Jesus Walks on the Water
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. 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. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 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.Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
You may have figured out, when I read a passage, I almost always comment on what jumped out at me first. Today is no different. I'm pretty sure I've never read "He meant to pass them by" (end of v48) before.
Jesus is alone on the land, he sees the disciples struggling in the wind. HE WALKS ON WATER, but not with the intention of helping them, he is going to pass them by. What was the point of this amazing event?
I think the answer to that is in the v 49-52. Jesus is walking on water, and the disciples think it is a ghost.
JESUS is walking on water and they are terrified of him.
Jesus had to reassure them of who he was. These men who had been living and traveling with him had to reassured that it really was Jesus.
Jesus had to reassure them of who he was. These men who had been living and traveling with him had to reassured that it really was Jesus.
And then he calms the storm. And they still don't get it, because, v 52 tells us, their hearts were hardened (another thing I don't remember reading before).
What a sad state of affairs. The people only came to him as a miracle worker, they had no clue who he really was, they didn't understand his message. And his disciples, the men he chose, also didn't understand.
And yet Jesus never gives up. He calms the storm, he heals the people, and he continues to teach.
1 comment:
MacArthur says that the "intending to pass by them" comment shows that He knew supernaturally exactly where they were on the lake and that He walked to the boat intentionally to come alongside them.
He also makes an interesting note that between the loaves incident where their hearts were hardened, and this incident where their hearts are opened, Jesus went off to pray - likely interceding for them that their hearts would be opened. Interesting thought.
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