(Mark 6:45-56)
45 And immediately Jesus had His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He Himself dismissed the crowd. 46 And after saying goodbye to them, He left for the mountain to pray.
47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars—for the wind was against them—at about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored at the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 and ran about that entire country and began carrying here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to wherever they heard He was. 56 And wherever He entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.
TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
In yesterday's devotion, I gave myself a "duh", but today the "duh" goes to the disciples. Aaaannd... still a "duh" to myself as I look back on verse 52. Before I get all self-righteous, let's look at a few of the logs in my own eyes. Just how many times have I sat in church, and found myself thinking about something else, maybe even worrying about something. But most likely, if I would soften my heart in those moments, and open my eyes and ears to the message, I could very well gain insight and apply that to what I've been obsessing about!
47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars—for the wind was against them—at about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored at the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 and ran about that entire country and began carrying here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to wherever they heard He was. 56 And wherever He entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.
TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
In yesterday's devotion, I gave myself a "duh", but today the "duh" goes to the disciples. Aaaannd... still a "duh" to myself as I look back on verse 52. Before I get all self-righteous, let's look at a few of the logs in my own eyes. Just how many times have I sat in church, and found myself thinking about something else, maybe even worrying about something. But most likely, if I would soften my heart in those moments, and open my eyes and ears to the message, I could very well gain insight and apply that to what I've been obsessing about!
Well, here we see the disciples who had just witnessed Jesus feeding thousands and thousands of people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and they are astonished that Jesus is able to walk on water?! Now, remember in the book of Matthew, we read that Peter asked to join Jesus, but in loosing focus on the Lord, he began to sink. But meanwhile, all the other disciples stayed on the boat. They weren't even willing to try to meet Jesus out on the water. And then, to witness many, many people being healed, just by toughing the fringe of Jesus' cloak!!! It's difficult to fathom how someone seeing all of this firsthand, would struggle to gain insight and grow in their faith.
Now, in the bigger picture, a person who hardens their heart, is someone who is unwilling to see the Lord for who He is really is. If we only consider Him a person, then we are sorely mistaken and underestimating Him by an incalculable amount! Jesus is the Lord God who came to earth, to be fully man while being fully God. And after His resurrection and ascension, He sent us His Holy Spirit. After the Day of Pentecost, anyone becoming a true believer, receives His indwelling Spirit...
The Spirit of the sovereign Lord God is within us. So, He is right here with us, to guide us towards gaining insight, and "walking on water", and giving us His strength and equipping us with whatever it is needed to accomplish what He asks us to do. With God, all things are possible. We need to stop hardening our hearts in thinking things like, "Yeah, but God can't or won't do those types of things today" or, "He isn't going to bother much with little ol' me" or, "If I can't feel His presence, then I don't feel like bothering..."
Here's the insight. God cares! He's with us to do great things for us, in us and through us - IF AND WHEN - we call upon Him and ask, because He will never force us to be obedient. And then - IF AND WHEN - we are obedient, this is when we will feel and experience the Lord. But if we keep one or both eyes shut, and prefer to live in denial about what God has already done in our lives, that's on us.
God is not some genie with three wishes or some slot machine in the sky, He created us to have a relationship with Him. Mankind rejected Him, bringing sin and death into the world, and with that separation from God. So, He came to earth in flesh, only to be rejected again. But in this, He took on the punishment and death that we all deserve, whether we reject Him or accept Him. There's that prideful challenge people will ask others, "What would YOU do for love?" Well, how about thanking and praising the Lord for everything He has done for love, is doing for love, and will still do for love!
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