Jesus Walking on the Sea Toward the Disciples' BoatBible World
6:49Mark 6:49
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
On a dark and stormy night the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in their little boat in obedience to Christ's command while He remained behind on the shore. After rowing for hours against adverse winds and waves until their efforts proved useless and in despair they expected to perish, Jesus was seen walking calmly and firmly toward them upon the boisterous waves, His figure revealed by lightning. Unable at first to discern Him, they supposed Him a phantom and a sure omen of immediate death, so terror seized them and they cried out in great fear. His voice identifying Himself and bidding them not to fear dispelled their terror and turned horror and despair into hope and joy, for His coming heralded not death but life. They willingly ceased their own efforts and trusted all to the Master, their cry becoming supplication for His help, illustrating how followers tug at the oars in their own strength until with failing strength they give up the work to Jesus, who in answer to the cry of faith easily accomplishes what was so difficult for them.
Storm and Mistaken Cry
The disciples were in their little boat upon the Sea of Galilee, crossing to the farther side in obedience to Christ's command while He remained behind on the other side, and darkness and storm fell upon them. They toiled hard to reach the shore, rowing for hours, all night, against adverse winds and waves. Their vessels would not obey them but were unmanageable and driven hither and thither, and all their efforts proved useless and unsuccessful. Bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the hopelessness of their case, in despair they laid down their oars and gave all up for lost, expecting to perish.
While tempest and billows threatened death, Jesus was then seen walking calmly and firmly toward them upon the foam-capped, white-capped, boisterous waves. His figure, that of a man approaching upon the white-capped water, was revealed by a flash of lightning.
Overwhelmed by the storm and unable at first to discern Him, they did not recognize His presence. They supposed Him to be a spirit or phantom, a sure precursor and omen of immediate destruction and death. Their terror therefore increased to unspeakable fear, their eyes riveted upon Him and their hands loosed from the oars, and they cried out in great fear.
Voice and Rescue
Even in their terror He was watching over them, and when their hearts were humbled and they prayed for help He came to them across the water. Though He advanced as if He would pass them by, they recognized His form and felt He would not leave them in distress.
What they had taken for an omen of death was the messenger of life, for His coming heralded not death but life. His voice identifying Himself and bidding them not to fear dispelled their fears and ended their terror. Horror and despair were at once turned into hope and the joy of faith, so that with His presence they felt no more anxiety nor dread of death.
Their cry of fear became supplication and a call for His help. The wearied rowers willingly ceased their own efforts and trusted all to the Master. In that storm they remembered having before seen Him come thus walking on the sea to rescue them from danger, and they searched for Him knowing He was their only hope.
Lessons for Faith
The mistaken cry on the sea illustrates the experience of Christ's followers who tug at the oars as though their own strength and wisdom were sufficient. In their little boat upon the Sea of Galilee amid storm and darkness they toil hard to reach the shore, with all efforts unsuccessful until despair seizes them. Even the presence of Christ walking upon the foam-capped billows is not at first discerned, so terror increases until His voice identifying Himself and bidding them not to fear dispels fear and gives hope and joy. Then with trembling hands and failing strength they give up the work to Jesus and confess inability to perform it, and the poor wearied disciples willingly cease their efforts and trust all to the Master. Their 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 was so difficult for them.
The disciples were crossing to the farther side in obedience to Christ's command when a terrible tempest left their vessels unmanageable and drove them until they laid down their oars in despair and expected to perish, bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the hopelessness of their case. While tempest and billows threatened death, Christ whom they had left on the other side appeared walking calmly upon the boisterous white-capped waves. When they saw Jesus on the water their terror increased because they interpreted Him as a spirit and a sure precursor of immediate death and cried out in great fear. But His coming heralded not death but life as the messenger of life whose voice above the roar told them not to fear, turning horror and despair at once into joy of faith and hope so that with Christ present they felt no more anxiety nor dread of death. This teaches obedience to the Source of all power whose law even sea and waves obey and fearless trust in the protection of Him who notes the fall of a sparrow.
The account belongs to Christ walking on the sea and stilling the tempest, when the disciples' boat was buffeting the waves. The high running waves, the strong wind, the tossing up and down, and the spray dashing show the majesty of God and His works upon the ocean. He holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, and at one glance beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. Finite beings upon the broad deep waters are mere specks in His sight, yet angels are sent from His excellent glory to guard them.
