Mark 6:45-56.  After finishing feeding the five thousand (that was the number of men and there were probably women and children too) Jesus sent his followers away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  He was going to stay behind and send the five thousand away and he would be along later.  After sending the crowd away Jesus went up on a hill to pray.  It is interesting that he “immediately” sent the twelve away on a boat but that he took his time back on shore.  But he wasn’t being a slacker he was busy following the best plan possible for all of us.

I don’t know what time the meeting broke up and they were through cleaning up but this was a rural setting, farms and ranches, no electricity and probably no candles or lanterns either.  It probably wasn‘t any later than 9 PM when he went up to the hill to pray.  I do know what time it was when Jesus noticed the twelve in trouble on the lake (again), it was between 3 Am and 6 AM (the fourth watch of the night).

Earlier in the story when Jesus and his disciples went out on the lake to get away they obviously didn’t go very far and stayed near shore since the crowd followed them.  In today’s reading we see Jesus sending the twelve (at least) ahead across the lake to Bethsaida.  According to a Jewish historian from the time there was a town by that name on the north eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  According to John 12:21 one of Jesus followers, Philip, was from Bethsaida in Galilee.  Galilee was  north west of the Sea of Galilee.  Later in today’s part of the story the disciple eventually arrive in the land of “Gennesaret” which was definitely north west of the Sea of Galilee.

Whether the disciples were headed for a place on the other side of the lake or just up the lake a little ways they wound up across on the other side after spending all night rowing.  The fact that Jesus could see them from where he was praying is another miracle and one we don’t want to miss.  Most people want to focus on the next part of the story because it is totally miraculous.  Seeing his followers in trouble Jesus got up and walked out to them.  Some people, who don’t like to believe in supernatural miracles, say that the Greek language here can mean that he was walking “along the lake” on “on the lake”.  Thos people are right about what the words can mean but are totally wrong about what they do mean.  The disciples are working hard rowing the boat against a strong wind and Jesus walks to them.  So clearly they are in the water and Jesus crosses it.  Some people suggest that he was wading in shallow water, if that were the case I think the disciples would have gotten out and pulled the boats ashore and given up for the night.  Also the disciples reaction to seeing Jesus “walking on the lake” tells us that he was not wading in shallow water, what ever they saw they thought that Jesus had died and that they were seeing a ghost.  Jesus originally intended to walk on across but when he saw how afraid his followers were he stepped into the boat and told them not to be afraid.  They were shocked by what had happened (more indications that the situation was real, that they were in “over their heads”).  Mark tells us that the disciples just weren’t getting it, they weren’t understanding who Jesus was.

Eventually they wind up on the north west shore of the Sea of Galilee and again the people recognize who Jesus is and start bringing people to be healed, even just to touch the fringe of his clothes.  This echoes back to the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and should make us think of the faith that she and theses people had.  While the disciples weren’t really catching on others were seeing and believing in Jesus.

I like it that Jesus took care of the disciple even though they weren’t really understanding who he was yet.  It reminds me of the story of the woman at the well in John 4, but that is another story for another day.  I also like it that Jesus was concerned about the people who were recognizing at least his power.  It is comforting that we don’t have to be perfect for Jesus to care for us.  It’s interesting that Jesus was praying and watching the apostles but they were just rowing as hard as they could, maybe even in the wrong direction.  Matthew, Mark, and John all tell this part of the story and none of them has the disciples praying for help.  The crowds kept looking to Jesus for help but at this point the disciples were not, but Jesus took care of them anyway.  This is very comforting to me because I know that Jesus cares no matter what, in fact Paul told the Roman church in his letter to them that Christ died for us while we still his enemies, that’s totally massive love.

God thank you that you love me even though I am imperfect and don’t get it a lot of times.  Thank you for loving me even when I am just looking for what I want.  Help me want what you want more and help me see who you are better.  I want to honor you and worship you more so help me see.  Thank you for knowing what is going on in my life and caring about it and for me.  Help me rely on you more and be faithful to do what you ask me to do.  Thank you for loving me even when I was your enemy.  Help me be a friend today and every day forever.