30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:30-34 ESV
We are as those waiting on the shoreline. With every crashing wave, the hope for a new wisdom rises within us. We are the broken vessels looking for direction and redemption. We are wayward ships without a captain – sheep without a shepherd.
The waves bring many from the sea. A few of these travelers will itch our ear with the sounds of some greater truth or way of being. In these select few we let our guard down hoping for wisdom on high. Yet these travelers will never be able to carry the burden of our hope.
I have lived long enough to see this frustrating narrative play out. As a youth without direction, I looked for a greater path. As a man without a father, I looked for a greater guide. In both I have found disappointment. On a long enough timeline, all those who you deem as guides will fall either in pride or apathy. This is not an indictment on them, but perhaps a directive for sheep to look elsewhere. Jesus washes ashore and immediately recognizes the tired ache of our restless soul – the existential pain of not knowing the way. His compassion leads to love, teaching, and then later on in the chapter, food. Here He feeds the entirety of the person. While some can meet some needs some of the time, Jesus is alone in His ability to meet all needs all of the time. If this be not true, then the Bible is void. But if it is, we must learn to lean into His teaching and shape our beliefs to His.
Headlines are littered with fallen heroes. Pastors, politicians, athletes, family, all fall from grace when given enough time. This is the way it has always been. When Jesus came crashing to the shoreline in Mark 6, I would assume the crowds felt this tension. Their soul was hungry for someone who would stay, someone who can live up to the expectations and humble to proud. Today more than ever it feels that we are truly sheep without a shepherd. Maybe Christ is calling us back to Himself and away from the influence of those who are flawed like us.
We are all a mess. Some of us just hide it better.
Matt simon blog 