Classroom
on the Sea: The Sequel
Since the last classroom episode on
the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41), wherein the disciples were left
scratching their heads, wondering what manner of man could command
obedience from both the wind and sea, the apostles have experienced (1)
the deliverance of a demon-possessed man, (2) the healing of a woman
with a twelve-year blood issue, (3) the resurrection of Jairus'
daughter from the dead, (4) the power to cast out demons and heal
physical infirmities, and (5) the feeding of five thousand men plus
women and children using just five loaves of bread and two fishes with
twelve baskets of leftovers. You would think by now that the “what
manner of man?” question would have been long since answered.
In 6:45-53, Mark records a second
classroom on the sea episode. There are similarities and differences.
What remained exactly the same after all that had transpired in the
disciples' lives was a heart problem, a hardening of their hearts. Mark
sets up this second classroom by telling us Jesus “constrained” them to
enter the ship and head for Bethsaida on the other side while he sent a
satiated crowd away (6:45). As they embarked upon the voyage, he
departed into a mountain to pray (6:46). After darkness had set in,
Jesus returned to the shore while the disciples were in “the midst of
the sea” (6:47).
I would love to have been a bug on a
blade of mountain grass and heard Jesus talking with the Father. It was
no doubt a time of sweet fellowship, a spiritual respite from the
rigors of the day. But I'm certain the disciples were also part of his
prayer time. It might have gone something like: “Father, I've got just
a few short years to prepare these twelve men for ministry. Right now
they're struggling to get it in their heads exactly who I am. Any
advice on next steps?” The Father responds, “Son, let's give them
another dose of the supernatural. Their future usefulness depends on
whether the supernatural becomes second nature to them!” So Jesus
descends back to the seashore after nightfall to re-engage the
Twelve.
This second classroom episode
involves three distinct themes: focus, fear and failure. Notice first
of all the focus of our Lord on his disciples. He saw THEM toiling in
rowing against a contrary wind (6:48). He cometh unto THEM about the
fourth watch of the night walking on the water (6:48). He would have
passed THEM by had they not seen him and cried out (6:48-49). This
episode was all about THEM and preparing THEM for ministry. It reminds
us that being in the perfect will of God, which the disciples were, can
sometimes involve “toiling” under tough conditions. Being in the center
of God's perfect will does NOT always mean smooth sailing. The verb
“toiling” is basavizo (“to vex with grievous pain, to torment). The
verb is a present passive participle. Literal translation: “Ones being
continuously tortured (vexed) in rowing.” This was not a fun cruise.
These guys were hurting! The “fourth watch” suggests to us they had
been at this for hours!
It's important for us to note that
while we may lose focus from time to time and have our spiritual goals
obscured by rough sailing, our Lord NEVER loses his focus on those he
loves. Whether he's sleeping in the ship or watching from the shore,
his people are ALWAYS the apple of his eye. Remember that Jesus did a
little toiling of his own in ascending and descending the prayer
mountain. As gym rats might say, the Lord was engaged in a serious
cardiovascular workout of his own on behalf of his men. That same
spirit of toil was prevalent as he walked up Calvary's hill a few years
later.
The second theme is fear. Jesus
walked close enough to the ship to be seen of the disciples. The fact
that he “would have passed by them” is no indication he was unconcerned
about or dismissive of their plight. He was there to help. He needed
only to be summoned by the helpless. When they all saw him walking upon
the sea, they were “troubled.” They were not elated, thrilled or
relieved, which is what faith would have produced. “Troubled” is
tarasso (to agitate, cause inward commotion, to strike one's spirit
with fear and dread). They thought they had seen a “spirit” (lit., a
phantom) There was NEVER a thought that the One who turned a 'great
storm' into a 'great calm' with a word could also command the sea to
provide supernatural bouyancy for its Creator's feet. The “what manner
of man?” question that ended the first classroom episode seems to have
remained unanswered. There were no dots connected, no faith conclusions
drawn. The words “sore amazed”, “beyond measure” and “wondered”
describe the overwhelming shock value of our Lord's supernatural walk
on water on these men. It should have been, by this time, second nature
to them.
