Mark 6:50, commentary and pictures

On a dark stormy night on the Sea of Galilee the disciples were obeying His command to cross over, toiling for hours at the oars against wind and waves until all effort proved useless and despair seized them. From the shore He saw their danger and watched over them with tender care, then came to help them walking firmly upon the billows, at first advancing as though He would pass them by. They all saw Him and were troubled because they did not discern it was Christ, mistaking Him for a spirit or phantom omening destruction, so their terror increased until their hands fell powerless and they cried out for help. He immediately talked with them in His well-known voice, identifying Himself and telling them to be of good cheer and not be afraid, assuring them He had come to rescue them and would not leave them in danger. His words silenced their fear and turned horror and despair into the joy of faith and hope, proving He came not as a messenger of death but of life whose power even sea and waves obey, and calling His followers who find their own strength useless to give up the work to Him in fearless trust.

Storm Encounter Described

It was a dark, stormy night on the Sea of Galilee, and the disciples were out in their little boat in obedience to Jesus' command to cross to the farther side. For hours they toiled hard at the oars against wind and waves, driven hither and thither until their vessels became unmanageable. All their efforts proved unsuccessful and useless, until they laid down their oars in despair and expected to perish, believing themselves lost while tempest and billows talked with death.

From the distant shore on the other side Jesus saw their danger and read their thoughts, watching over them with tender care. When their unholy ambition was quelled He came to help them, walking firmly and calmly upon the foam-capped, white-capped, boisterous waves. He was revealed by lightning, advancing calmly as though He would pass them by.

They all saw Him and were troubled, for they did not at first discern that it was Christ. Bewildered by useless effort and apparent hopelessness, they mistook His form for a spirit, a threatening phantom and sure precursor of immediate death and destruction. Their terror increased until their strong hands fell powerless from the oars, and they cried out in great fear supplicating help.

He immediately turned to them and talked with them in His well-known, familiar voice, heard above the roar of the elements. He identified Himself as Himself, telling them to be of good cheer, to take courage, and not to be afraid. He assured them He would not leave them in danger but had come to rescue them.

His words silenced their fear and were most welcome and reassuring. Horror and despair were quickly changed into the joy of faith and hope, so that anxiety and dread of death left, apprehensions were gone, and the storm was forgotten. They hailed Him as their Deliverer and willingly received Him, with the poor wearied disciples ceasing their efforts. Then followed Peter's attempt to walk to Jesus, the sudden calming of the storm, and the boat's arrival at land.

Comfort Power and Trust

He did not come announcing death but as a bearer of life, and His voice rising above the roar of wind and water turned horror and despair into the joy of faith and hope. The disciples had taken His appearance on the stormy sea for a sure sign of immediate death and cried out in great fear, bewildered by useless effort and apparent hopelessness while tempest and billows seemed to speak of death. When He made Himself known and told them not to fear, all anxiety and dread of death left them because He was with them. That presence proves the power of the Source whom even sea and waves obey.

The night crossing displays the majesty of God and His works far above comprehension. 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. Human beings on the broad deep waters are mere specks in His sight, yet angels are sent from His excellent glory to guard the little boat careening over the waves while He walks on the sea and stills the tempest.

He watches with tender care and gives help when the imperiled humble themselves and pray, which calls for obedience and fearless trust in His protection. Followers of Christ often tug at the oars as though their own strength and wisdom were sufficient, toiling hard in storm and darkness to reach the shore until all effort proves unsuccessful and despair seizes them. Then with trembling hands and failing strength they cease their efforts, give up the work to Jesus, trust all to the Master, and confess they are unable to perform it. 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 had seemed to them so difficult.