TAKE COURAGE! IT IS I!

Mark 6:45-56

Key Verse 6:50b

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Introduction

In the last passage, Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Jesus showed that he is the compassionate shepherd. Jesus fed 5000 people out of five loaves and two fish. May God help us to go and find our five loaves and two fish, and bring it to Jesus by faith. In today’s passage, Jesus walks on the water, rescuing the disciples from the storm. Through this event, Jesus again reveals himself to the disciples so that they can put their faith in Him. May God grant each one of us faith in Jesus.

1. Read verses 45-48. After feeding the crowd, what did Jesus do? (45-46) What happened to the disciples as they crossed the lake? (47) When and how did Jesus come to them? (48) What does this event reveal about Jesus?

1-1, Read verses 45-48.

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 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,

1-2, After feeding the crowd, what did Jesus do? (45-46)

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

• After feeding the crowd, Jesus immediately let the disciples get into the boat to Bethsaida and dismissed the crowd. Jesus never wasted a limited time on earth.

• Dismissing the crowd might have been hard due to many people, including women and children.

• Jesus was tired due to teaching all day long. He should have taken some rest for his body, but he went up on a mountainside to pray.

• Maybe he prayed for the people to take the word of God from what he taught all day long, or prayed for the disciples to become shepherds of God’s flock.

• Also that long day drove Jesus to prayer, not from prayer. We may learn from Jesus who prayed consciously when he was very busy and tired.

1-3, What happened to the disciples as they crossed the lake? (47)

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.

1-4, When and how did Jesus come to them? (48)

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,

• It was a late night, so the disciples could have relaxed in the middle of the lake. But they were struck by a sudden strong wind blowing against the boat.

• The disciples began struggling to stabilize the boat with the oars. At that time, however, Jesus was not with them but on land, praying.

• Jesus could see that they were in trouble. It was the fourth watch of the night, just before dawn the darkest hour, but it did not matter to Jesus.

• In order to rescue them, Jesus came down from the mountain and began to walk on water.

• Jesus did not go straight toward the boat where the disciples were. He was passing by to see how His disciples reacted to the storm.

1-5, What does this event reveal about Jesus?

• We see here that Jesus is omnipresent. He knows where we are and what we are doing. He knows whether we are in trouble or not.

• Therefore we can talk to him wherever we are right now. Next, Jesus is a good.

Psalm 23 reads,

“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

2. Read verses 49-52. How did the disciples respond when they saw Jesus? (49-50a) What did He say and do? (50b-51a) How can we overcome the problem of fear? (51b) What else does Mark mention about the disciples? (52)

2-1, Read verses 49-52.

49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

2-2, How did the disciples respond when they saw Jesus? (49-50a)

49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

• Maybe they thought that a sea monster came to them. They could not imagine that Jesus could come in such a way to save them.

• So when they saw him, they cried out. It is our nature to be fearful when we are in a storm of life. When we are blinded by fear, we are like the disciples.

• When the disciples saw Jesus, they never expected that Jesus would come. So they could not recognize the savior but Jesus as a ghost.

• It was because they did not have faith that Jesus would come and rescue them. They did not pray to God to save them but just holding to the oars.

• They followed Jesus and saw many miracles but did not have personal faith in God. So they could not apply many miracles to their situation.

• Sometimes, we find ourselves doing the same thing as the disciples did. While we confront unexpected storms of life, our initial reaction is to complain to God.

• We also try to solve the problem with our own strength, holding onto whatever we can. We must change our point of view from fear to faith.

• When we are in a storm of life, we must think that it is the time to learn faith in Jesus. Then, we can find God’s good and perfect will in the storm of life.

2-3, What did He say and do? (50b-51a)

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

• In order to save the disciples from the panic attack, Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” They needed to hear the voice of Jesus.

• The voice of Jesus has power to drive out fear from the disciples. When they heard the voice of Jesus, they recognized Jesus not as a ghost but as a savior.

• We must listen to the voice of Jesus, especially when we are gripped with fear. We must soften our hearts at the time of fear and open our ears to hear Him.

• Jesus did not say to the disciples, “I am here, so you are safe.” But, “Take courage!” What they really needed was not comfort but courage.

• In the same way, Jesus wants us to have courage whether we are in a small storm or big. He wants us to be strong and courageous.

• When we go out to the campus and try to talk to people whom we have never met before, we need not fear but take courage.

• May God bless each one of us to listen to the voice of Jesus and receive courageous faith. Amen.

51 Then he climbed into the boat with them,

• According to John 6:21, “Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.”

2-4, How can we overcome the problem of fear? (51b)

and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

• Before the wind die down completely according to Matthew 14, we see an additional story in regard to what the main source of Mark’s gospel, Peter had experienced in person. Peter might have wanted John Mark to skip this part here due to his painful failure on the water.

• “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

• Likewise, we overcome fear and doubt by fixing our eyes on Jesus who is the author of our faith!

2-5, What else does Mark mention about the disciples? (52)

52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

• They did not fully learn who Jesus was through the last miracle, feeding 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish because their hearts were hardened.

• They were preoccupied by their problem, holding hungry stomachs. Jesus had a plan to train the disciples through this storm.

• Jesus calmed the storm, neither on the mountain nor when he came down to the lake but when he came into the boat.

• Jesus intentionally wanted to show them who he is, walking on the stormy water. Jesus showed them they needed him in the boat to calm the storm.

• Through these miracles Jesus showed them who he is. He is God the Creator who could walk on the water and calm the storm.

• The disciples will be spiritual leaders in the future. They needed to learn to overcome storms of life by faith in the Creator.

• This teaches us that courageous faith comes from knowing who Jesus is. He is the Creator, God Almighty.

• When we let this savior come into our boat, all storms will calm down and we will experience the power of God and peace in our hearts.

• In figure of speech, a boat can be one person or one family or one ministry or one nation. In our lives, we cannot avoid storms whether it is big or small.

• Please, let God Almighty come in and be the captain of your boat. He will calm the storm and give you peace in your heart.

Philippians 5:6-7 reads,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

3. Read verses 53-56. Where did Jesus and his disciples land? (53) How did Jesus’ healing ministry expand and grow? (54-56) What does this reveal about Jesus’ power and compassion?

3-1, Read verses 53-56.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

3-2, Where did Jesus and his disciples land? (53)

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

• The boat landed not at Bethsaida but at Gennesaret and anchored there.

3-3, How did Jesus’ healing ministry expand and grow? (54-56)

54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

3-4, What does this reveal about Jesus’ power and compassion?

• As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard Jesus was.

• With this description of the healing ministry of Jesus, Mark concludes that Jesus has the Sovereign power over the laws of nature. Normally, five thousand are not fed by one small lunch. Normally, men don’t walk on water. Normally, the sick are not instantly healed. None of this is normal, except by the power of God.

• And wherever he went-into villages, towns or countryside-they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Jesus to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

• When people saw Jesus, they found hope of being healed. It was amazing that those who touched his cloak were healed.

• This means they touched by faith like the woman who suffered for many years due to bleeding.

• May God bless our ministry to heal many sick people, so that people may find hope in Jesus and bring many more sick people to be healed.

Conclusion

Today we learned who Jesus is. He is the Creator who can walk on the water and calm the storms. May God help us to listen to his voice and receive courageous faith in the midst of storms. May God bless us to let Jesus come in to each one’s boat and make him our captain so that we can experience the power of the Creator, and the peace of God.

One word: It is I!