HE WOULD HAVE PASSED BY!

Friday, February 28, 2020

HE WOULD HAVE PASSED BY!

Mark 6:48

48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

           If you have been following this story for the past few days, you know that Jesus had fed 5,000 with only five loaves and two fishes. He then sent the disciples across the lake Gennesaret to the other side. He said that he would stay behind and disperse the crowd and then pray for a while on the nearby mountain. When Jesus finally began his walk across the lake it was the fourth watch – between 3 AM and 6AM. A sudden and violent storm began which seems to have had a devilish source. Yesterday found the disciples “toiling in rowing.”

           Mark now tells us that Jesus “would have passed them (us) by.” We get the idea from Mark that he felt this to be rather insensitive of the Savior to do so. Did He not see the predicament they were in? Well, of course He did! He just did not think it required intervention. He saw them!

           Ah, but now they saw Him! How can a man walk on water? They wrongly concluded that this was an apparition or a ghost of some lost sailor. They cried out in fear. No, strike that. They screamed in horror.

           Without getting ahead of ourselves, let me just say that many of our troubles seem rather normal to Jesus. He allows us to suffer various troubles without notable intervention. This tells me that Jesus has more faith in us than we often have in Him. Yet, He is watching and ready to step in if we ask – or scream.

Dear Lord, many are the struggles of your people. We toil painfully and make little progress, but you think that to be normal. Yet, when we cry out to you, we are assured of miraculous intervention. Well, Lord, please watch me carefully today. Hurry to help me when I cry out. AMEN