Jesus’s Power, Perseverance, and Priorities

Good morning, Church! Easter may be in the rearview, but resurrection is still in front of us. Remembering that truth gives definition to our future and our present. We, as disciples of Jesus, are always learning what that looks like in day-to-day life. It’s not possible to be a true student and follower of Jesus unless it changes how we live. And that involves more than putting away sins and vices; it also means actively loving one another better each day. One of the hardest things to learn is to put the needs of others ahead of our own.

Jesus, we know, showed us that example by going to the cross and dying in our place, but his example of self-sacrifice was probably on display every single day. This “others first” way of living is found in Jesus’ commands, in his teachings, and in his example. One of my favorite examples is recorded in Mark 6:30-52. The first half of that text is about a time Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people with just five small loaves and two small fishes. Most of us have heard that story, and it’s found in all four of the New Testament gospels. It must have been a favorite of the early church, because it teaches so much about Jesus’ power, his perseverance, and his priorities. We’ll talk about some of that this morning. I can’t wait!

—Patrick Barber