Outside the 'box' - a time for everything *

NORSK
The idea of ​​throwing the net on the other side of the boat is illogical. At the same time, the event tells us that the kingdom of God is different and that disciples need to be open and think 'outside the box'.

Religion quickly becomes a 'box'. Jesus came with life and life cannot survive in a box. This can be one of the reasons why the exercise of throwing the net on the 'other side' to see results was an important lesson to learn – particularly if the number ‘153’ also added an extra ‘hint’.

In light of my recent reflections (1), this may be a signal that it is important to think outside the box if we desire to reach all nations with the gospel – there are still many unreached people around us.

I therefore take the liberty of elaborating on this thought:

When Jesus had fed 5000 people, I read that:

Right then, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake, toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
Mark 6:45

So they went from Galilee (on the west side of the Sea of Galilee) where they had ministered mainly to Jews. The 'other side', was the region of Decapolis, which was heavily influenced by other nations. It is interesting that they also on ‘the other side’ became witnesses to a ‘bread-miracle’. This time 4000 people were fed, and when the mission was completed, Jesus made the call for return:

he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
Mark 8:10

It is assumed that Dalmanutha was close to, or identical with Magdala on the north-western side of the sea. When Jesus fed the 5,000 most likely Jews, 12 baskets were filled with left overs. This indicates that there will be more than enough ‘bread of life’ for the 12 tribes of Israel. When he fed 4000 on the ‘other side’, there were seven baskets with left overs – ‘seven’ is the number of perfection, which is the sum of the number of creation = ‘four’ and the number of God = ‘three’. Which may indicate that there more than enough ‘bread of life’ for all. Perhaps the order of the two bread-miracles is not random? Because the gospel is ‘is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.’ (2). 

‘Manna’ for today:

The ‘other side’ is important if I want to reach new people with the gospel

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(1) See 'Statistics with a deeper meaning' and 'Guaranteed space'
(2) Rom 1:16
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.