Walking on Water

I want to show you in this passage how Jesus cares for his disciples in a profound and meaningful manner that goes beyond just meeting our basic needs. My hope is that you’ll walk out of this lecture hall with a greater realisation of just how God cares for you.

Here’s the big idea: Jesus reveals Himself to be God by His care for us.

There are 3 things we learn about Jesus in this passage.

Firstly, Jesus sees our struggles

At this point in the story, Jesus’ disciples had just returned from a work assignment that saw them preaching and performing miracles throughout the countryside. We’re given a hint as to the pace they’ve had to maintain.

Mark 6:30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Not inclined to miss seeing Jesus up close, the crowds eventually tracked them down and followed them into a desolate place. This was where Jesus then miraculously provided food for over 5,000 people. But imagine how the disciples would have felt. Just when you thought you might be able to catch a much-needed break, duty calls. There seemed no end to the work. But notice what Jesus does.

Mark 6:45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 

It’s such a mundane detail that is easily overlooked. But see how Jesus cares for his disciples? He knew that as long as they were around him, they would not be able to catch a break. So he sent them away and dismissed the crowd by himself. And this will not be the last time Jesus does something like this. Again and again Jesus shows that he is willing to step up for the sake of others. Kind of like volunteering for the dud jobs no one wants in every group assignment.

46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.

Jesus is not unaware when we are tired. He sees us when we’re struggling. He notices when we get discouraged. 

Secondly, Jesus uses every opportunity

48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 

Stop and read that again. Jesus meant to pass by them. Did you notice that? He wasn’t planning on getting into their boat. He meant to pass by them. Why? What do you think Jesus was trying to do? Get to the other side first and then jump out yelling surprise? No. This was a deliberate move with significant implications. Bible commentators have long understood “passing by” as a technical reference to either Exodus 33 when God passed by Moses or Job 9 which describes God passing by on the waters. Just like feeding five thousand people in the desert, this was meant to show the disciples who Jesus really is - God.

And it shows us that Jesus uses every opportunity. Think about it. The disciples were in trouble out at sea. Verse 48 even tells us specifically “the wind was against them.” Why tell us that at all? Surely there would have been a myriad of other contributing factors to their rough sailing. Not until we remember what happened just two chapters ago. Remember when the disciples were similarly in trouble out at sea except this time Jesus was with them and he commanded the wind and the storm ceased? We were confronted with someone who even the wind obeys. Well if he could do that then, why doesn’t Jesus do the same here? If the wind was against them, why not just tell the wind to blow the other way? We know he can, and Jesus might have if all he wanted was to help his disciples get to the other side. But he doesn’t because he uses this opportunity to show his disciples who he is.

You all know this. We see more clearly God as our provider precisely when we are broke. We learn more truly God’s unshifting love for us particularly after going through a bad break-up.

If all God wanted was to rescue us from every storm, then Jesus didn’t even need to leave that mountain top. He could just say the word and command the wind. Instead, Jesus uses every opportunity to show us that He is God. To pass by.

Lastly, Jesus overlooks any flaw

This is only chapter 6, but you would think the disciples would get it by now after seeing Jesus calm the storm, cast out demons, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. Can’t they see that Jesus is God? Look at their reaction.

49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

As a side note: this is one of the many instances in the Bible where it’s just counter-productive to write if you were inventing the story. It paints such a bad picture of the disciples. That it is mentioned gives weight to the fact this actually happened. Although let’s be fair, if I saw someone in the middle of night walking on water I would think it’s a ghost as well.

But look at Jesus. He immediately speaks to them and puts them at ease. “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them. Don’t forget Jesus actually wanted to pass by them but whether because they were either too afraid or too dense to understand, Jesus gets into the boat. He doesn’t rebuke them. He doesn’t scold them. He doesn’t punish them. He doesn’t even seem to be disappointed in them. Instead, he comforts them. Can you see Jesus, without missing a beat, overlook the disciples’ hard hearts and comfort them?

And through it all, Jesus is revealed as not just a teacher or an example or an inspiring leader. He is God who looks after his children.