In the Marketplace

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Scripture:

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
(Mark 6:53–56 NRSV)

Observation:

News about Jesus’ activity in the world began to spread like wildfire. People now rushed from across the land to come and see this man. Whereas the woman with the issue of blood was the first to have been healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, this now became commonplace. We see a shift from ministry in the synagogue to ministry in the marketplace where the people had been waiting in anticipation of meeting Jesus.

Application:

The marketplace represented the center of the city, the place where humanity came together, dealing with the commonplace needs of society. It was there, in the ordinary, that Jesus touched the world and made it extraordinary. 

On mission with Jesus Christ we ought to find ourselves in the common places of society where we can minister to those on the margins. Filled with holy love we reach out to those who are in pain and suffering, bringing wholeness and healing. 

Prayer:

Lord, lead me this day in the direction of your holy love. Amen. 

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