Immediately following His feeding of the five thousand men (approximately 20,000 people total), Jesus sends His disciples away to Bethsaida by boat. Jesus stays behind to pray (6:46). When evening came, the disciples encountered a storm on the Sea of Galilee and they were having a hard time rowing because the “wind was against them” (6:48) and Matthew adds that their boat was being tossed by the waves (Matthew 14:24). Mark indicates that the wind had carried the disciples’ boat to the middle of the sea while Jesus was still on land (6:47). I have no doubt that they were fearing for their lives at this point. A turn of events happens when Jesus “saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night [3-6am] He came to them, walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled” (6:48-50). Jesus recognizes their fear and says, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (6:50). It is hard to blame the disciples for their fear, but they should have understood that Jesus possessed power over all things since He was truly God. As He had just feed thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fish (6:32-44), Jesus also had control over nature. In essence, Jesus was testing the faith of His closest followers. Did they believe He could deliver them out of any trial or difficulty? Jesus steps from the raging sea into the boat of the disciples and the wind ceases (6:51). The disciples “were greatly amazed in themselves and marveled” (6:51b). But then Mark adds these words to the commentary about the disciples’ reaction: “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened” (6:52).
In reading this story we are quick to criticize the disciples’ lack of faith in Jesus, but we are also very guilty of failing to see the potential power of God in various circumstances of life. We doubt, question, and contemplate whether Jesus is who He says He is when difficulty comes our way. The key in understanding this passage is to look beyond the miracle itself to see the character of the One behind the supernatural. If God has power over all things, He is capable of handling all adversity. This does not mean He will always remove the hardship, but He will provide the strength to handle it. We often find ourselves in the boat of life getting tossed around from every side, but Jesus is never too far away to whisper over the sound of the waves, “Be of good cheer! it is I; do not be afraid.”
Dear God, help me to see that You have power over all things and may I practice faith in Your everlasting control.
