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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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