October 21st, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

All at Sea

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, today I want to worship You, and open myself to Your Word and will. Speak to me now through Your Word.

Read MARK 6:45-56

[45] Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. [46] After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. [47] When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. [48] He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, [49] but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, [50] because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” [51] Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, [52] for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. [53] When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. [54] As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. [55] They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. [56] And wherever he went-into villages, towns or countryside-they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

Think of a time—maybe now!—when God seemed very distant and life was really tough. Remember the experience and what sustained you, and turn your thoughts into prayer.

Think Further

The theme of Jesus thrusting his disciples into the front line continues. They’ve just risked huge embarrassment, setting out to feed 5,000 men from their own meager supplies. Now, Jesus “compels” them (literal reading, v. 45) to climb into the boat at the end of the day (when they probably would have preferred spending the night where they were), and row to Bethsaida without him. Presumably, he knew that a storm was coming, even if they didn’t!

Mark seems to enjoy the symbolic quality of these stories, because they picture the life of faith for us. The disciples are thrown into an impossible situation, where they either sink or row. When Jesus eventually turns up, things get worse: he seems to increase the horror and danger. The horror and danger turn out to be his coming to them, but rescue emerges unexpectedly. Does this fit with your experience of him?

If the disciples had “understood about the loaves” (52), they might have understood that the things we worry about are no problem for Jesus. He knows we’ll be OK. The disciples might have seen the background to the loaves and the storm in Psalm 107, which pictures the Lord God feeding and sustaining Israel on the way home from exile and, in particular, stilling the storms that threaten to swamp the travelers (Psa. 107:23-30). Maybe the disciples would have understood that it was more important for Jesus to be alone, praying to his Father, than letting them avoid the challenge of radical trust. Maybe I’ll understand that, too, the next time I’m in a storm and wonder if I can cope! The simple, clear faith of the Galilean crowds (53-56) — that’s what I need.

Apply

What might God be saying to you through this passage? In what way is he calling you to radical trust now?

Closing prayer

Loving Father, I need to have trusting faith as I navigate the storms of life. Remind me again that You are always with me.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store