Another point of comparison between
the two classrooms is our Lord's words. In the first, he spoke to the
wind first, which brought the calm. In the second, he spoke to the
disciples first. When he stepped into the ship, the sea calmed of its
own accord, In BOTH episodes, he spoke to a storm. There is NO storm so
great as fear that has gripped the heart of a follower of Christ. And
to this storm of fear, the Lord said: “Be of good cheer: it is I; be
not afraid” (6:50). The verb “Be of good cheer” is tharseo (“to be
encouraged, to have courage”). The phrase “It is I” is ego eimi (lit.,
“I AM”). It is the same phrase Jesus used in telling the Pharisees:
“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). It's the same two words Jesus
used often to identify himself as Jehovah, the Great I AM, the
eternally existing One. According to Jesus, when a disciple takes
encouragement from his presence, there is no place for fear to hide.
It's one thing to be toiling in the will of God and hurting because of
it. It's quite another to experience the vexation of soul that fear can
bring to a disciple's heart, in whom the supernatural is not, or has ceased to be, second
nature.
The third theme is failure. According
to Mark, the failure suffered by these men was a hardening of the heart
(6:52). Fear always produces spiritual failure. Spiritual failure is
rooted in the lack of proper consideration of things supernatural.
“Considered” is suniemi (sun=”together” + iemi=”to bring or place”). It
refers to the mental exercise of bringing together in one's mind
certain facts that produce sound conclusions. In this case, it was “the
loaves” the disciples had failed to consider. In the hands of Jesus,
the five loaves supernaturally fed five thousand. The disciples were
first-hand witnesses to the supernatural proliferation of those loaves
as Jesus broke them, a supernatural wonder that should have stuck in
their minds and caused serious reflection. While toiling in rowing,
they should have reflected upon the miracle of the loaves and drawn
conclusions about the Christ who performed it. If they had done so,
they would NOT have been shocked to see his supernatural water walk.
After all, which is harder? Turning five loaves into vittles for five
thousand or taking an evening stroll on his own sea?
The word “heart” is singular. Mark
views the individual hearts of these men as a collective unit. It tells
us something very important about influence. It reminds us of the
twelve Israeli spies, ten of whom had a single heart of unbelief,
united in their evil report. Joshua and Caleb had one heart as well,
united in a good report of faith. It makes me think that if just one of
those disciples had struck up a dialogue about their Lord's
supernatural work with the five loaves, it might have made all the
difference. Folks whose minds are FIXED on the supernatural when they
SEE the supernatural have a tendency to EMBRACE the supernatural. If
you're one who's toiling, allowing life's difficulties to raise
calluses upon (harden) your heart, the supernatural will likely come as
a complete surprise and throw you for a spiritual loop.
The word “hardened” is poroo (“to
cover with a thick skin, to callus”). The picture is that of a callus
that renders one calloused, insensitive. The verb tense is a perfect
passive participle. Literal translation: “Their heart, one that had
been hardened with a residual callousness.” Mark's use of the perfect
tense is profound. It bids us ask: How could their heart become
calloused after witnessing so many supernatural events, including a
feeding of five thousand with five loaves less than a day ago? The
prophet Jeremiah well stated: “The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (17:9). Is our heart any less
wicked or any less susceptible to callusing? If you, as a member of XYZ
Baptist Church, on a given Sunday, witnessed a supernatural
resurrection, a supernatural demon exorcism and a supernatural healing,
would it be possible for your heart to become hardened (callused over)
before the next Lord's Day? According to this second classroom episode,
it is entirely possible if you failed to give the proper consideration
to the supernatural events you had witnessed a week earlier!
This classroom on the sea sequel
should stir our heats and minds to consider (reflect upon) what God HAS
done as an indication of what he CAN do! The supernatural should never
take a child of God by surprise, or elicit fear. The Lord Jesus is the
great I AM, the all-powerful, self-existing One. Therefore his
supernatural presence and power should always be second nature to us.
It's impossible for good cheer and great fear to inhabit the same heart
at the same time!
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