Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Mark 6:45-56.
“And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46).
“And he saw them toiling in the rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them… and he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea…” (Mark 6:48).
“For they all saw him and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid” (Mark 6:50).
Following the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6:35-44, the inspired Evangelist next describes a second “nature” miracle, Christ walking on the sea (Mark 6:45-51).
What spiritual uses might we draw from this passage?
First, it tells us who Christ is. He is the one described in Psalm 77:19, “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.”
It expresses God’s sovereignty over all things in creation, even the sea, but it also points out that his steps cannot always be traced by men. There are no footprints in the sea. Even when we can’t see him with the physical eye we know he is there.
Second, it tells us how Christ cares for his saints when they are in the midst of the sea and sometimes “toiling in rowing” with the wind “contrary” to them.
Consider this picture. Christ is on the mountain praying (Mark 6:46), and the disciples are in the ship struggling (Mark 6:48). Christ sees this and comes to them.
Consider Hebrews 7:24 which speaks of Christ as the one who “ever liveth to make intercession” for his elect saints.
Consider his promise to the apostles in Matthew 28:20 that he would be with them even to the end of the world.
In John 14:18 Christ said to the disciples, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
The commentary in the Geneva Bible reads, “The faithful servants of God after their little labor, are subject to a great tempest, which Christ doth so moderate being present in power, although absent in body, that he bringeth them to an happy haven, at such time and by such means, as they looked not for: A lively image for the Church tossed to and fro in this world.”
Matthew Henry observed:
The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted we may have Christ for us, and yet wind and tide against us; but is a comfort to Christ’s disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them.
Henry later added:
Christ’s presence with us in a stormy day, is enough to make us of good cheer, though clouds and darkness be round about us.
Let them have but their Master with them, and all is well.
This is true today not just for the church collectively but for each constituent body part. You may be in a boat trying to head in the right direction, a Christ guided direction. Living for Christ rarely goes smoothly. A headwind arises. You are going against the grain, swimming upstream, as it were. You have tried hard, but you are making little progress. It is late and you are tired. But you are not alone. Christ is ever living to make intercession for you. He sees your condition. And he comes across all barriers to say:
Be of good cheer: It is I; be not afraid (Mark 6:50).
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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