July 24, 2015

Instruction
Scripture: Mark6:45-56
After Jesus dismissed the crowds who ate the miraculous meal from five loaves of bread and two fish, he sent the disciples to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he himself when off to pray. Later in the night, as the disciples strained against the wind in the boat, Jesus came to them walking on the water. Mark displays Jesus as powerful but confusing to the Twelve, which serves as a warning to us against thinking we have Jesus fully figured out and that we know what he will or should do in every circumstance.
Teaching
There is so much strangeness in this text. Jesus sent off the disciples leaving himself stranded on the opposite side of the lake. He saw them struggling against the wind and went to them, but he meant to pass by them. His presence in the boat calmed the wind, similar to what they had experienced before, but the disciples were still utterly astounded and they did not understand. How could they? They were actually in the presence of the Creator of all things. Jesus is God who does as he chooses. He is also God who lays down his life to save his people. These things can only be understood by faith. These are things that can only be revealed by God’s word, otherwise Jesus might be another prophet, and not God incarnate.
Life
Sometimes our lives are confusing and God does not do for us as we think that he should. We expect healing but we continue on in illness. We desire blessings but feel like everything in our lives is going wrong. We yearn for God’s presence and yet he feels distant. The problem is not with God, but with our expectation. Jesus came to give his life to save sinners. Walking on water and calming storms are secondary for him. The real good news in this passage is Jesus’ words, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And this is what he speaks into all of our confusion as we follow him in faith.

Prayer

This prayer is written in the themes of Instruction and Petition.
Lord Jesus, teach us to hear your word so that we may know you rightly. You have shown us that despite seeing your miracles, the disciples were still hard-hearted and did not understand. This danger exists for us too. The miracles you did served as testimony to support your preaching and teaching, they accented and leant credibility to your words. Teach us to not focus on the signs you performed but to take heed of what you say. Enlighten our own confusion and help us to believe in you, help us to not mistake you for a ghost or some popular myth of who you are, but to know you for who you say you are.

As you came to the disciples you comforted them with your words. Your presence unsettled them and astounded them. Comfort us and all who go through difficult times with you word. When we think we understand you, unsettle us with your presence to drive us back to your word so we may know you all the better through it. Do not allow our hearts to be hard, and if they are, create new hearts within us that we might believe in you rightly. Defend us from attitudes that presume to fully understand you, but fill us so much with your love that even when we do not understand what is happening in our lives, we will still trust in you. Amen.

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