This Day in History: 0000-08-06

August 6 – Mark 6:47-51

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw Him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.
They were all terrified when they saw Him.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage! I am here!”
Then He climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped…

Do you ever feel like the disciples in this story? Do you feel like you’re alone in a boat, in the middle of a storm, and Jesus is nowhere to be found? I imagine several of them were thinking, as I often have, “If only Jesus were here, He’d take care of this.” All the while, believing THAT was faith. Sigh…

But alas, according to their reality, Jesus was not there. So, they were rowing hard and struggling against the wind and the waves. How many times have we been the ones fighting with all we have? How often can we be found battling the wind and waves of life? How many times have we been completely unaware, as the disciples were, that Jesus is standing on the shore, watching every move?

The thing is, not only does our God know us, He knows the storm!

The disciples should have known Jesus would come through for them. He had done it so many times before. Why didn’t they simply call out to Him before He actually showed up? Why didn’t they know He was near? Why didn’t they know He would protect them? Why did they waste their energy trying to battle the storm on their own? No doubt, it was for the same reasons we do the same!

Why is it that so often, when Jesus actually does show up, it’s not because we’ve called out for help, but simply because He loves us, and that’s what He does?  Why, when we see Him coming, do we mistake Him for something else, just as the disciples did? Why aren’t we looking for Him? Waiting for Him? Friends, where is our faith?

Praise God, despite our unfaithfulness, Jesus IS there. Always. He’s watching. Waiting for us to call out to Him. Even when we don’t, He’s still there, walking past our wind-tossed boat as if the waves were nothing. He’s ready to climb in with these simple words,

“Don’t be afraid.
Take courage.
I AM HERE.”