Mark 6:45-56 (NASB)
⁴⁵Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away.
⁴⁶After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
⁴⁷When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.
⁴⁸Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.
⁴⁹But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out, ⁵⁰for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”
⁵¹Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, ⁵²for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. Healing at Gennesaret
⁵³When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
⁵⁴When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ⁵⁵and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was.
⁵⁶Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.
This story we also read in Matthew 14:22 , etc., only what was there related concerning Peter, is omitted here.
Now the people had got a good supper, they were in no haste to leave him. But as long as we are here in this world, we have no continuing city, no not in communion with Christ. The everlasting feast is reserved for the future state.
Jesus provided a special meal, but He also ended it.
He forces His disciples to go up the Sea of Galilee with their boat (Mark 6:45). He gets rid of them.
Why?
▪︎ Could the meal have ended in homage to Jesus (Compare John 6:14,15)?
▪︎ Do the disciples want to enjoy it, and perhaps share in the honor?
But now is not the time for that at all.
Jesus will have to learn to accept suffering. Therefore, tribute must be cut off. Jesus teaches this obedience in dealings with his Father.
He seeks silence to pray (Mark 6:46; Compare Luke 11:1).
The Sea of Galilee, meanwhile, had not received the pupils very kindly.
There is a strong headwind. They toil to get ahead.
From the mountain where He speaks to His Father, Jesus sees their trouble.
They don’t see Him, but He sees them.
What will his pupils do now?
▪︎ Will they now prove that they fear no evil in the darkness because they have come to understand that the Good Shepherd is watching over them?
▪︎ Will they continue to trust in Him?
It appears necessary for Jesus to appear to them.
The lake that threatens them becomes the way by which He comes to them (Compare Job 9:8). He wanted to pass them by, it says in Mark 6:48. Isn’t that strange?
In Exodus 33:19 we read that God passed Moses by at that time.
That was just a favor. Moses was allowed to see some of the glory of God.
In this way Jesus also wants to convince his disciples of his presence in what distresses them. But alas, what they see terrifies them (Mark 6:49, 50).
The word of Jesus is then redeeming: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” (Mark 6:50; Compare Isaiah 43:16-21).
That voice is familiar.
Those words reassure you, even now.
It is as if people have also heard Jesus calling on the land.
Everyone who is struggling with problems or illness gathers there with Him and receives healing (Mark 6:53-56).
Shall we also bring our distress to Him (Compare Philippians 4:6)?
Prayer suggestion
▪︎ Thank God that He always comes to you in the Lord Jesus when you lose sight of Him.
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Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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