Mark 6:48
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. 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.
After the feeding of the multitude the disciples cross Galilee alone at his command and toil through the night against a contrary wind that makes all rowing useless and leaves them bewildered and hopeless. From the distant shore he keeps them in loving care, seeing through the darkness their peril and their thoughts, and at the fourth watch when pride is quelled and they long for him he comes walking firmly and calmly upon the billows in divine power over sea and wind. He advances as though he would pass them by, and they mistake him for a herald of death until his voice is recognized and turns unspeakable terror into reassurance and joy. When they willingly cease their own failing efforts and trust all to him, his presence ends dread and despair, stills the tempest, and brings rescue and safe landing, showing that he easily accomplishes for faith what self-reliant toil cannot.
Night Struggle on Sea
The night belongs to the hours after the feeding of the multitude, when that miracle is taken as the crowning sign that an earthly deliverer has come to defeat Rome, to provide for armies, to conquer nations, and to restore Israel's dominion, mistaking his mission for political rule.
The disciples are alone in their little boat on the Sea of Galilee, seeking to cross to the farther side in obedience to his command, yet toiling hard at the oars through the night against a contrary wind on high and tossing waves. A crossing that would ordinarily take only a few hours becomes prolonged into many hours of rowing against adverse winds, as the wind lashes the sea into fury and drives their frail vessel hither and thither farther and farther from the port they seek. The vessel will not obey them, and all human effort proves useless until despair seizes them, leaving them bewildered and hopeless, expecting to perish while tempest and billows talk with death, so that they at last lay down their oars.
Their distress follows their leaving him with dissatisfied, murmuring hearts because he would not be exalted as King of Israel, and the frustrated ambition of that departure brings trouble upon them. The storm becomes a severe trial of faith that subdues unholy ambition, makes them regret leaving him, and turns their hearts to long for his calm, commanding presence for safety.
Christ Sees and Comes
From the distant shore left on the other side, Jesus did not forget the disciples but kept them in loving care, His eye piercing the darkness to behold them tossed on the raging billows in peril of being engulfed and to read their thoughts. He watched their danger and distress with deep concern and compassion, as a fond mother watches a child she has corrected, and would not suffer one of them to perish. He sees them still when contrary wind drives them and human effort proves useless, and comes to them walking on the sea at the moment they feel lost and long for His help.
He waits until their pride and unholy ambition are quelled and they humbly pray for help, then comes about the fourth watch of the night at the very moment they believe themselves lost. That delay subdues their hearts and turns their longing to His calm, commanding presence for safety. His coming therefore shows both awareness of their distress and power over the sea.
He comes walking firmly and calmly upon the white-capped, foam-capped billows, advancing over the boisterous waves toward their little boat. In this is revealed the majesty of God who holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, and who at one glance beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. Though human beings are mere specks upon the broad deep waters, angels from His excellent glory are sent to guard their little sailboat as it careens over the waves.
He advances as though He would have passed them by, and they do not at first discern Him. They mistake Him for a phantom foretelling their destruction, a sure precursor of immediate death, so that even strong men accustomed to the water are seized with unspeakable terror and cry out in great fear. When they recognize His form and cry out supplicating His help, He turns to them, and His voice above the roar, It is I, be not afraid, dispels fear and at once changes horror and despair into reassurance, hope, and the joy of faith.
His coming is rescue when their own rowing is failing and cannot save them. Peter also ventures onto the water and is rescued from danger, the tempest suddenly ceases when Jesus is with them, and the boat lands.
Giving Up Self Effort
Toiling in rowing against the contrary wind pictures followers tugging at the oars as though their own strength and wisdom were sufficient to carry the work through. With trembling hands and failing strength they at last find all such effort useless and unable to save them, and confess they are unable to perform the work. Then they give it up to Jesus, and the compassionate Redeemer pities their weakness and in answer to the cry of faith takes up the work they ask Him to do and easily accomplishes what had seemed to them so difficult. His coming across the water when their rowing is failing is rescue from danger at the very point where their own efforts cannot save them.
When they discern that Christ is with them they willingly cease their own efforts and trust all to the Master. With Christ present anxiety and dread of death cease, and horror and despair are at once changed into the joy of faith and hope. Though His form walking calmly upon the boisterous waves is first mistaken for a sure precursor of immediate death, His coming heralds not death but life, for He comes as the messenger of life. His voice above the roar, It is I, be not afraid, dispels fear and turns anxiety and fear of death into faith and joy.
The sea and the waves obey His law, for He is the Source of all power who holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters. At one glance He beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea, revealing the majesty of God and His works upon the ocean. Though human beings are mere specks upon the broad deep waters, angels from His excellent glory are sent to guard their little sailboat as it careens over the waves. Because not even a sparrow falls without the notice of the heavenly Father, obedience to Him is right and trust in His protection is reasonable.