Sometimes, stories can be
glossed over -- only providing basic facts -- yet missing more intriguing elements.
Such is the case in this next section of verses.
First… the writer of the
gospel of MARK, matter-of-fact states 1) the disciples got in a boat headed
to Bethsaida, 2) Jesus dismissed the crowd, 3) Jesus then went up on a
mountainside to pray.
Uh,… why the rush by Jesus
to get the disciples in a boat?
Was it because the
disciples were beyond exhaustion that Jesus made them leave so they could rest?
That would be odd though since he was going to go with them earlier… before
they were met by the crowd upon their arrival. Why would Jesus separate himself
from the disciples?
Between being fed
physically and spiritually, there are some in the crowd who believe "this
is the Prophet who is to come into the world." [i] A frenzy of emotion is
bubbling. Sounds like it's a one-sided happy Jesus-fest.
But… is everyone in the
crowd a fan of Jesus? Don't bet on it. The gospel of JOHN provides insight --
specifically 6:15 -- after the feeding of the 5,000+. "Jesus, knowing that
they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain
by himself." [ii]
Included in the mass of
humanity were orthodox religious leaders who were against his ministry; the suspicious
ruler of Galilee (Herod Antipas) had spies throughout the land with word out
about this "miracle worker"; nationalists wanted a Jewish King to
overthrown the Romans -- not with love, teaching, healing and miracles but by
brute force.
Time for a prudent
decision. Jesus decided to calm things down. "He did not want his
disciples to be infected and caught up in this nationalist outburst. Galilee
was the hotbed of revolution. If this movement was not checked, there might
well emerge among the excitable people a rebellion which would wreck
everything." [iii]
Another strategic move on
Jesus' part was noted by Marc * who stated, "He wanted the disciples to
leave an area ruled by the Antipas (where power was an issue) and travel across
the water to Bethsaida in the territory ruled by Antipas' brother Philip. They
would be safer there." So the disciples begin their journey across water while
Jesus says some parting words.
I think it makes sense as
well that Jesus needed to find a quiet place. When everyone is clawing at you,
demanding this and that, when opposing parties want a piece of you,… no wonder
he needed to get away. Jesus withdrew from the chaos to pray and get centered…
to calm things down within himself before proceeding.
Time passes. It's now the
fourth watch; between 3 am and 6 am. For quite some time, the disciples have
struggled against the wind while doing their best to paddle to Bethsaida.
It is within verses 48-52
that I'll summarize. Maybe I'll disappoint you in not trying to logically
explain the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. Maybe you're questioning how
Jesus could've seen the disciples from the mountainside… in the dark. All well
and good, but what really happened here, we don't know. It's a mystery.
Nonetheless…
Here's what I'd like
emphasize: Jesus had not lost sight of those who had lost sight of him. He
chose to leave from his place of prayer to calm the fears of the disciples. To
right the boat. To calm the waters. To ease their burdens. To soothe their
souls. To care for his friends.
Yet, "their hearts
were hardened." [iv] It's not that they didn't
love Jesus; it's not that they weren't witnessing amazing things. It was just
extremely difficult to fully comprehend everything that was going on. However,
Jesus wasn't giving up on them, and even in the clouds within their hearts and
minds, the disciples weren't giving up on Jesus.
A directional adjustment
is then made in that they dock at Gennersaret, a town on the northwest shore of
the Sea of Galilee. Even there, Jesus does not go unnoticed. People want and
need to be healed.
It is here that something
struck me. Everyone is so enamored by the power, the healing, the miracles of
Jesus. Everyone comes to him wanting something. He gives and gives and gives.
If all we do is want
something from God at all times, something seems rather askew.
As we now approach the day
of Christmas, what do we give to Jesus? What do we give to God?
NEXT…
"Have you washed your
hands?"; what goes "in" isn't necessarily what comes
"out"
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