Message

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JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER

 

Mark 6:45-56

Key Verse:6:50b “Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

  Last week we heard about how Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Through this event, Jesus revealed that he is the compassionate God, who cares for his people and provides food for hungry people, both spiritually and physically. We also learned that Jesus blessed the faith of the disciples who brought the five loaves and the two fish to him. Yesterday one of our members decided to bring his heart and bible study materials to Jesus as his five loaves and two fish to feed young people. Others resolved to bring their daily visits to campus and their prayers, and still others their Bible readings and memorization. I believe that Jesus will bless our faith and use it for feeding many hungry souls at campuses around St. Louis.

  In today’s passage, Jesus walks on the water. By walking on the water, Jesus shows us again that he is the Almighty God. Jesus also helps his disciples who are in trouble. Indeed he is the wonderful Savior who cares for us and saves us when we are in trouble. May God bless our life of faith with Jesus.

1. Jesus went up to a mountainside to pray. (45-46)

Look at verse 45. “Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.” These things happened just after Jesus had fed the five thousand with the five loaves and the two fish. Jesus forced his disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. Jesus knew that his disciples needed to get some rest. (31) Since they were following Jesus, they did not have enough time for eating and sleeping because they had to serve many demanding people who came to Jesus for help.

  There was another reason why Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him. Look at verse 46. “After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.” Here we learn that Jesus intentionally made himself alone to pray. Prayer is personal fellowship with God. Through prayer Jesus had a personal relationship with God. Through prayer Jesus listened to God and talked to him. Through prayer Jesus received the necessary strength and wisdom to do God’s will.

  Jesus was very busy in healing the sick, teaching the crowd, and training his disciples. He had no regular meal time or sleeping hour. Once he said to his disciples, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Mt 8:20) He was also extremely tired. But he did not forget to pray. He did not ignore keeling down before the Father and calling his name. We are all busy at doing many things. Indeed, life in America does not allow us to take a break. Despite our busy schedule and many responsibilities, we must pray. We must not forget to come before God and kneel down. As Jesus made himself alone and prayed, we also must have a personal time for prayer and for meditation. It is good for us to get up early in the morning and start every day with prayer. When we start a day with prayer, we find that everything will go smoothly by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we also pray early in the morning, God provides us with the necessary strength and wisdom to overcome the world. Above all, when we pray, we will have a vine and branch relationship with our Lord Jesus, and our faith in him will be strengthened and deepened all the more. May God help us to learn Jesus’ prayer life, especially his personal prayer in the midst of busy schedule.

2. When the wind is against us (47-50)

Look at verses 47,48. “When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them…” It was evening. The boat was gliding on glassy water. When they reached the middle of the lake, the disciples encountered an unexpected obstacle, a strong wind. The disciples were straining at the oars because the wind was blowing against them. Still they remembered the previous storm which almost swallowed them up. (4:37) At that time, they were at the point of drowning. But, Jesus rebuked the wind and they were saved.  They were amazed by the power and authority of Jesus who controlled the storm. But, now the situation was different. There was no Jesus in their boat. They were alone. So they struggled to overcome the wind with all their strength, but the situation was getting worse. The wind became stronger and stronger. Some of them were experienced fishermen and seamen. But, their experience and skills did not work. They confronted a strong wind which was blowing against them. They were frightened and became to panic.

In the voyage of life, we frequently confront a wind which is blowing against us. In other words, we experience a moment when everything is against us. How nice it would be if our life sailed smoothly only by a gentle breeze! How easy the life of faith would be if all things were to go as well as we expect and wish them to go. However, from time to time, life does not go as well as we expect. We meet a strong wind which blows against us. How do we react in this adverse situation? From time to time, I easily get mad when things do not go well. Sometimes, I blame myself and blame the situation by saying ungraceful words. Someone said that he used to repeat, “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus !” when the things did not go well. How about you?

The disciples were struggling hard to overcome the wind. They must have been exhausted and frustrated. They were frightened and terrified when the wind blew against them even stronger until they were at the point of perishing. At such an adverse and critical moment, what did Jesus do?  The Bible says that Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars. Jesus did not sleep. Jesus did not forget them. Jesus saw them and cared for them. We must not forget that Jesus always watches over us and cares for us. Remember that we are not alone, but Jesus is always with us whether it is in the time of easy sailing, or in the time of a severe storm.

How did Jesus help his disciples? Jesus went to rescue them, walking on the water.  We don’t know how fast Jesus walked to reach the troubled disciples. But, what was the disciples’ response? Look at verses 49,50a, “…but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified…” The disciples had never seen anyone walk on the lake except for a little boy running fast on the water in the movie ‘The Incredibles.’ So they thought it was a ghost who was coming to them on the water.  They were exhausted from the strong wind. They suffered from the fear of death through the last huge storm. Now, they were gripped with the fear of being eaten up by a ghost. It was the fourth watch of the night, around 3:00 a.m. in modern times. The disciples must have thought that finally their time had come. They cried out all the more when the ghost, the agent of death, was approaching to lead their soul to somewhere bad.  They were in panic.

