David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 6:48-50, 56

And [Jesus] 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.”

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.

Jesus comes to us sometimes in a manner that we do not recognize him. Only by means of his message of grace and truth do we find peace. Sometimes, however, he is present with us in miraculous and exciting ways and we seek to touch the fringe of his garment as it were. In the first case the invitation is his. In the second case the effort is ours. In either case the goodness, grace, and power of Jesus is our blessing.

It may not be that we pray and seek his healing hand without obvious results. But Jesus’ healing grace is his gift and the hope of those in need. It might well have been that many in Jesus’ day refused to seek him out. We know there were many who doubted and rejected him. But if we do seek him, his presence is the greatest blessing we can enjoy.

Jesus has promised to be with us in his word and in the gathering of even two or three in his name. This is a blessing we all may enjoy through faith.

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.