Mark 6:45-56: a reflection

45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away. 46After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray. 47When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them, 49but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw him and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” 51He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled; 52for they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. 53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick on their mats to where they heard he was. 56Wherever he entered—into villages, or into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.

When the disciples are straining at the oars against a contrary wind in the middle of the sea, Jesus comes to them, walking on the water; and seeing their fear, he speaks words of comfort. Take heart, he says; it is I. Don't be afraid. And he gets into the boat with them, and the wind ceases. Jesus saw them distressed in their rowing, struggling against the wind in the dark; and he came to them in the midst of their struggle, across the very sea that was against them, and brought his calming presence into the storm. His word to them in their fear was, it is I; do not be afraid. This shows that Christ comes to us in our storms, bringing his presence and his calming word into our distress. Christ came to his struggling disciples in the storm. In our distress, Christ comes with, it is I, do not be afraid. Christ brings his presence into the storm. He comes to us across the very waters that trouble us.

Notice that Jesus came to the disciples in the midst of their struggle. He saw them straining against the wind, distressed in their rowing, far out on the sea in the dark; he was aware of their struggle even from a distance. And he came to them, walking across the very sea that was against them, and spoke to their fear: take heart, it is I, do not be afraid. When they were troubled, thinking they saw a ghost, he reassured them with his presence, got into the boat, and the wind ceased. This tells us how Christ meets us in our storms. He sees our struggles, even when we feel alone in them; and he comes to us, bringing his presence into our distress, across the very things that trouble us. His word to us in our fear is the same: it is I, do not be afraid. We are not left alone to struggle against the storm; Christ comes to us in it, and his presence brings calm. When we are straining against contrary winds, Christ sees, and comes, and says, do not be afraid. Christ comes to us in our storms and brings his calming presence. His word in our fear is, it is I, do not be afraid. We are not alone in the storm; Christ comes across the waters to us. Christ's presence in the storm brings calm.

That is worth resting in, for Christ comes to us in our storms, seeing our struggle, bringing his presence into our distress, and speaking to our fear, it is I, do not be afraid. We can feel alone in our struggles, straining against contrary winds in the dark, as though no one sees; but Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars and came to them across the sea, saying, take heart, it is I, do not be afraid, and the wind ceased when he entered the boat. Christ comes to us in our storms. When you are straining against a contrary wind, remember that Christ sees, and comes, and says, do not be afraid. Rest in the truth that Christ comes to us in our storms, as when the disciples were straining at the oars against a contrary wind in the middle of the sea, distressed in their rowing, Jesus saw them and came to them walking on the water, and spoke to their fear, take heart, it is I, do not be afraid, and got into the boat so that the wind ceased; for we can feel alone in our struggles, straining against contrary winds in the dark as though no one sees, but Christ sees our struggle even from a distance and comes to us in the midst of it, across the very waters that trouble us, bringing his presence into our distress and speaking his calming word, it is I, do not be afraid, so that we are not left alone to struggle against the storm but can trust that Christ comes to us in it and his presence brings calm.

Lord Jesus, when the disciples are straining at the oars against a contrary wind in the middle of the sea, you come to them, walking on the water; and seeing their fear, you speak words of comfort. Take heart, you say; it is I. Don't be afraid. And you get into the boat with them, and the wind ceases. You saw them distressed in their rowing, struggling against the wind in the dark; and you came to them in the midst of their struggle, across the very sea that was against them, and brought your calming presence into the storm. Your word to them in their fear was, it is I; do not be afraid. This shows that you come to me in my storms, bringing your presence and your calming word into my distress. Show me that you came to the disciples in the midst of their struggle. You saw them straining against the wind, distressed in their rowing, far out on the sea in the dark; you were aware of their struggle even from a distance. And you came to them, walking across the very sea that was against them, and spoke to their fear. When they were troubled, you reassured them with your presence, got into the boat, and the wind ceased. This tells me how you meet me in my storms. You see my struggles, even when I feel alone in them; and you come to me, bringing your presence into my distress, across the very things that trouble me. Your word to me in my fear is the same: it is I, do not be afraid. I am not left alone to struggle against the storm; you come to me in it, and your presence brings calm. Take that to my heart, for you come to me in my storms, seeing my struggle and speaking to my fear. When I am straining against a contrary wind, feeling alone as though no one sees, help me remember that you see, and come, and say, do not be afraid, Lord, bringing your calming presence into my distress across the very waters that trouble me.