What did Jesus say to his terrified disciples? Look at verse 50b. “Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus did not hesitate in rescuing his disciples. He did not delay in helping them. Immediately he told them, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” In the time of trouble, we must hear the voice of Jesus. In the time of crisis, we must fix our eyes on Jesus and hear his voice, the voice of salvation, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” These days, people in the world and especially in America are in panic because of the financial crisis. Despite the 700 billion dollars bailout from the government, the crisis does not seem to be resolved. People are worried about their money, their retirement plan and their future security. Not only Americans, but also people of the world are afraid of a global recession which may be the worst since the Great Depression. Now, the time has come for all people of the world to hear the words of Jesus, ‘Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Now, it is the time for them to turn their eyes to Jesus and to listen to what he says.  One student was in trouble when she failed her first test. But, she did not lose heart. She simply trusted Jesus and fixed her eyes on Jesus. Then, she found Jesus who was with her and was ready to help her. Nationally or personally, we must fix our eyes on Jesus and hear his voice. “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Look at verse 51. “Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed.” Before Jesus came to his disciples, the wind was wild and violent like a hungry lion which looks for someone to devour.  But, the moment Jesus climbed into the boat, the violent wind died down and turned into a gentle breeze like a sweet puppy. Here we learn a very important lesson: that we must invite Jesus into our boat. There is a big difference between a life with Jesus and a life without Jesus. The life with Jesus is like sailing with a gentle breeze which leads us to our final destination, the kingdom of heaven, safe and sound. On the contrary, the life without Jesus is like sailing against a strong wind which makes our boat go astray in the vast ocean.  As long as Jesus is with us, our sailing is safe and secure. As long as Jesus is in our boat, we don’t have to worry about safety and security because he will protect us and care for us. Now it is time to open our hearts and to welcome him into our hearts. It is time for us to accept him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

My life without Jesus was just like sailing against the wind. In order to be an artist, I quit my job and entered an art school. I worked hard to become top in my class. I also enjoyed all kinds of physical pleasures. But, the life without Jesus did not give me any meaning and purpose. After losing my health due to heavy drinking, I was in deep turmoil. In fact, I was like the disciples of Jesus who were straining at an oar to survive in this perishing world. I despaired and cried without any hope about my future. But, at that time, Jesus came to me through Bible study and said, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” I accepted him as my Lord and Savior and invited him into my boat of life. The moment Jesus climbed into my boat, the strong wind of life died down and heavenly peace came to me. Since then, Jesus is the pilot in the boat of my life. Jesus is my Wonderful Savior and Prince of Peace. He is the king of salvation and the ruler of history. I praise Jesus and thank him who is with me and leads me.

3. The sense of history (52-56)

Look at verse 52. “for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” The author Mark pointed out the problem of the disciples - that they did not have the sense of history. Not long ago, they saw how Jesus fed the five thousand with the five loaves and the two fish. They must have believed that Jesus is the Son of God and believe in him from their heart. But, they totally forgot who Jesus was. They did not understand the meaning of the five loaves and two fish. They forgot that Jesus blessed them when they brought the five loaves and the two fish by faith. They forgot how to live by faith. They only worried about the future and their heart became hardened. 

  It is very important for us to remember what God has done for us. We must have the sense of history. If we experience the power of God and his presence in our lives, we must imprint this on our hearts as we would engrave our names on a rock.  People say that America is the only superpower nation. But, we must remember how the Roman Empire collapsed and disappeared.  Above all, we must remember how God established America 400 years ago, and what God’s will and purpose for this country is. When we forget what God has done and what the will of God for this country is, we will repeat the destiny of the Roman Empire in America. Nationally or personally we must remember what God has done for us.  

 

  When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. (53) According to John’s Gospel, as soon as Jesus climbed into their boat, immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (Jn 6:21) Indeed, life with Jesus is like sailing with a gentle breeze. Everything will go well and safe as long as Jesus is with us and accompanies our journey to heaven. Amen.  As soon as Jesus’ company got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went-into villages, towns or countryside-they placed the sick into the market places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. (54-56)

  In today’s passage we learned the importance of personal faith in Jesus. In the midst of a strong wind, those who have a deep personal relationship with Jesus hear Jesus’ words. Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus have peace in their hearts because Jesus remains in their hearts. May God help us to accept Jesus into our hearts as Lord and savior. May Jesus become our Wonderful Savior. Amen.

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