Tag Archives: Mark 6

Stormaphobe

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Mark 6:50-54,56 (NIV)
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. [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. [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 it were healed.

I have to get out of this chapter.

But I haven’t yet because I need the reminders-

Sometimes God does send us into deadly storms
But he never abandons us
He walks through them, abides with us, then commands the storms to cease
Because he is God.

The people Mark describes in this story have an almost comic energy–they run en masse to and around Jesus. Like a school of fish or a herd of sheep…only in this case their lack of dignity and frenetic searching make perfect sense. Jesus means God saves.

They run to an offer they would be silly to refuse.

And ultimately I am with them– no dignity left, desperate and silly, running to the God who saves.

Chapter 6.

The 4th Watch and the Ghost

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Mark 6:48-50 (NIV)
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. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

This passage reminds me of the beginning of Hamlet–it is spooky. Some guys on a boat, lost in a storm, see a ghost. No wonder they were terrified. They were in a scary place.

I remember reading Into Thin Air and marveling at the spookiness and privation of that story. Just stay off the mountain, people!!

But we all face death. If veteran fishermen can’t avoid a terrifying storm, then I should take comfort when my life is rocked by storm.

I am a stormaphobe. I want smooth sailing. But when each storm has threatened the boat of my life, I too have seen the Miraculous walking toward me on impossible waters.

Somebody else tells me to take courage and I might be inclined to snap. He says it and I listen.

Because his is the voice that can calm the storm.

Take courage
It is him
He is here.

Where the flip is Jesus?

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Mark 6:46-50 (NIV)
After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. [47] Later that night, 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. Shortly before dawn 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. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

I don’t know about you, but I can see them in the boat–bailing water, straining against the storm, really scared with little bubbles over their heads asking– Where the flip is Jesus?!

….when you need him.

We have those storms. We think we are perishing. We try our best to help ourselves and then start to feel desperate…because the wind is against us.

But he is always there. Not because he is omniscient, (check) or omnipotent, (check again). No. Because he has paid with his life a debt of sin for a treasure of love.

If he did not abandon us to hell, a storm or two is a cake walk. For him.

Disciples

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Mark 6:6-13 (NIV)
And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. [7] Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. [8] These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. [9] Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. [10] Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. [11] And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.” [12] They went out and preached that people should repent. [13] They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Ok! Today’s Bible study assignment is to do what Jesus commands.

Let’s review: you need a buddy. Who is going to be your discipleship buddy? I like the idea that the disciples went in pairs, but not all pairs are created equal. Imagine how it might have played out to be Judas Iscariot’s partner.

Why a staff? A staff is about support, authority, and protection. It was something one leaned on to walk through rough places, but it was also a weapon and a frequent aide in healing and other miraculous events–all those Mosaic miracles? Yep. A staff.

The staff was a symbol of God’s sovereign call. It conveyed power.

But then things just get tough and weird–no extra clothes? No snacks? No bag for your stuff? No stuff?!

Yep. No stuff. Jesus is promising provisions. No, this isn’t a traveling vacation–but when you need something pray, and you will get what you need.

And if the crowd is hostile and unwelcoming? Get out of there and take no souvenirs.

A parable for living…