“And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not [the miracle] of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” Mark 6:47-52
I went to Ladie’s Bible Study this morning and these were the verses for reading. Immediately after reading the verses my questions were “Why didn’t the disciples understand the miracle of the loaves?” (The preceeding verses deal with the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus praying on the Mountain while He sent the disciples in a boat across the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida.) And “What was Jesus trying to teach the disciples through those miracles?”
The immediate answer to their lack of understanding is that their hearts were hard (see verse 51). In order to more fully understand this passage, I had to look at some verses in Matthew (16:9-12).
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake [it] not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade [them] not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
So the miracle was to show the disciples the danger of the dactrine the Pharisees and Sadducees were teaching. I don’t know what that doctrine was for sure, but my thought was that it was about how the Messiah would have been coming like a King full of power and glory, to take over the earth and bring peace. Not coming in servanthood, from a poor town, to lay down His life. I believe that the disciples were supposed to learn and realize from the miracle of the loaves that He was the Messiah, the Christ.
They didn’t learn this because their hearts were hardened, most likely by the doctrine of the Pharisees/Sadducees. The disciples were not looking at Jesus as the Son of God, as the Lamb, as the Messiah. Who did they think He was? I cannot imagine. I suppose they were just awed with His power to perform miracles, but the God behind the miracles was not yet realized.
In another series of verses Jesus asks the disciples who they say he is. “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Mat 16:15 ). Then Simon Peter answered saying “Thour art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (verse 16) Now here is the striking part, a part that I missed many times while reading these verses before. Jesus calls Simon blessed. This is what He says “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven.” (verse 17b) Previously I had read this to mean that Jesus was blessing him because he knew the answer. But today the Lord graciously opened my eyes, and I read it to mean that the reason Simon knew the answer, was because the Father opened his eyes and revealed it, and that revelation was the blessing.
How often do I forget that His revelation to me is a blessing. That I would not know Him for who He is if He hadn’t blessed me by opening my eyes and softening my heart. I am like these disciples, hard hearted (Mar 6:52 ), focused on rowing against the wind (Mar 6:48 ), not even calling on Him to help me. I am like these disciples, unable to know Him by my own power (Mat 16:17 ), unable to overcome the prevailing winds by my own power. I am like these disciples, not knowing if it is HIM in the mist (Mar 6:49 ). I am ignorant, I am weak, I am lost save for His grace and mercy upon me.
When Jesus came across the water the disciples had been rowing for somewhere between 6 and 9 hours. (see Mar 6:47 which states that they were in the midst of the sea at evening time. Then look at Mar 6:48 which says that at the fourth watch of the night, sometime between 3 and 6 am He came across the water.) They were in a storm that He was aware of. They had been trying to be obedient to His command, they were working on their own power. They were not making any progress (the Sea of Galilee is not big enough to take 6-9 hours to cross.) Jesus waited before He walked out there. Even when He did walk out, He intended to walk past them, verse 48 “and would have passed them by”. But they were terrified, thinking He was an apparition. He had mercy on them, and came to them. This is so like me. I need this mercy. I need Him to come to me, and I am grateful that He does, even when I have not yet called out for help. They were powerless to calm the sea, powerless to row across (obey) and still they did not call out to Him.
This is like my life today. Today, I want to lose 35 pounds. The Lord has told me to do so. I am a help meet, and ought to keep my house in order. The Lord has commanded me to do so. So what do I do? I press on in the head on winds. Never calling out to Him. A scripture has been in my mind lately. I have found many times when I needed to share it. But today, it was for me. The verse is Pillippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.” It is HE who will work in me to DO these things. I am powerless even in the most minor things. I cannot stay on course, unless He keeps me there. I cannot obey, unless He calms my storm. I do not even call out to Him so often when I should. I need to stop doing what I think I should do to lose weight, and keep the house neat, and instead run to His feet and ask Him to provide for me to DO. (Obviously I am not saying I need to stop rowing, but that I need to rely on His power and His time and His good purpose to bring me to victory.)
Well, I know that was all round about, but I hope it was useful to someone. The study really opened my eyes. His Word is sharper than any two edged sword, and it is by HIS grace and blessing that my eyes are opened and that I am empowered to will or do anything. In Him all things are possible. Even losing 35 pounds and keeping this house clean.
Praise be to God, who is faithful to complete what He started in me.
Mrs. Meg Logan
This is a timely message. Our pastor just talked about the passage where Jesus called Peter blessed because the Father had revealed to him that Jesus was the Christ; the Son of the Living God. And you are right. It is God who works in us BOTH to WILL AND to ACT, according to His good purpose. Like you, I am glad of this. I find the need many times to ask Him to make me WANT to WANT to do His will; and then when He has already been gracious by creating in me this desire, I have to go back and ask for yet more grace for the doing.
–Larry
http://www.LarryEiss.com
“I am powerless even in the most minor things. I cannot stay on course, unless He keeps me there. I cannot obey, unless He calms my storm.”
I am echoing this with you today! Thanks for such an encouraging post! I’m saying a little prayer for you today. Please say one for me.
Thank you Leslie for the prayer, and of course I am saying one for you too.
Larry, I am glad that you found this timely. Today at the Bible Study, the Pastor’s wife told me she was grateful for my transperancy. I am grateful that the Lord is showing me good things about how He has made me, because lately I have been feeling the weight of condemnation. Though I am aware that there is no longer any condemnation for me, since I am in Christ.
Mrs. Meg Logan
I’m not sure if the leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees is specifically what they thought Messiah should be, or the doctrinal errors that each of these groups had– but in any case, the disciples definitely did not realize who He was or was to be even after being instructed many times.
Great thoughts, Meg.
When I read Mark 6:48 I wrote on a pad of paper next to me, “Why did he intend to go right by them?” Today I googled to find out what others had done with that verse, and one of the hits was your blog, Meg. Another was a beautiful sermon posted by Robert Brow, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Massena, New York, in July 30, 2000.
“I was struck by the words ‘He intended to pass them by’ (Mark 6:48). Obviously this did not mean that Jesus had no intention of helping his disciples. In fact “He got into the boat with them and the wind ceased” (Mark 6:51). But it is clear that what he would do to help depended on their response. He had no intention of forcing himself upon them. If they had not wanted him, he would have passed by.’
I read that and that was exactly my thought. I was struck by those words.
He went on to say:
“Finally ‘he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea.’ And ‘he intended to pass them by’ (Mark 6:48). That meant that he came right by them, and he would have gone on leaving them to row alone, unless they specifically invited him on board…Jesus recognized their cry as a prayer for help, and he said “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mark 6:49-50).”
We learn that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, and will not come in unless we invite Him. I think Jesus here was modeling that exact attribute of the third person of the Trinity. When we cry for help, He comes alongside – and brings us everything we need to get thru the storm.