The Sweetest and Most Loving Act – He Went Out To Them

Mark 6:48 – 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,(NIV)

Mark 6:48  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, (New Living Translation)

Mark 6:48 Seeing the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) He came to them, walking on the sea. And [acted as if] He intended to pass by them. (Amplified Bible)

Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came toward them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat. (Contemporary English Version)

Mark 6:48 He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because they were rowing against the wind; so sometime between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them, walking on the water. He was going to pass them by, (Good News Translation)

Jesus had sent his disciples to go ahead in a boat across the lake. Jesus remained behind to clear the crowd that had just been fed the bread and fish. Jesus as a team leader knew that His people were tired and He let them go. Jesus as a responsible leader had to remain behind and ensure all had ended well.

After clearing the crowd, Jesus stood on the shore of the lake. It was dark in the night. The winds and waves were strong. Using His divine ability, He saw His disciples struggling with rowing the boat. The wind was against them. It wasn’t easy. They were having a hard time. Yet unknown to them, a loving eye was watching them!

There is a loving eye watching us through the darkness of our difficulties. We may not see Him standing on the shore watching us, but He is always there all the time. When we think we are struggling alone, there is a loving Guard watching over us, ready to jump in if we get overwhelmed. Ready to create a way of escape when temptation goes beyond our ability, 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Jesus must have stood for by the shore most of the night watching them. Like the time when He was sleeping on the boat during the storm, He expected them to call Him. He stood by the shore hoping that in their struggles and dangerous situations, they would call Him. Unfortunately, they didn’t call Him and we don’t call Him either.

God has been watching our struggles waiting for us to call Him but we don’t. He is standing by the shore watching, but instead of calling Him we complain and struggle on our own. Why didn’t they call Him? Did they think He was too far away? Did they think they can handle it without Him? Is that why you are struggling alone without calling Him?

At the fourth watch of the night Jesus decided to go to them. Day and night in Hebrew reckoning had four watches. First watch is six to nine. Second watch was nine to twelve. Third watch was twelve to three. Fourth watch was three to six. Each of the four watches can apply to day or night. Fourth watch of the night is therefore between three in the morning to six in the morning.

Jesus watched them struggling most of the night and decided at between three in the morning and six in the morning to go to them. At this hour they were tired. When they were tired, He decided to go to them. At this hour they were despairing. When they were despairing, He decided to go to them. He remembered them in their weakness, Psalm 136:23, and went to them to save them.

When He realized they are tired and in danger, He went to help them even though they hadn’t called Him. Why didn’t they call Him? Why haven’t you called Him? He still went to them even though they hadn’t called Him.

“O what peace we often forfeit

O what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer”

(Stanza one of the song What a friend we have in Jesus)

We suffer many things the whole night because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. They suffered against the winds and waves because they didn’t call on Jesus. Jesus out of great love went out to them even though they hadn’t called Him.

Jesus walked on water to go and save people who hadn’t called Him though they knew Him and His power. He didn’t walk on water to perform a miracle. He didn’t walk on water to show off. He didn’t walk on water to prove He could. He walked on water because love compelled Him.

Jesus still defies everything to come save us who suffer and forget to call Him. We are saved in ways that can’t be explained because Jesus has walked on water to come save us, so to speak. At the fourth watch of the night, He walked on water as He went towards them.

The Bible says when He got where they were, He wanted to go past. He pretended to be going elsewhere. Yet He was coming to them. He was coming to them and then wanted to go past them? Yes, because He wanted them to see Him and call Him. He was reminding them that I am here, call me. God really wants us to call Him.

When someone you love doesn’t seem to realize you want to communicate, you send signals. You ask a question hoping it will remind them you exist. You wish them a good night or good day hoping it will trigger them to know you want sometime with them. You do something to catch their attention hoping they will be reminded to engage you.

Jesus went to them and wanted to go past them as they see Him. Jesus hoped that that will cause them to remember to call Him for help. Jesus still does many things to remind us to call on Him. He really wants us to always call Him.

Is there a heart that is waiting,
Longing for pardon today?
Hear the glad message proclaiming,
Jesus is passing this way.

Refrain

Jesus is passing this way,
This way, today;
Jesus is passing this way,
Is passing this way today.

Is there a heart that has wandered?
Come with thy bur­den today;
Mercy is tenderly pleading,
Jesus is passing this way.

Even during the storm when Jesus lay on the boat sleeping, it was a lightning flash that reminded them that Jesus who could help was with them. It’s very sad that believers forget Jesus when they need Him most, yet He is right there with them. Jesus is a prayer away.

When disciples saw Jesus walking on water they thought it’s a ghost and they cried out in fear. Their beliefs about ghosts in the sea were stronger than their belief in Jesus. Our beliefs about witchcraft and other myths are stronger than our belief in Jesus? We quickly see ghosts than Jesus? We quickly see someone who wants to harm us than Jesus?

Jesus tells them not to fear. Jesus introduces Himself and gets into the boat and the sea calms down. Did they realize all they needed was Jesus? Did they realize they didn’t have to struggle if they had called on Jesus? Have you realized?

Dear Jesus may we never forget You in our struggles. When we forget may You mercifully come to us to remind us and save us. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

Someone you know will only know about this article if you share with them. Someone you know needs this article. Share this with one more person. Don’t copy the text. Copy THE LINK or send the website address which is reikesis.com so that they too read the word of God FROM THE WEBSITE and access more. YOU CAN COMMENT on this article at the bottom of the article. Also remember this author has a YouTube channel @ReiKesis which has hundreds of videos for you! Thanks for your loyal support of this ministry!