Mark 6:45-56
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but 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. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Reflection
Jesus’ authority is displayed once again as he now walks on the sea (Mark 6:48). His power over wind and waves is the same power God displayed for Israel when they walked through the Red Sea (Exodus 14).
Jesus acts with God-like power because he is divine. As he walks on the water, he says, “It is I”— the very same phrase God used to reveal himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 (see also John 8:58–59). God in the flesh is disclosing himself to the disciples. In the words of the Old Testament book of Job, Jesus is the God who tramples on the waves of the sea (Job 9:8). We do not need to live our lives in fear of circumstances (Mark 6:50). The God who rules the universe has sent his Son to rule our lives with eternal power and unfailing grace. We can rest assured that everything is working for our good (Rom. 8:28) and for his glory (Rom. 11:36).
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
5: For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Reflection
Although we are currently clothed with our mortal body, we will one day be “further clothed” with a new immortal body (2 Cor. 5:4). As gospel-believing Christians, we are already experiencing the reality of this resurrection life through the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is “the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it” (Eph. 1:14).
Whatever suffering, trial, burden, fear, or discouragement you may experience, it is not as tragic, painful, or final as death. Therefore, to know that Christ has defeated death is to know that he has taken away the ultimate sorrow. Though we ache under our burdens (2 Cor. 5:4), we do so with good courage (vv. 6, 8), being content that “whether . . . at home or away” we can make it our aim to please him (v. 9). When we are more defined by God’s promises than by our momentary experiences, we are walking by faith, not by sight (v. 7).
Psalm 31:24
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Christ’s victory over sin and death both models and motivates courage. Look to your bold Savior to find strength for endurance in times of pain, and ask him to provide the power of his Spirit to sustain your hope.