Mark 6:45-56
s soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead across to Bethsaida while he dismissed the congregation. After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray.Late at night, the boat was far out at sea; Jesus was still by himself on land. He could see his men struggling with the oars, the wind having come up against them. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. He intended to go right by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and screamed, scared out of their wits.
Jesus was quick to comfort them: “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts.
They beached the boat at Gennesaret and tied up at the landing. As soon as they got out of the boat, word got around fast. People ran this way and that, bringing their sick on stretchers to where they heard he was. Wherever he went, village or town or country crossroads, they brought their sick to the marketplace and begged him to let them touch the edge of his coat—that’s all. And whoever touched him became well.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Why is it that after a miracle/a great experience of God in some way that you seem to get a battering from “real life” again? Why is it that Jesus watches from a distance but doesn’t immediately step in to sort out the storm? How many times I’ve wanted to know why God stands and loooks at me in my “storms” but doesn’t step in to stop them when I want Him to…but notice how Jesus DOES come to them; He comes back and gives encouragement in a human way (stopping the storm), not a super-spiritual one. Nor does He get exasperated with them for not seeing Him in all His power and glory but patiently encourages them. Bits like this encourage me in that even Jesus’ inner circle could underestimate His power and still be free from a telling-off; so we too can be courageous in going to God when we underestimate Him because He will be patient and encourage us in our daily journey, even when we want Him to step in NOW and sort our storms out NOW and He doesn’t…He will in the end.