Mark 6:45-52 (NIV)
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
School’s out for summer!
Remember that song? Schools Out
School’s out for summer
School’s out forever
I’m bored to pieces (HA! HA!)
It’s a 1972 song by Alice Cooper. Remember that guy? A real wackadoodle from my point of view…until. Funny how that word “until” conjures up all sorts of thoughts. Like, until what? Well, in Alice Cooper’s case until God. I’ve listened to Alice Cooper’s testimony. It’s inspiring. Cooper often refers to himself in the third person as “Alice.” It’s his way of distancing himself from his stage persona. Over the years God has used Cooper to help and counsel other rock musicians with the same addiction problems Cooper himself struggled with throughout the years. At the beginning of his sobriety, Cooper stated he wasn’t a Christian. But he thanked God for taking it away. Later he became vocal about his faith as a born-again Christian.
I guess you could say that Jesus reached out to Alice Cooper and calmed the waters of his life. Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then He climbed into the boat with him, and the wind died down. Just like He said to the disciples.
The end of the school year when summer has arrived brings to mind water. The ocean, the pool, the lake, even the sprinkler. A time for running, playing, and swimming.
Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash
In our scriptures, this story takes place on the Sea of Galilee. Here are some stats on it. It’s a freshwater lake in Israel. Its length is approximately 13 miles and its width is 7 miles. It has a surface area of about 64 square miles with its deepest point at about 150 feet. Jesus grew up 30 miles from this lake. This story is about when Jesus walks on water in the Sea of Galilee.
But before that we find Jesus has gathered a crowd. Approximately 5,000 people. He’s teaching them but it gets late. The disciples say to Jesus to send them home because they are hungry. Jesus says to feed them. The disciples say what? Jesus asks how much do you have? They respond we have 5 loaves and 5 fish. In the end, it’s enough plus leftovers. Imagine the spiritual high. Seeing this miracle.
Then Jesus says He’s going to the mountain to pray. The disciples get in their boat. After a while, Jesus sees they are battling the wind. Suddenly it’s a weather alert!
Life is similar. Life is going along great when BAM the weather suddenly changes. Life becomes increasingly difficult.
The disciples begin to panic. Jesus walks across the water to help them. Jesus tells them to have courage. When Jesus gets in the boat everything becomes calm. But the disciples are astonished. They forgot about the loaves and how Jesus took five loaves and fed 5,000. In fear, we forget about the good stuff—the miracles. Isn’t it extraordinary that Jesus got in the boat with His disciples? He didn’t look at them from the lake. He got into the boat. He stood with them. How often have you asked Him to get in the boat with you? Do you believe He will? I’m a true believer in knowing down into my soul that Jesus doesn’t just stand on the outside and look in. He gets in the boat with us. I feel so undeserving of that kind of love.
I find that we are the same when troubles come. We forget about yesterday when God helped us. We forget His power. We forget how much He loves us. Our fears make us foolish.
So how do we compare? The disciples were physically with Jesus and still they
were afraid. Isn’t it likely then since we are not physically standing in front of Jesus, we
have more reason to fear? To forget when Jesus had our backs. I guess it simply
comes down to a matter of faith and how strong it is in our lives. To always remember
that God gets us through the hard times. He never leaves us and is always working
toward the good that can come from strife. It stans to reason we must always remember
the loaves.
Communion Sunday helps us remember the loaves.
We gather around the table to remember Jesus is with us just as He promised.
