I was reading Mark 6:45 - 56 (NASB) this morning when a verse challenged my mind.  Jesus had sent the crowds away and wanted to be by himself for a while.  Before He departed, He sent the disciples off in a boat.  Then He went to the mountain to pray.  I don’t know how much time had passed, but when it was evening the disciples were in the middle of the sea and straining at the oars because the wind was against them.  At about the fourth watch of the night, between 6PM and midnight, He came to them walking on the sea.  The sentence that challenged my mind is “and He intended to pass them by”.  The first thought that came to my mind was … why would He intend to pass them by?  He saw they were straining with the oars and were probably very tired from their labor.  It seemed a strange thing to me. 

One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together”, says the Lord “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  I know this verse is in the context of salvation, but I believe we can reason with the Lord about anything.  This is not something that has come easy for me, in fact for many years I was afraid to reason with the Lord, but as my faith has grown, I have learned to do this.  So I reasoned with Him about this and as usual I learned something that will change my life. 

Here are the disciples straining against the oars.  They were following His instructions.  He sent them off in the boat.  Jesus saw them from the land and was aware of the circumstances.  I really like this statement.  Thinking about this alone tells me a great deal about the Lord.  When He gives me an assignment He does not just leave me alone and let me struggle with it.  He is aware of my situation and the circumstances, about what I am struggling with, and He moves near.  He makes me aware of His presence.

Suddenly they saw Him and they were gripped with fear thinking they were seeing a ghost.  I can identify.  They were in the middle of the lake extending their effort to overcome the wind,  exhausting their energy,  totally concentrating on their own efforts to get the job done, and maybe thinking (or actually not thinking) that the Lord isn’t anywhere around.  Oh how many times I have been there.  

I doubt that He was behind them when they saw Him.  They wouldn’t be looking behind them.  They weren’t running from anything.  Since it was His intention to pass them by, He was more than likely on one side or the other of the boat and moving ahead of them.  They cried out.  Not to Him because they didn’t recognize Him.  They cried out because of their fear.  He simply told them it was Him and not to be afraid.  He then climbed into the boat and the wind stopped.  They were astonished.  And suddenly they could rest.  I’m sure that they rested and then easily rowed then rest of the way to shore.

What is interesting is the last part of the scripture.  It says “and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”  The thing these disciples witnessed just before getting into the boat was Jesus feeding 5,000 men (probably 15 to 20,000 people) from five loaves and two fish, yet they were astonished to see Him walk on water and calm the wind.  How many times have I seen the Lord at work in my own life and yet been surprised, amazed, astonished every time.  I thank the Lord for His patience and willingness to work with me as He helps me gain insight from His miracles and increase my trust in Him a little each time.  (Phil. 1:6).   He could make every facet of my life easy, but how would I ever learn to trust Him?