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19 January 2017
READING: MARK 6:45-56
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried those who were ill on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed those who were ill in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
REFLECTION
Hello everyone and welcome to Thursday's foundations podcast. My name is James and I lead the student work here at STC Sheffield. Today is our last look at Mark chapter 6 and it's a cracking story for us today - packed full of imagery and meaning - it's the story of Jesus walking on water. However long you’ve been a Christian or in and around Church you may be familiar with this story. It sort of has a ring of fame to it like Jesus turning water into wine or feeding the 5000. Even with the Christmas just past, I can recognise that in some conversations I had with my extended family, people are aware of this story. We are going to look at it together, we’ll pull some verses out as we go through & hopefully leave us with a fresh encouragement to take into the day ahead.
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
This whole story from start to finish is a good illustration of the life of a disciple. A life of battle and blessing. Sometimes we create this image in our heads that if we are good & obedient and are in-line with Gods will for our life then there will be sunshine & smiles - that the Sea of our lives will be calm. Only when we are disobedient & bad - do they rage. Here in this story we read in v45 that Jesus sent his disciples on a boat ahead of him. They were doing as they had been asked and yet the storm still comes. That's so important to engage with - because it is real - the storm didn't show they had deviated from God's path. Instead God’s path for them lay through the storm, to the other shore of the lake. I personally find that really encouraging. Just because there is difficulty in a day, or in my family, doesn't mean that I have done something wrong or that God is a bad God. This is the life of a disciple, that sometimes pressure will come because that is just life, a life of battle and blessing.
Now here is a question we can all take into our day and think about: why does Mark (the Gospel writer) say that Jesus meant to pass by them in verse 48?
Was it just one of the biggest jokes the Bible holds in its pages. Jesus was just going for a casual stroll on the sea when he casually came across the distressed disciples? Maybe, but it is probably recorded to teach us something particular about Jesus. One reason might be he was teaching the disciples a lesson. An opportunity for them to recognise their need of him before he came to their help. I wonder if that could be something for us to takeaway for today.
Similar to Wednesday's podcast of Jesus feeding the 5000. We are shown again that we don't have all the answers, we cannot do this thing called life on our own & in our own strength. And this story today reminds us that no situation is hopeless. We can call upon Jesus. We can all pray because with God, nothing is impossible. No word from God will ever fail. This is a great encouragement because we can take these stories of where we have seen God moving in the past, not just in scripture but in our own lives also, and remember that he can do it again in our present day situations. No matter what the conditions are. No matter how stormy or calm. Whatever we face. Nothing is impossible with God.
PRAYER
God, thank you for this story in the Bible. Would we be reminded today that you are our saviour. The great rescuer. I pray God you would give us a faith-filled vision for the day ahead to know nothing is impossible with God. Amen.
Want to get this podcast regularly? See http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/
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By STC SheffieldREADING: MARK 6:45-56
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried those who were ill on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed those who were ill in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
REFLECTION
Hello everyone and welcome to Thursday's foundations podcast. My name is James and I lead the student work here at STC Sheffield. Today is our last look at Mark chapter 6 and it's a cracking story for us today - packed full of imagery and meaning - it's the story of Jesus walking on water. However long you’ve been a Christian or in and around Church you may be familiar with this story. It sort of has a ring of fame to it like Jesus turning water into wine or feeding the 5000. Even with the Christmas just past, I can recognise that in some conversations I had with my extended family, people are aware of this story. We are going to look at it together, we’ll pull some verses out as we go through & hopefully leave us with a fresh encouragement to take into the day ahead.
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
This whole story from start to finish is a good illustration of the life of a disciple. A life of battle and blessing. Sometimes we create this image in our heads that if we are good & obedient and are in-line with Gods will for our life then there will be sunshine & smiles - that the Sea of our lives will be calm. Only when we are disobedient & bad - do they rage. Here in this story we read in v45 that Jesus sent his disciples on a boat ahead of him. They were doing as they had been asked and yet the storm still comes. That's so important to engage with - because it is real - the storm didn't show they had deviated from God's path. Instead God’s path for them lay through the storm, to the other shore of the lake. I personally find that really encouraging. Just because there is difficulty in a day, or in my family, doesn't mean that I have done something wrong or that God is a bad God. This is the life of a disciple, that sometimes pressure will come because that is just life, a life of battle and blessing.
Now here is a question we can all take into our day and think about: why does Mark (the Gospel writer) say that Jesus meant to pass by them in verse 48?
Was it just one of the biggest jokes the Bible holds in its pages. Jesus was just going for a casual stroll on the sea when he casually came across the distressed disciples? Maybe, but it is probably recorded to teach us something particular about Jesus. One reason might be he was teaching the disciples a lesson. An opportunity for them to recognise their need of him before he came to their help. I wonder if that could be something for us to takeaway for today.
Similar to Wednesday's podcast of Jesus feeding the 5000. We are shown again that we don't have all the answers, we cannot do this thing called life on our own & in our own strength. And this story today reminds us that no situation is hopeless. We can call upon Jesus. We can all pray because with God, nothing is impossible. No word from God will ever fail. This is a great encouragement because we can take these stories of where we have seen God moving in the past, not just in scripture but in our own lives also, and remember that he can do it again in our present day situations. No matter what the conditions are. No matter how stormy or calm. Whatever we face. Nothing is impossible with God.
PRAYER
God, thank you for this story in the Bible. Would we be reminded today that you are our saviour. The great rescuer. I pray God you would give us a faith-filled vision for the day ahead to know nothing is impossible with God. Amen.
Want to get this podcast regularly? See http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/