[FAITH’S EXPERIENCES] Mark 6.45-52                                                10.13.2019

CFA | Pastor Tracy Cook

 

TEXT Mark 6.45-52 ESV

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 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.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

  • PEOPLE WITH FAITH IN JESUS EXPERIENCE WIND AND WAVES.

Headwind / a simple definition is “a strong wind blowing against the front of (specifically) a boat, airplane or bicycle.”

This was not a sudden squall, but a wearisome, continual headwind. The disciples are somewhat tortured, straining, struggling, exhausted.

Jesus actually sent the disciples into this situation. They were not out of God’s will.

  • PEOPLE WITH FAITH IN JESUS EXPERIENCE AMAZEMENT.

50 They all saw him and were all terrified…

51 … They were utterly astounded,

52 …they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

“If the disciples had seen in the miracle of the loaves and fish an indication of the identity of Jesus rather than a mere miracle of multiplication of food, they would have recognized Him when He came to them on the water for the purpose of revealing Himself.” – James A. Brooks

2 sins of the disciples (and us?) – R. Alan Cole

  1. Smallness of faith / “failure to remember God’s working in the past and to apply that knowledge of His nature to our present problems.”
  2. Hardness of heart / “lack of spiritual perceptivity, that lack of readiness to learn.”
  • PEOPLE WITH FAITH IN JESUS EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE.

Three miracles in this passage:

  1. Jesus saw them
  2. Walking on the water
  3. The wind stopped