Mark 6:45-52 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Christians should never forget about the loaves, the miracles, in our past experiences. In the above passage, we see the disciples had already forgotten about the great miracle of feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Just hours before, they had fed 5,000 people with only five loaves and two fishes, but now in the darkest part of the night as they were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, they were fearful, wondering if they would ever make it across the lake. Definitely, they had been struggling all night, fighting against the waves and wind, for it was the fourth watch, just before dawn. Certainly, their strength had greatly dissipated by this time. Maybe some of them were fearful of drowning that night, for they had been on that lake a long time, far beyond the time necessary to cross the lake in good weather. Probably, the further they rowed out on the lake, the more threatening the waves became, for the wind would be even more fierce without hills to curb its velocity. Finally at a certain point, there was no turning back: the only solution to their precarious situation was to strain at the oars, to fight against the wind, to advance with all their might towards their destination, to persevere. After Paul explains the full armor of God and tells the Ephesians to put it on, he then tells them that with their sword of the Spirit and their helmet of salvation, they should be praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18) Surely, the disciples prayed as they strained against the oars.
How many of us today find ourselves straining against the wind and waves in difficult situations? We find ourselves in the middle of the lake where there are no good options to the left or to the right, knowing we must proceed straight ahead regardless of the danger. So, with much trepidation, we face the turbulence head on, hoping we will reach the other side. In some situations, as with the disciples, we are trying to carry out Jesus' direction for our lives: we simply know He told us to get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida. We are trying to reflect Jesus' will for our lives by following his orders. Sometimes doing good, choosing to follow Jesus, seems an impossible task. Conforming to his image and loving as He would love oftentimes leads to heartbreak and discouragement, but Jesus asked us get into the boat of life and do what He wants us to do. This calling of taking up the cross and following Jesus can mean risking your life for his sake. When we love people unreservedly and prefer others before ourselves it costs us some of our personal happiness. God asks us to love the lost as He loves them. He asks us to forsake the allure of sinful pleasures, to reject the self-centered life. We read in his Word, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) This loving commitment requires getting in the boat and crossing the lake even when the wind and waves are against you, even when you cannot see the other side. By faith you trust God to see you through the stormy seas.
When Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars in the midst of the angry storm, he went out to them, walking on the lake. He did not cross out of their sight to another area; no, He went near them. He was so near that they saw him, thinking He was a ghost. They were terrified by this image of a man walking on the water. How often do we pray for the Lord's intervention in our lives, but we fail to see his hand extended when He begins to move in our behalf. Jesus is not thwarted by their unbelief or their fears: He immediately responds to calm their fears, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” This hope from the Lord is our encouragement today when we face troubles: Jesus our Lord and Savior, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, is with us no matter what the struggle in our lives. Jesus is always with his beloved whether we believe it or not. Because of the resurrection, we are IN CHRIST and HE IS IN US. We always have Jesus in the boat with us. We were raised in newness of life with him. We are no longer strangers on the sea, alone in the tempest: no, He is with us at all times. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaks truth and comfort to our spiritual ears. Can we hear that voice today? Or, have we already forgotten the loaves and the fishes, not understanding what a big God we serve. Of course, the sounds of adverse winds and waves are great, but our God is greater. If by faith we will allow our ears to hear his voice, we will hear him say, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39) No other voice brings the comfort that Jesus brings. No one else can calm the discord and chaos in our lives. Jesus wants to speak into your life right now, this very minute. Where there is strife, anger, discord, malice, confusion, or any other storm of life, He will bring peace that passes understanding. He says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:15)
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