Collage: Portraits of a Revolutionary Message 29
Series: Collage: Portraits of a Revolutionary Message 29 – Get in the Boat Mark 6: 45-52 INTRODUCTION: We often talk about another incident recorded in the gospels where Jesus came to His disciples in the storm on the lake and Peter gets out of the boat (and we challenge people to get out of the boat!). In this instance, Jesus had His disciples get in the boat and it may well indicate He has developed a situation that will enable Him to teach His disciples more about Himself (as he did in the previous scene of feeding the large crowd – verses 30-44). This miracle is definitely focused upon the disciples. It is for their benefit and the strengthening of their faith. Jesus shows Himself to them so their trust will be strengthened. Mark 6: 45-52 HCSB 45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. 46 After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. 49 When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. (emphasis added)
THE STORY IN FIVE STATEMENTS: I. The Master was in charge (Rabbi and Master) of those who followed Him (v 45a) NOTE: And they were obedient to His direction/command! 45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.(emphasis added) A. Jesus is in charge (control) (He commands them to get into the boat) (v. 45) - “He made” (v. 45) – “Constrained” (KJV) - “Made” – HCSB, NASB, NIV – Strong’s 315 – Greek anaagkazo (ä-nän-kä'-zō) – “to constrain, to compel, to force.” B. He is the Master (The concept of a master is one in charge) From Aramaic, the Greek word rhabbi (rha-be) “was an Aramaic word signifying "my master," a title of respectful address to Jewish teachers.” C. Directing their steps 1. "The Aramaic word rabbei, transliterated into Greek, is explicitly recognized as the common form of address to Christ, 1. New Testament picture (from Jewish life) – The Rabbi (Vine’s Expository Dictionary). 2. Those who followed a Rabbi would look to him for direction. They would be covered in the dust of the Rabbi. Psalm 37: 23 HCSB A man's steps are established by the LORD, and He takes pleasure in His way. D. How does He direct our steps as we follow Him as disciples? 1. Holy Spirit 2. His Word II. Jesus knew when to dismiss the public and engage His Father in private (v. 45b) 46 After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray.
III. His followers lived under His watchful eye and compassionate care (vv. 47-48) NOTE: Rowing and getting nowhere fast! 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. IV. He connected with them (got in their boat) in order to minister to their needs. A. Jesus is watching as they labor to get their boat to the right place. 1. Struggling against the waves and the wind. 2. They must have felt like they were running out of “gas” and could not hold on any longer. B. At the right time, Jesus appeared on the scene to engage the disciples, calm the storm, and speak comforting (and possibly challenging) words into their lives. C. He gets into the boat – and the storm stops! (v. 51a) 1. Sometimes He stops the storm. 2. Sometimes He leads us through it. 3. Sometimes He calls us out of the boat (Peter) and at other times He conveniently places Himself near us in the boat. 4. But in every circumstance He is there as the Sovereign Lord of our lives and He has a purpose in every circumstance: a. Leading us to see Him as we have never seen Him before! b. Teach us things that can only be taught in the storm. c. He is there to remind us that he is Master and Lord in both the storm and the calm! D. Who is in your boat? Whose boat are you in? It makes all the difference in the world! The disciples were in the boat (situation) with their closest friends, but their friends had no power to impact their lives like Jesus!
V. Some people just don’t get it (vv. 51-52) NOTE: Disciple disconnect 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. (emphasis added) A. They just didn’t put it all together – they couldn’t see it. B. Calloused hearts (They were dull). Their spiritual eyes were dimmed and they failed to see Him regardless of the opportunities He had given them.
THE STORY IN FIVE STATEMENTS: I. The Master was in charge (Rabbi and Master) of those who followed Him (v 45a) NOTE: And they were obedient to His direction/command! 45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.(emphasis added) A. Jesus is in charge (control) (He commands them to get into the boat) (v. 45) - “He made” (v. 45) – “Constrained” (KJV) - “Made” – HCSB, NASB, NIV – Strong’s 315 – Greek anaagkazo (ä-nän-kä'-zō) – “to constrain, to compel, to force.” B. He is the Master (The concept of a master is one in charge) From Aramaic, the Greek word rhabbi (rha-be) “was an Aramaic word signifying "my master," a title of respectful address to Jewish teachers.” C. Directing their steps 1. "The Aramaic word rabbei, transliterated into Greek, is explicitly recognized as the common form of address to Christ, 1. New Testament picture (from Jewish life) – The Rabbi (Vine’s Expository Dictionary). 2. Those who followed a Rabbi would look to him for direction. They would be covered in the dust of the Rabbi. Psalm 37: 23 HCSB A man's steps are established by the LORD, and He takes pleasure in His way. D. How does He direct our steps as we follow Him as disciples? 1. Holy Spirit 2. His Word II. Jesus knew when to dismiss the public and engage His Father in private (v. 45b) 46 After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray.
III. His followers lived under His watchful eye and compassionate care (vv. 47-48) NOTE: Rowing and getting nowhere fast! 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. IV. He connected with them (got in their boat) in order to minister to their needs. A. Jesus is watching as they labor to get their boat to the right place. 1. Struggling against the waves and the wind. 2. They must have felt like they were running out of “gas” and could not hold on any longer. B. At the right time, Jesus appeared on the scene to engage the disciples, calm the storm, and speak comforting (and possibly challenging) words into their lives. C. He gets into the boat – and the storm stops! (v. 51a) 1. Sometimes He stops the storm. 2. Sometimes He leads us through it. 3. Sometimes He calls us out of the boat (Peter) and at other times He conveniently places Himself near us in the boat. 4. But in every circumstance He is there as the Sovereign Lord of our lives and He has a purpose in every circumstance: a. Leading us to see Him as we have never seen Him before! b. Teach us things that can only be taught in the storm. c. He is there to remind us that he is Master and Lord in both the storm and the calm! D. Who is in your boat? Whose boat are you in? It makes all the difference in the world! The disciples were in the boat (situation) with their closest friends, but their friends had no power to impact their lives like Jesus!
V. Some people just don’t get it (vv. 51-52) NOTE: Disciple disconnect 51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. (emphasis added) A. They just didn’t put it all together – they couldn’t see it. B. Calloused hearts (They were dull). Their spiritual eyes were dimmed and they failed to see Him regardless of the opportunities He had given them.
