JESUS WALKS ON WATER

Mark 6:45-56 / Keywords 6:50

because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

6:45 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 Later that night, 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. Shortly before dawn 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 it were healed.

1. It is I; don’t be afraid (45-52)

Jesus was mindful of his disciples and sent them ahead of him across the lake while he dismissed the crowd. They gladly accepted his offer. But when the boat was in the middle of the lake, the devil lost no time to harass the disciples when they were alone and far from Jesus on shore. While they strained at the oars, Jesus saw them and walked on the water to them. When he was about to pass by the boat, they cried out because they thought he was a ghost. Fear made them senseless. Jesus called to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid” (50). They needed to hear Jesus’ voice and accept him as God in their hearts. He got into their boat, the winds subsided, and they were amazed. Though they saw Jesus feed the 5,000, they still did not fully see him as Creator God, Ruler of earth and the seas.

 

2. Jesus healed them all (53-56)

When they reached the shore, people desperately sought him and brought those who needed healing, and he healed them all. Jesus is God, the Giver of life. People need to come to him to be restored.

 

Prayer Lord, increase my faith in you and help me to know you fully as Creator God.

One Word Jesus is Creator God