Part 19: Spiritually Clueless Mark 6:45-56

Where Are We? Up to this point, the disciples have heard Jesus’ teaching, His claims of deity- being verified by miracles like healing the sick, casting out demons, calming the storm, raising the dead, empowering the disciples to preach, and feeding up to 20,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. You would have thought that they were at a point of complete trust and faith in Him.

Big Idea! “…because Jesus Christ is the glorious, infinite God, we must walk daily knowing that life’s storms are allowed by Him and that deliverance comes through Him!”

Mark 6: Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Mark 6: When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,

Mark 6: because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6: When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

His Command (6:45-46)

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

His Command (6:45-46) 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Luke tells us, “ 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16 ESV), as if it were a normal occurrence. If God-in-the-flesh thought prayer was essential to every aspect of His ministry, so should we!

His Coming (6:47-50a)

47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

His Coming (6:47-50a) 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

His Coming (6:47-50a) 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

God vs. Mighty Waters Job… “who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;” (Job 9:8 ESV). Isaiah… “Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,” (Is 43:16 ESV) Jesus here shows He is sovereign God, Master over the fierceness of the sea and savior of all those who are under its influence!

His Coming (6:47-50a) 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

God Shows His Glory 17 And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. (Ex 33:17–19 ESV)

God Shows His Glory 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation. (Ex 34:6–7 ESV) The Son of God, used this opportunity to display His glory to His storm drenched disciples, wanting them to recognize that only in Him could they be rescued.

His Coming (6:47-50a) 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land 48 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, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

His Comfort (6:50b-52)

50 Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. Exposure to the glory of God to those in close proximity must be followed up by words of comfort and reassurance.

The Awesome Presence of God “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” (Rev 20:11 ESV) ““Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt 25:41 ESV)

His Comfort (6:50b-52) 50 Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. “…repent and believe in the gospel”” (Mark 1:15 ESV)

His Comfort (6:50b-52) 50 Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. It is time to stop our “spiritual cluelessness” and get on our face before the one who causes great men to fear and all creation to flee!

His Compassion (6:53-56)

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. People are what ministry is all about, not programs, not the size of our church or how big our budget, but people. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes…He expended Himself for them. If we talk about being His disciples and claiming his Lordship in our lives, how can we not have the same compassion for people?

So What? 1.Do we have a clue that Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord over all life’s storms? He uses them to reveal His glory. 2.Do we have a clue that this same sovereign Lord has come to seek and to save those who are lost? Jesus ministry was about people, so should ours.

So What? 3.Do we have a clue that this same sovereign Lord has commissioned us to continue in the work He started? Jesus said, ““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 ESV)