David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 6:47-48

And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

Psalm 14:2

Luke 12:5-7

[Jesus says,] “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.⁷ Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

It’s not unusual for a mother or father to watch their child as she strays into a place of limited danger. Maybe you’ve seen it at the grocery store or mall. Mom or dad will watch as the little one goes here and there, distracted by the candy, toys, or other enticements. Sometimes they will watch from just around a corner to see what happens when the child discovers she is alone. They watch and hope, it seems, to teach the child a lesson about staying close or just to see how the child handles the situation.

Perhaps Jesus was doing something like this on this occasion. Maybe he sent the disciples on ahead, knowing that they would struggle against the winds and waves, anticipating their cry for help. Jesus’ actions woud seem to indicate that at least in part. After all, he sees, he comes to them, and meant to pass by them – all the time walking on the water. When they call out to him he comes to them and brings literal peace into their boat: the wind ceases.

God watches. God comes to us – sovereign over every power of nature. God brings peace. This is the prerogative of God:

Job 9:8

who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;

Psalm 65:7

Psalm 89:9

Psalm 93:4

Jesus is God in the flesh! No wonder the disciples were in awe of him. Note this well: The God who tramples the waves is the One who comes to his disciples in the last hours of the night, having his eye on his disciples all during the night, and provides perfect peace by his presence.

That would be a good thing to remember today!

Mark 6:45-56

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. ⁴⁶ And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, ⁴⁹ but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, ⁵⁰ for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” ⁵¹ And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, ⁵² for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. ⁵⁴ And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him ⁵⁵ and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.