Jesus Walking on the Sea - Mark 6:48

Mark wrote how Jesus, “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 in chapter six and verse forty-seven of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus saw His disciples, “toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them” where we read:

And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

The verse reads, “And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them:” Mark began with the words, “and he saw them” which means “and Jesus observed and noticed His disciples” “toiling in rowing” or “being vexed with grievous pain, harassed, tortured and distressed while pulling their oars as to drive the ship”; “for the wind” which means “because the violent agitation and stream of air or very strong tempestuous wind” “was contrary unto them” or “was in opposition, hostile, antagonistic and as an adversary to the disciples”. Mark shared how Jesus observed His disciples ardently “rowing” because there was a “hostile and antagonistic wind” against them.

The verse continues, “and about the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.” Mark added the words, “and about the fourth watch of the night” which means “during the time of night during which guard was kept between the hours of three a.m. to six a.m” “he came unto them” or “Jesus approached the disciples”, “walking upon the sea” which means “ambling and treading upon the sea waters”, “and would have passed them by” or “and had in mind and intended to neglect, omit and avert His disciples”. Mark shared how Jesus approached His disciples while “walking” upon the water between the hours of three and six a.m., and He acted like He was going to avoid contacting them at all.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we discover how Jesus not only noticed His disciples “rowing” against the “contrary wind”, He approached them as though He would help them. However, He acted like He was going to “pass” by them. God knows what He is doing at all times, and because the disciples of Jesus needed another lesson in faith, He conducted Himself as if they were in no trouble at all. God loves people to trust in Him, and when they yield their lives to His Son Jesus, He promises to supply them with whatever they need. Those who are wise shall yield their lives to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and find Him ready and willing to minister to them even when it appears that He does not care.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus' disciples, “supposed it had been a spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".