking at the broader historical reality of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the story continually moves towards speaking, peace, and presence. After the events recorded in Mark 16, the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection was shared, despite the very real fear felt that day. As a result, the peace of Christ has been shared among His saints, who continue to gather in His name with one another and the promise of His presence in their midst. Although not seeing, we believe.
Looking ahead, the narrative of this creation will end with life-giving words, the gift of peace, and being reunited with Christ and all His saints. The dead will be raised at the command of Christ. The dwelling place of God will be with man. God will be with us as our God, and we will be with Him as His people. The dead in Christ will be reunited with our Savior and with one another.
Someday, I will see Grandma Weber again. Someday, I will see my mom again, and not a doppelganger or an aunt with a similar haircut or laugh. And not a ghost! I know our Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand upon the earth. And after our skin has been destroyed, yet in our flesh we will see God. How my heart yearns within me!
For preaching purposes, here are a few outlines to consider.
Outline 1:
- The disciples were not looking for Jesus but saw Him (and were afraid when they did).
- We are looking for Jesus (especially when the world is broken and we want God to make things right), but do not see Him (and sometimes we fear He is gone/absent/not real).
- We might lose energy in our looking (after all, the Apostle Paul himself seems to have expected the End, and it is hard to maintain that kind of expectancy for days, let alone decades and generations), but someday we will see Him (and there will be no more fear and no more tears).
Option 2:
- Ghosts are terrifying because death (or the supernatural) is terrifying.
- Jesus is Lord over all creation and death itself (and all spiritual powers).
- Jesus gives us peace by His presence and His life-giving Word.
Option 3:
- Image: Describe a disciple’s face as it pales when he thinks he sees a ghost. The concept, the simple sight of Jesus walking brought legitimate terror.
- Main Idea: It can be terrifying to see the work of God without understanding and faith. Here, you can use a Serial Depiction like God driving Adam and Eve out of Eden, the drowning the Egyptians, the sack of Jerusalem, Jesus avoiding the crowds who want healing, Jesus walking on water, Jesus being arrested, and Jesus being killed.
- Narrative: Tell the story of someone who has experienced a real fear of God, but who is learning to trust, in light of the promises and presence of Jesus. The main idea here is how God’s hidden will can be terrifying, but God’s revealed will in Jesus is life-giving.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on Mark 6:45-56.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Mark 6:45-56.
Text Week-A treasury of resources from various traditions to help you preach Mark 6:45-56.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
