Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Comment: I’m getting old and a bit forgetful! But surely Mark can’t have forgotten (he was quite young) what he wrote in Ch 4: 35-41 about Jesus stilling the storm when the disciples were fearful of drowning? There are differences in this story but what does this one have to teach us? Jesus needed time alone, not to feel sorry for Himself, not because He was tired, but to pray? I don’t do that enough! I don’t know why the disciples left Him – either to catch another boat or to walk around the shore to the other side. Maybe as fishermen they wanted to catch more fish in case Jesus wanted to feed crowds on the other side! But joking aside, there are some important lessons. 1. Just because we have passed through one difficult situation, other similar situations may arise and within short chapters of our own lives. 2. The Presence of God and His involvement with us isn’t always easily recognized. 3. Jesus is prepared to get into the boat of our lives. 4. He has the answer, although He doesn’t always stop us getting into difficult situations. We have lessons to learn! 5. ‘they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.‘ They had seen the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 just that day, but this says that they didn’t appreciate what they had seen because their hearts were hardened. The record might have said that ‘they were a bit dense’ or ‘slow to believe’ but it doesn’t. Their hearts were hardened. A condition which sadly afflicts most, if not all, people at least initially and then from time to time. We say that we can’t trust or believe that God is so good. And the reason? Well you can think of dozens of answers as to why people don’t trust God, but I won’t list them, for we all need to face the issue ourselves and then to give God a straight answer as to why we won’t simply trust Him – if we don’t!
Proverbs 3: 5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Prayer: I humbly confess, Father, that I don’t always find it easy to trust You.
As I read it! 