GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 6:45
No King
In the fourth century, Milan was an important political and religious center. The church in Milan was divided between Nicene Christians, who affirmed the full divinity of Christ, and the Arians, who held that Christ was subordinate to God the Father. When the Arian bishop Auxentius died in 374 A.D., it appeared that a religious war would erupt between the two Christian factions. The Roman governor of Aemilia-Liguria, Ambrose, went to the cathedral to calm the crowd and prevent violence between the rival Christian factions. Because of his integrity, intellect, and diplomatic skills, both the imperial government and the local populace respected Ambrose. As he spoke to the crowd in the cathedral to calm the tension, someone cried out, “Ambrose for Bishop!”
At the time, Ambrose had not been baptized, had no theological training, and he was not a priest. He did not desire or want the position, so he went into hiding at a friend’s house and wrote to the emperor, trying to persuade him to reject the appointment, pleading his lack of training, unworthiness, and lack of baptism. He hoped that the popular enthusiasm for his elevation would eventually fade. The emperor, however, approved the popular demand for his appointment, and the people searched diligently and eventually located his hiding place. At last relenting, Ambrose was baptized, and within eight days, he was ordained and consecrated as bishop.
Lacking theological training, Ambrose disposed of his property, began a diligent study of Scripture and Church doctrine, and became a champion of Nicene orthodoxy. His fame, diligence, and benevolence spread. He became a skilled teacher, preacher, and theologian. He served as a mentor to future church leaders like Augustine of Hippo.
In an abrupt sentence, Mark brought his account of Jesus’ teaching and miraculous feeding of a huge crowd at the northeastern fishing village of Bethsaida to a close. “And immediately, he urged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent away the crowd.” (Mark 6:45) It was John, however, who offered an explanation for this sudden change. “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” (John 6:15) Unlike Ambrose, Jesus was able to prevent what would have been a calamitous, spontaneous attempt to declare him king, which would have been tantamount to an immediate death sentence. He sent his disciples away, dismissed the crowd, and went alone to a mountain to pray. Ambrose’s elevation was fortunate for the history of orthodoxy. Jesus’ successful prevention of the popular movement was also fortunate, for it allowed the fulfillment of the Father’s plan for redemption.
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