On a dark and stormy night the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in their little boat in obedience to Christ's command while He remained behind on the shore. After rowing for hours against adverse winds and waves until their efforts proved useless and in despair they expected to perish, Jesus was seen walking calmly and firmly toward them upon the boisterous waves, His figure revealed by lightning. Unable at first to discern Him, they supposed Him a phantom and a sure omen of immediate death, so terror seized them and they cried out in great fear. His voice identifying Himself and bidding them not to fear dispelled their terror and turned horror and despair into hope and joy, for His coming heralded not death but life. They willingly ceased their own efforts and trusted all to the Master, their cry becoming supplication for His help, illustrating how followers tug at the oars in their own strength until with failing strength they give up the work to Jesus, who in answer to the cry of faith easily accomplishes what was so difficult for them.
Storm and Mistaken Cry
The disciples were in their little boat upon the Sea of Galilee, crossing to the farther side in obedience to Christ's command while He remained behind on the other side, and darkness and storm fell upon them. They toiled hard to reach the shore, rowing for hours, all night, against adverse winds and waves. Their vessels would not obey them but were unmanageable and driven hither and thither, and all their efforts proved useless and unsuccessful. Bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the hopelessness of their case, in despair they laid down their oars and gave all up for lost, expecting to perish.
While tempest and billows threatened death, Jesus was then seen walking calmly and firmly toward them upon the foam-capped, white-capped, boisterous waves. His figure, that of a man approaching upon the white-capped water, was revealed by a flash of lightning.
Overwhelmed by the storm and unable at first to discern Him, they did not recognize His presence. They supposed Him to be a spirit or phantom, a sure precursor and omen of immediate destruction and death. Their terror therefore increased to unspeakable fear, their eyes riveted upon Him and their hands loosed from the oars, and they cried out in great fear.
Voice and Rescue
Even in their terror He was watching over them, and when their hearts were humbled and they prayed for help He came to them across the water. Though He advanced as if He would pass them by, they recognized His form and felt He would not leave them in distress.
What they had taken for an omen of death was the messenger of life, for His coming heralded not death but life. His voice identifying Himself and bidding them not to fear dispelled their fears and ended their terror. Horror and despair were at once turned into hope and the joy of faith, so that with His presence they felt no more anxiety nor dread of death.
Their cry of fear became supplication and a call for His help. The wearied rowers willingly ceased their own efforts and trusted all to the Master. In that storm they remembered having before seen Him come thus walking on the sea to rescue them from danger, and they searched for Him knowing He was their only hope.
Lessons for Faith
The mistaken cry on the sea illustrates the experience of Christ's followers who tug at the oars as though their own strength and wisdom were sufficient. In their little boat upon the Sea of Galilee amid storm and darkness they toil hard to reach the shore, with all efforts unsuccessful until despair seizes them. Even the presence of Christ walking upon the foam-capped billows is not at first discerned, so terror increases until His voice identifying Himself and bidding them not to fear dispels fear and gives hope and joy. Then with trembling hands and failing strength they give up the work to Jesus and confess inability to perform it, and the poor wearied disciples willingly cease their efforts and trust all to the Master. Their 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 was so difficult for them.
The disciples were crossing to the farther side in obedience to Christ's command when a terrible tempest left their vessels unmanageable and drove them until they laid down their oars in despair and expected to perish, bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the hopelessness of their case. While tempest and billows threatened death, Christ whom they had left on the other side appeared walking calmly upon the boisterous white-capped waves. When they saw Jesus on the water their terror increased because they interpreted Him as a spirit and a sure precursor of immediate death and cried out in great fear. But His coming heralded not death but life as the messenger of life whose voice above the roar told them not to fear, turning horror and despair at once into joy of faith and hope so that with Christ present they felt no more anxiety nor dread of death. This teaches obedience to the Source of all power whose law even sea and waves obey and fearless trust in the protection of Him who notes the fall of a sparrow.
The account belongs to Christ walking on the sea and stilling the tempest, when the disciples' boat was buffeting the waves. The high running waves, the strong wind, the tossing up and down, and the spray dashing show the majesty of God and His works upon the ocean. He holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, and at one glance beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. Finite beings upon the broad deep waters are mere specks in His sight, yet angels are sent from His excellent glory to guard them.