Instruction
Scripture: Mark6:45-56
One of Mark’s favorite words in his account of Jesus’ life
is, “immediately.” This reading takes place immediately after the Feeding of
the Five-Thousand. In it he sends the disciples to the other side of the Sea of
Galilee while he goes off to pray. Later he walks upon the water and would have
beat them to the other side of the sea, but when they saw him they were afraid,
so he stopped and comforted them. The last verse of the reading gives us the
reason that this account is recorded for us as it tells us that despite the
fact that they had seen many miracles, the disciples did not understand and
that their hearts were hardened. They did not yet believe in Jesus as the
Christ who saves his people from their sins.
Teaching
This short account can provide a handful of lessons for us
to learn. One thing we could observe in it is Jesus’ habit of spending time in prayer,
and much could be said about the importance of prayer in his ministry and for
our lives. We could also spend time considering the miracle. Jesus again shows
himself to be the master of the sea and one with power to break the laws of
nature. This mark of his divinity did not create faith in his disciples
however. We could also spend time considering the extra detail that Mark
includes in his account of Jesus walking on water: he meant to pass them by.
Indeed, so much about Jesus had “passed by” the disciples, could Mark be saying
that believing in Jesus has less to do with intellect and observation and more
to do with blind faith and revelation?
There is yet another teaching in this text that confronts us
and comforts us. It is this: the disciples didn’t understand. They saw Jesus.
They heard him preach. They were right there, but they didn’t understand. Mark
says it was because their hearts were hard. The confrontation here is that our
hearts, too, can be hard leading to our inability to understand Jesus. Yet the
comfort for us is that Jesus forgave those men and used them as his messengers
to world. He forgives us and uses us in his mission to reach those in the world
with the good news of his love and forgiveness.
Life
Often we feel inadequate in life, and that includes our
faith life. We know all too well our confusion, fears, doubts, and lack of
understanding. Sometimes this holds us back from acting upon our faith in Jesus.
We think we have to get ourselves together before he can use us. The truth is
just the opposite, he uses us in our inadequacy and comes to us saying, “Do not
be afraid.” His forgiveness is enough.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the theme of Instruction.
Lord Jesus, you teach your followers in your word. The
disciples saw the miracles, ate the bread and fish, saw you walk on water and
so much more, yet this did not reveal to them who you are or why you had come.
Teach us to be patient with people when they (or we!) struggle with
understanding who you are and what you have done for us. Open our minds to
understand your word and soften our hearts so that we might believe it. We read
that you intended to pass by the disciples in the boat, do not let your word
pass us by, but by the power of your Holy Spirit enlighten us to know you for
who you are – not merely a miracle worker, but the one who came to die and rise
again for our salvation and for the glory of the Father. Amen.
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