Mark’s Gospel account bears an interesting feature. Take chapter six for example and notice the pattern throughout the other chapters. First, Jesus is misunderstood. Then events and conversations take place showing who Jesus really is. 

In the first six verses of the chapter, Jesus returns to his hometown. At first, people are impressed. Then they are offended (verses 2 and 3). Jesus then says something everyone has heard one time or another: “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, . . . .” (verse 4). 

When people do not see Jesus for who he is, what happens? Verses 5 and 6 tell us:

More misunderstanding takes place as we come to the parallel passage to this one in John 6 where Jesus feeds the five thousand or more. In John 6:14, the people called Jesus “the Prophet who is to come into the world.” They were beginning to see something special about Jesus, but their vision still required correction to see him for all he is. 

They saw him as The Prophet and a king. They did not yet see him as John wrote about him in John 1:1-18. Jesus withdrew from the crowd and went away alone to pray (Mark 6:46). Next in Mark and John’s accounts, Jesus walks on water (Mark 6:45-52; John 6: 16-21). 

Mark says, “Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened,” (verses 51, 52). Miracle bread was not enough even for the disciples to completely understand who Jesus is. 

A couple of thoughts: 

• Jesus does not fully entrust himself to those who only halfway accept him for who he is.
• If you are still awakening to who Jesus is, grab some coffee and come to full alertness. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is Living Water. He is God’s Son, the Messiah. He is our Savior. This is the truth all the signs point toward. 

John said it this way in his preamble: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth,” (1:14). 

Receive him for who he is. Welcome him into your heart. Know him better day by day. Enjoy his presence forever.

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I will see Jesus for all of who he is. 

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