Jesus in the Storm

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Wholewheat bread

Jesus was planning to go away with his disciples and rest a while; instead a large group gathered to hear Him. Rather than a relaxing day with His disciples, He spent His day ministering to people. It got late and they had no food; so He performed a miracle and fed five thousand.

 

Let’s pick up the story in Mark Chapter 6, Verse 45:

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 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.

 

He SAW the disciples straining at the oars. He stayed where he was till about dawn, Then He walked out onto the water. HE.was.going.to.PASS.by them! Can you believe it? He SAW the wind was against them. He saw that they were straining with the oars. He saw that they needed help. And He was going to PASS them by.

Lake landscape at storm photographed from yacht. Landscape with yachts on lake. Mazury lake district.
It blows my mind. These were His friends. These were his followers and He was going to pass them by. He knew they needed help.

 

I wonder what His thought was? Did He know that they were going to be ok? Did He know that when they met at the other side of the storm, when they landed, his friends in the boat would say “If only you had been with us; you could have saved us.”?  Or would have they been angry with him?  Would they have been amazed when they realized that He had walked thru the whole wind by himself, and they had such struggles with a boat? What were His thoughts as he approached the boat and went to pass it?

 

I’m puzzled. Yet looking at this story, and looking to how it really went; it really speaks a lesson to me.

Let’s keep reading.

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. (terrified)

 

What did they do? They Cried OUT. Look at why they cried out.  They cried out because they saw him and were terrified. Terrified.

 

Big and powerful sea waves during the storm

Do you ever feel terrified? Do you ever feel like the wind is against you and you are straining at the oars? Do you feel the storm around you and see waves crashing?  Do you see Jesus walking by you? Do you see something out in the distance and feel terrified?

 

We need to Cry out! Cry out for Jesus. 

 

You know how the rest of the story goes, yet let’s finish reading it:

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. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

 

Jesus spoke to them. He said “Take courage. It is I. Be not afraid.”
Then He climbed into the boat with them and the wind went away.

And they were amazed.
They were not amazed at the loaves; their hearts were hardened. They had not realized that the loaves that Jesus had fed the people was a miracle. It was a miracle and they didn’t even recognize it.  They were amazed when He got in the boat with them.

 

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This story has so many aspects to it. Let me summarize it for you or rather me.*

  • Jesus was going to pass them by and they called out. Let’s call out when we find ourselves in a storm.  Let’s plead for Him to come and help us!
  • Let’s learn from the fact that they did not count the miracle of the loaves and the feeding the 5,000 people as a miracle. Do we do that? Do we forget the fact that we have the money and the jobs and the provisions we need to get the food we need for the day. Do we only see miracles when we are rowing against the wind; out in the middle of the stormy lake? Let’s not let our heart be hardened, let us realize everything that God the great provider does for us. Let us see miracles in the little things, not just the big.
  • Last of all, let us be amazed. Amazed when He calms the wind. Amazed when He speaks “Take courage! It is I. Be not afraid.” Amazed when He gets in the boat with us. Amazed when the wind dies down.

Beautiful lake sunrise with sky reflections in water. Tranquil colorful scene of typical polish lake in Mazury lake district.

Join in the conversation:  Isn’t this chapter an amazing reminder to call out to Jesus for help?  What are some of the “little miracles” you are tempted to not be amazed by?

 

*Just in-case you forget; everything I write, I write it as lessons to myself first!!

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