The Pilgrim Path---Mark 6: 45—52

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 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 he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

DO NOT BE AFRAID / HARD HEARTS

---Jesus is on the move: This is one of the themes of Mark’s Gospel---action! None of us belong to “time” for very long---we must “do” what we were meant to do. Jesus is about the Father’s business…

---Jesus has the Crowd go away: Now is His time to seek the Father’s face in prayer. This is the rhythm of the Gospels---with God / with people (showing us the pattern for our own lives)

---Jesus saw the Disciples were struggling in the boat: He always “sees” us in our “boat” ---whatever struggles we may be enduring…

---Jesus was without a boat: The Disciples had taken off. So, Jesus begins to “walk” across the sea! The conciseness of the Gospel of Mark---Jesus “stops” because the Disciples are “scared” ---they believe He is a ghost---So, Jesus stops to tend to them (so personal the Prince of Life).

---Jesus is aware of terrified Saints: He got in the boat with them!

---Jesus’ very presence stopped the wind that was moving over the sea! His Disciples were amazed!

---Jesus may have calmed the waters: Yet His Disciples had not learned the “lesson” of the loaves---One of those lessons was this one: Jesus really is the Master of Nature / He is Creator and LORD…If He is with You, the matter at hand will be handled (what we pray for is God’s glory to be made evident and the good of our soul---The LORD knows best).

---Jesus’ Disciples had hard hearts: Our hearts “tend” to be hard…The world is a heart-hardening place / a Faith-flattening place… we tend to be completely unaware of just how hard our hearts have become…And these were Disciples who had been around Jesus for some considerable time (they had not merely been to church). We need a “faith-lift” don’t we? We need to be taken out of ourselves with some great regularity…

---Jesus wanted them to reflect upon who He is--- and what He had done--- since the feeding of the 5,000. His Word, and the Truth of His Word in action, should have had more of an impact upon His Disciples---and upon me…Failure to use means (the Word in reflection, repentance, meditation and prayer) will cost us.

Please aid us LORD, in the softening of our hearts---a genuine daily need!

“Put Christ’s love to the trial and put upon it burdens, and then it will appear love indeed.” Samuel Rutherford

Gracious God, my heart renew,

Make my spirit right and true;

Cast me not away from thee,

Let thy Spirit dwell in me;

Thy salvation’s joy impart,

Steadfast make my willing heart.

From Psalm 51: 1 – 15, The Psalter, 1912

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason