The home crowd could not see beyond what they had known. They had known Jesus to be a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother to James, Joses, Judas and Simon (see Mark 6 v. 3); they were not willing to believe that he was more than that. Things were different outside of Nazareth. Some thought Jesus was Elijah, while others thought he was a prophet. Because of his miraculous works, there were those, including King Herod, that believed Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Indeed Jesus was doing amazing things. Sick people were lining his route, believing that if they could but touch the edge of his garments they would be healed (see v. 56).
But there is another side to Jesus that is expressed in the narratives of Mark 6 and that is Jesus, the one who cares. Tired as he was, when he arrived on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, he had compassion on the masses that flocked to him (see v. 34). Although the disciples suggested sending the people away, hungry as they were after listening to Jesus teach late into the day, Jesus would have none of it. The crowd was fed until they were satisfied and then dismissed by Jesus. Jesus not only cared for the crowds but for his companions. He had dispatched them by boat to the other side of the Sea. After praying, he began to walk out to them. The wind was against the disciples and they were struggling to make any headway. As Jesus approached, they thought he was a ghost. With the same compassion that led him to reach out to the crowd who were like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus reached out to these fearful ones, who were like sailors without a captain. He said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (v. 50). Jesus got into the boat with them and the adverse wind that had buffeted their advance was silenced. Again they were amazed.
What the moment calls for Jesus has, better yet, what my moments call for Jesus has. Will I be like the home crowd and restrict Jesus to what I have known about him? Or will I respond to his compassion and care and permit him into my boat?