Straining at Rowing...

The last time, we were in Mark’s Gospel, Bro. Ronnie led us in seeing Jesus feed 5,000 plus individuals with five loaves and two fish. 

 

The week before that, Tom Witt led us in looking at the death of John the Baptist and the Herod’s response.  Thank you to both of those brothers for faithfully filling the is pulpit.

 

This morning, we move on.  We know come to Mark 6:45 and a message I have entitled, “Straining at the Oars.”

 

In today’s text, we find the twelve disciples in the middle of an actual, literal storm on the Sea of Galilee, and we will see them in the midst of tiredness, in the midst of trouble, facing temptation. 

 

However, before we see this literal storm, we need to think for a moment about spiritual storms of life or emotional or relational storms of life. I have learned that most people can sympathize for the following reason.  The storms of life are not partial. 

 

 

Everybody in the room is either in a storm, just out of a storm, or about to enter a storm.  It doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are or even your own spiritual maturity.  No one is immune to the storms of life.  At some point or another, we all are or have been straining at rowing.

 

6:45, 45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

 

We immediately move into this next scene of Jesus making His disciples get into a boat to travel to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  Why did He do this?  See John 6:15. 

 

John 6:15, 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

Jesus wanted to deal with the crowds by Himself.  He didn’t want the disciples to get caught up in the euphoria like the multitudes.

 

6:46, 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

 

So after sending the disciples on their way and the crowd on their way, Jesus left the scene also to go up on a near-by mountain to pray.

 

6:47, 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.

It is now evening, sometime between 6 and 9 PM.  The Romans divided the night into four watches: first-6-9 PM; second-9-12 AM; third-12-3 AM; and fourth-3-6 AM.  The disciples were now in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was still alone on the land now.

 

6:48, 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

 

We now fast-forward some 6 to 9 hours.  Jesus is watching His disciples.  They are in the middle of a storm with very strong winds, and they are straining at rowing.  It is about 3 AM, and they have now rowed some three or four miles according to John’s gospel. 

 

Their rowing is extremely difficult and perhaps futile considering the strength of the winds.  Where the Sea of Galilee is located, it is not uncommon for gale force winds to come out of nowhere.  That is what happened here.

 

For these disciples, don’t you know that after a few hours of waiting, they were wondering where Jesus was.  When things are going bad for you, do you ever wonder where Jesus is?  Does your Christ ever seem to be distant?  However, be of good cheer.  Perhaps He is praying for you.

 

After seeing them struggling, Jesus decided to come to them.  He then walked on the sea or walked on the water.  He was walking on the water and yet not sinking. 

 

The end of 6:48 tells us that His intent was to pass by to their side.  Note there is a difference between pass by and bypass.  He wasn’t trying to elude them.  He was coming to their side or coming to their aide.

 

6:49, 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out.

 

Once they saw Him, the Twelve were terrified.  They thought He was a ghost or water phantom.  They were so scared, they cried out or shrieked in horror. 

 

By the way, let’s consider the context or the situation of the disciples.  Yes, they were fishermen.  However, remember the storm.  The boat was up and down.  The waves were over the bow.  The spray was in their faces and on their clothes.  Remember the shadows.  It was dark because it was between three and six in the morning. 

 

Remember also they had to be exhausted.  They had traveled a long distance on foot to Bethsaida.  They spent the entire day dealing with the people and their sicknesses.  They then worked hard in picking up the bread and fish leftovers from twenty thousand plus people.  Now they had been rowing for several hours and had only made it about half way across the Sea of Galilee because of the weather. 

 

Then they looked up and according to verse 49, thought they saw a ghost.  Needless to say, they were frightened.  However, in reality, it wasn’t a ghost but Jesus, and He was walking on the water towards them.  He spoke to them and said, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  He literally said, “I AM is here.” 

 

Some would like to explain away this miracle of walking on the water as Jesus actually walking on the shore, and the disciples misjudged His location.  Others have said He was on a sandbar.  Still others have claimed He was standing on a floating log.  None of these explanations possess any credence in dismissing this supernatural experience.  The text says He walked on the sea. 

 

However, can you understand how the disciples’ context could have become distorted with the storm, the shadows, and being sleepy? 

Haven’t there been times when your context or perspective became distorted especially in the middle of a storm?  Have there been times when you thought the end of the world was here? Yet, the sun came up the next day. 

 

In the storms of life, what we see, what we say, and what seems may not make sense. 

 

6:50, 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

 

But Jesus calmed them immediately.  He spoke to them and said, “Be of good cheer, it is I, do not be afraid.”  Literally, He said, “I AM is here.”  Undoubtedly, this is an OT reference to Yahweh and Exodus 3:14, I AM who I AM. 

 

6:51, 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

 

He got into the boat with them.  Notice, He didn’t take them out of the boat, but He got in the boat with them, and immediately, the wind stopped.  The wind stopped or the storm stilled when Jesus got in the boat.  They disciples were astonished and amazed at Jesus’ power

 

6:52, 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

 

However, they shouldn’t have been surprised.  They had just seen Him feed 15,000-20,000 individuals with five loaves and two fish, but sometimes, we need to be told again and again and again. 

 

Interestingly enough, even though Mark and John do not include this event, between 6:51 and 6:52 is where Peter walked on the water for a time before seeing the wind and the waves and then sinking.

 

 

Big Idea/Explanation

So what is the big idea of this text?  Jesus is in control of the storms of life.  He is in control of the physical storms of life like rain and floods and ice and thunderstorms and tornados and hurricanes. 

 

However, He is also in control of the storms of life like disease and death and disasters like financial setbacks and firings and divorce and rebellious children.

 

 

Applications

This text is overflowing with applications related to the storms of life.  In the storms of life, sometimes Jesus sends us there, 6:45.  In the storms of life, Jesus prays for us, 6:46.  In the storms of life, Jesus is watching close by, 6:48.  He hasn’t left the scene to be alone.  In the storms of life, sometimes Jesus allows us to struggle for a time so that we realize that we desperately need Him, 6:48.  In the storms of life, Jesus can cause the storms to cease at any time, 6:51.

 

Conclusion

However, here is what I want you to remember the most.  When you find yourself straining at rowing, making no progress because of the wind and the waves, first remember that no darkness is so dark that Jesus can’t see.

 

Second, remember that no distance is so distant, that Jesus can’t come. 

 

Third, remember that no depth is so deep that Jesus can’t rescue. 

 

I wonder who would be honest this morning and admit that they are straining at rowing against the storms of this life?  Perhaps you are trying your best to do right and get things in order, but the winds are beating against your boat, and you’re not going anywhere. 

 

Can I give you some encouragement?  Let Jesus get in your boat.  Let Jesus get in your boat, and see if winds won’t stop, and see if you get where you’re going. 

 

Today’s invitation is for those who need to be saved and for those who need to surrender.  Let Jesus get in your boat and watch your life be radically changed!