Tending Your Soul
Tending Your Soul
Finding Joy in Slow Growth
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Finding Joy in Slow Growth

Tending Through Mark Podcast Series

I stepped through the garden gate this morning to water my newly growing tomatoes and peppers and I was reminded afresh at what a slow, quiet process growth is. It is such a sharp contrast to our world and even our own expectations.

But honestly, I don’t think there would be much joy in planting my tomatoes and then walking out the next day to find them big, plump and ready to pick.

There is a sweetness in the slow growth, watching the little flower bloom and then shrivel to reveal the enlarging bud of the fruit and then even watching the little green bulb turn plump and red in the warm sun over the summer weeks.

I find such joy in the process of growth in my little garden but so easily forget that joy as I stumble in my own spiritual growth. I fail to remember that knowing and loving Jesus is a process and the point IS the process of learning to know Him and recognize Him.

Today as we use my TEND method of bible study in Mark 6, we will see how some of the people respond to recognizing Jesus and how they so desperately wanted the end product more than the process. Let’s consider our own hearts as we dig into the word.

The TEND method begins with T for Take time to pray so pray with me.

Lord I thank you for the lessons from the garden that you use to teach my heart to know you and love you. Thank you for the truths of your word that you willingly press into the soil of our hearts. Would you continue to reveal yourself to us through it today? Amen.

Now as we move from T to E in the TEND acronym we come to examine the scripture. This is where we want to slow down and carefully look at what the text is saying. We have been looking at Mark for several episodes now, so if you have missed any, I encourage you to go back and listen in. Also you can join me at marieldavenport.substack.com for free downloadable reading plans I release each month as we are working our way through Mark. Just look for the Tending Through Mark Series in the bible study tab, also there’s a link in the shownotes to help.

So today we are looking at Mark 6:53-56. The ESV says:

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

As we examine the verses we want to be sure we’re clear on who the pronouns are referring to and what is happening in the scene. And we want context, what is happening before and after these verses. So it can be so helpful to re-read the chapter the verses are set in.

So based on context the “they” referred to here is Jesus and his disciples. Just previously, Jesus an the disciples has been on a hillside in Jewish territory. Jesus had been teaching all day, the people had gotten hungry and Jesus encouraged the disciples to feed the people. This is just after a time of ministry where the disciples had performed miracles authenticating Jesus’s ministry and message as they had traveled around sharing the gospel.

After they had co labored with Jesus to pass out the miraculous abundance of food Jesus provided, the Lord sent them back across the sea to Bethsaidia. While on the boat a windstorm arose, freaking them out and Jesus came walking on water to them. He calmed the winds and the waves.

Now the disciples are anchored on shore with Jesus. And as they get out of the boat, the crowd there immediately recognizes Jesus and began running about gathering the sick to bring to Him.

Having that context and summary can help us as we then move from E to N in TEND and N is for notice the lesson.

So what do we see about Jesus here? Obviously He makes Himself recognizable. And another lesson we see here is He has the power to heal since even touching the fringe of His cloak brought healing to people.

What other lesson might we see here? Is there a sin, promise, action, command or example for us?

What stands out to me is that sometimes people recognize Jesus more for what He can do for them.

But what’s interesting to me is that their recognition of Jesus moved them to action. They DID something BECAUSE they recognized Him.

The Greek word translated “recognize” in verse 54 is the word epignosko that means to know, recognize, perceive and understand. This word conveys a deeper, more complete understanding of something not just superficial acquaintance.

So it seems these people had a real understanding of the power and healing of Jesus. Maybe they even recognized Him as Diety. And that moved them to action.

So as we consider then the D in TEND and seek to do what it says or respond to the lessons, I wonder how does my own understanding of Jesus move me to action?

When I have spent time in the Word and I see who Jesus is and I see the diety of Jesus, does that move me to bring all my own troubles and anxieties to Him as it did for the crowd here?

They knew His heart enough to know He would heal and knew His power enough to know He could heal. Do I?

How about for you, friend? How well do you recognize Jesus? And as you grow slowly in the relationship with Him, how do you respond? Are you moved to action and begin carrying your burdens to Him?

Or maybe we are just looking for the quick growth rather than slow growth time in the Word. Quick growth is no growth at all and keep us from recognizing Jesus. We can tell seasons that we are seeking the quick because we often feel scattered and overwhelmed as we carry the burdens that Jesus invites us to brign to Him.

But oh there is grace for us today!
Right now you and I can lay burdens at His feet. We have seen a glimpse of His heart and power to heal so name what burdens you. Tell Him about it and remind your own heart that He is an able God.

He is so faithful to meet us right where we are we do!
Sometimes one of the gifts He offers us is the gathering of others that can remind us who He sis and what He is doing in their lives. That’s why I am putting together our next Online TEND Gathering. We will meet for 5 weeks online this summer and walk through a book of the Bible together as we invite the Master Gardener to TEND our souls with His Word. These 5 weeks will slow our souls to the pace of grace as we walk along side our God and invite Him to tend to us in a fresh way.

If you want to know more about this next study, visit HERE and sign up to get notified when registration opens as well as a free downloadable TEND guide!!

I hope to see you as we gather this summer in the Word! Until next time keep tending your soul.

green plant on brown clay pot
Photo by Christine on Unsplash

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