Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Give Us This Day

Home
Evangelical
Thursday of Septuagesima Sunday – Mark 6:45-56

Thursday of Septuagesima Sunday – Mark 6:45-56

Last updated on: February 18, 2014 at 9:44 pm by Fr. Charles Erlandson

Thursday of Septuagesima Sunday – Mark 6:45-56 2014-02-18T21:44:43-05:00 Fr. Charles Erlandson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mark 6:45-56

The Gospels are filled with the most intriguing and edifying details. I find that they are so odd and unexpected sometimes that they confirm the authenticity of the Gospel writers’ accounts.

Here in Mark 6:48 we come across one of those intriguing and at first baffling details. Here’s the set up to the story: Jesus, with the help of the disciples feeds the 5000 hungry men. He then makes the disciples get in a boat and go to the other side in Bethsaida, while He sends the multitude away, after which He departs to the mountain to pray. While He’s praying, the disciples meanwhile are somewhere in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Sometime between 3 and 6 a.m., with the wind against them and straining to make any progress, Jesus comes skating by them on the water.

Now what would you think if you saw someone apparently walking on water? In that day and age you’d naturally assume He was a ghost. But that’s not the detail that intrigues me: I expect that of the disciples.

What’s really interesting is that Jesus, seeing them straining at rowing and walking on the water “would have passed them by” (verse 48.) Jesus was going to just whiz on by them without even so much as stopping to say “Shalom.”

Now apparently, if they could see Jesus, then He could see them. Having grown up in that region, He knew not only the difficult time the disciples might have but also the possibility that the winds might become a more serious storm that would threaten their lives.

And what does He do? He would have passed them by.

But He didn’t. Why not?

St. Augustine explains it this way: “What is the explanation, therefore, of his wish to bypass those persons whom nevertheless he was prepared to encourage when they were in despair? His intent in passing by them was to serve the purpose of eliciting those outcries in response to which he would then come to bring relief.”

Immediately after they cry out, He talks to them and says “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (verse 50.)

This incident is a picture of how we should turn to Christ and how He responds to our cries. St. Augustine’s explanation is worth pondering. Isn’t it true that we have many difficulties in life and that in many of them we never cry out to God? It may even be the unrecognized presence of God Himself that is troubling us, as He stirs up our lives. Our response is all-important. When you are in trouble, cry out to God.

The most important thing of all, though, is to recognize Jesus Christ in your life. The disciples, not having the Holy Spirit of the fullness of Christ yet, didn’t recognize Him at first. Even after He calms the waves and delivers Him, they still don’t understand, because their heart was hardened (verse 52.)

It is often in the middle of your troubles that Jesus most clearly reveals Himself to you. When we are safely and smoothly rowing in our boats, it’s easy to think that we’ve got things under control and don’t need God. But when the storms of life arise, or even sometimes just a contrary wind, we become more aware of our need for help.

If we cry out to Jesus Christ, He says the following to you: “Do not be afraid!” and “Be courageous.” Once again, I think the NKJV doesn’t quite capture it, when it says “Be of good cheer.” What Jesus really seems to be saying, in keeping with “Don’t be afraid,” is “Have courage!”

How can we not be afraid in times of serious trouble? How can we even have courage when forces larger than ourselves are against us? By calling on Jesus Christ and recognizing who He is.

I’m not sure any of the English translations get verse 50 entirely right. When Jesus tells the disciples not to be afraid and to have courage, He says this because He says “I AM.” Not just “It is I,” but “I AM.” Jesus isn’t saying something like “There’s no need to fear – Underdog is here.” He’s saying “I AM.” In Greek, He is saying ego eimi. Jesus is saying “Be courageous and not afraid, because I AM is here with you.” And I AM is the name God used to reveal Himself to Moses. I AM is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I AM, ego eimi, is Yahweh, God Almighty.

This is why we are not to be afraid: I AM is with us if we call on Him in our problems. This is how we can be courageous: when we call on the name of Jesus Christ, He will send the Holy Spirit, the Encourager to give us His courage and strength.

Don’t be worried if God doesn’t seem to be present in the problems you have today. He is right there, possibly planning on walking by, but also waiting for you to call on Him.

Whatever your problems, call on the Lord, and He will come to You and say “Don’t be afraid! Have courage!”

“I AM!!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I am rowing but getting nowhere today. My strength is gone, and my courage and resolve are quickly weakening. I cry out to You today in all of my problems, knowing that I am too small to solve them and knowing that You are willing and able to deliver me, if You desire. Come to me today, reveal Yourself to me in my problems. Deliver me in due time that I might once again thank You and praise Your holy Name. Amen.

Resolution and Point for Meditation: I resolve to reflect on the problem in my life that is most troubling me and to spend time calling out to Jesus for help. As He reveals Himself to me in my problem, I will remember to recognize Him, thank Him, and praise Him.

Book of Common Prayer

courage

crying out to God

fear

Fr. Charles Erlandson

Give Us This Day daily devotional

God’s presence

Holy Spirit

I AM

Jesus walking on water

Previous Post

February 18, 2014

Wednesday of Septuagesima Sunday - Mark 6:30-44

Next Post

February 18, 2014 Friday of Septuagesima Sunday - Mark 7:1-13

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Featured Give Us This Day Give Us This Day Devotional love me love my wife Love My Wife Reformed Catholicism Blog Spirit-Reality Take This Cup Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 September 2018 July 2018 March 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your ____.

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mind Actions Spirit Heart