MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St.Mark

St. Mark 6:45-56

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THIS INCIDENT of Jesus walking on the water is another remarkable and well known event of the Gospels. It is plain from verse 52 where we read "for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened", that this is a continuation of the self-revelation of Jesus, which he commenced in the feeding of the five thousand. In the incident of the loaves where Jesus had demonstrated his deity by creating food, the disciples were being taught concerning the truth of Jesus. Like all of us human beings, their hearts were hardened against the truth, so although they noted the miracle, they were unable to draw the right conclusion from it. Jesus then gives them another demonstration of his deity by walking on the water and stilling the storm, in order to soften their hearts and bring them to understand and believe.

We are meant to learn and be convinced of the same truth by this record. How sad it is when people's hearts are so harden, that they will reject the evidence of history, and refuse to believe what is recorded by eye witnesses. They prefer instead to look for any other explanation, however unlikely or unrealistic it may be. In fact Jesus reveals his deity in three different ways in this passage. Firstly he reveals his omniscience (His all knowing) in verse 48 where we are told he saw the plight of the disciples struggling in the storm, even though it was dark and he was far away and out of sight on the land. Secondly Jesus does what is humanly impossible - he walks on the surface of the sea of Galilee, even when the sea was very turbulent owing to the storm raging at the time. Thirdly he stills the wind so the storm ceases and the boat is safe. This is the second example of this power. We read the first incident at the end of chapter 4.

Never let the devil, or the world, or the doubts of our fallen human nature rob us of the truth of Jesus' deity that these miracles reveal. The disciples, even though they saw the events before their eyes, still found it so very difficult to believe.

There is also an example of the true humanity of Jesus. We are told in verse 46 that after the disciples had set forth in the boat, Jesus went inland to a quiet spot to pray. There is the truth that Jesus as God, desired to have communion with the Father, but the passage indicates more strongly that this need for prayer was because he needed to renew his mental and spiritual resources. He needed to pray because, like us all he became spiritually depleted, and needed to have fellowship with God, so that his spirit may be renewed, and that he may seek the will and purpose of God. This was a need of his true humanity.

As Jesus needed these times of communion with God for his spiritual renewal, so much more do we. As Jesus left his disciples to fend for themselves in order to engage in prayer, so do we need to put prayer and communion with God before all other duties, remembering that the success of our witness and ministry will depend on the revitalisation of our life and spirit which such communion with God achieves. If Jesus needed to get apart and pray, how much more we who are sinful and weak.

The example of the omniscience of Jesus, that is that he knows everything, is not only an example of his deity as we have already noted, but it is a source of comfort to Christians in the ups and downs of life. Of course it can be terrifying to realise that there is nothing that we do or think that is hidden from the Lord, but the lesson here is one of comfort.

The disciples were on their own on the lake. They were in great trouble, and they feared for their lives. There was no way that they could get help. They must have felt so very much alone. But the fact is that they were not alone. Jesus was watching over them, and their trouble was clearly known to him, together with the fear it was causing. Further we learn that Jesus is not a God who looks on with disinterest on our struggles, but a Saviour who comes to our aid, and delivers us in our time of need. Whatever our circumstance at any time, this lesson is true. Our life is open to the Lord, and he is engaged in love for our blessing and salvation. We may not experience such a remarkable salvation as the disciples on this occasion, and God's aid may not seem to come at the time we specially feel the need of it; nonetheless this truth about Jesus is real. We are never alone and never forsaken, and are always under the care of the Lord for good.

The care of Jesus for his disciples then and now is enhanced by the way he cared for them on this occasion. His power is unlimited and so the apparent inaccessibility of the disciples alone in the storm was no barrier to Jesus coming to them. Further the problem, though beyond the power of mankind to solve, was well within the resources of Jesus to solve. The way Jesus comes to them is also instructive. Why did he seem to be walking past them, and then only coming to them when they cried out in fear. I don't know, just as I don't always understand the way Jesus deals with me as he cares, loves, protects and guides me. There must have been a very good reason, and it enhanced his care and love, and did not in any way negate it. There is no time when Jesus ceases to care for us and keep us. We need to hold on to this always, so that at times of stress it may not evaporate from our minds and hearts, but will be our strong support.

The last lesson from this passage is another lesson concerning the character of Jesus. I feel this is so important because there is so much action in the lives of other Christians and in the attitudes of people within the church that negate this truth. We need to note this lesson, so that we may not be destroyed by the false images of Christ so often portrayed before us from the words and in the lives of other Christians.

The moment Jesus and his disciples reached the other side, people crowded around Jesus for his help and healing. Jesus did not enquire into their worthiness, or make conditions for his love to be bestowed. Nor did Jesus tell them the time was not right, or that he was too tired, or their was some other reason that it was inconvenient to help them. Rather, all who begged him for his help and healing found it without any question or condition. This sort of unconditional love is the character of Jesus. Never let others destroy this understanding in your heart and mind.

Further as we show forth the same character in our dealings with others we will find the same power in love that emanated from Jesus will in a lesser measure emanate from us, and this power of love is that which draws people from sin to the Saviour, and brings healing to their spirits as well as their bodies. So often Christians spend their time condemning and criticising. Standing back from others like the Pharisees of old. All this does, what ever the motives are, is to turn people away from salvation.