Jesus Walked on Water
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to God’s Word and Spirit.
Read Mark 6:34-43
34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
Reflect
At the end of a demanding day where he had serving thousands, Jesus sent the disciples off to go ahead of Him by boat to Bethsaida, and He went up to the mountain to pray. (We often forget that the death of John the Baptist had happened just prior to this). On seeing the disciples struggling with high winds, he set out walking across the sea toward them. Until they heard his voice, they did not recognize Him and were terrified. Again, Jesus calmed their fears, got into their boat and stopped the wind. Now they struggled in a different way, trying to make sense of everything they had experienced that day.
Closing prayer
Lord, increase our faith in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, knowing you love us and are able to care for us. Amen.