More to Life
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“But when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.”
Mark 6:49-50 NLT
In this story found in Mark, we can see that the disciples are in quite a predicament. To understand how they ended up there we must go back in time.
John the Baptist had just been beheaded and the disciples had buried his body. The disciples then told Jesus what had happened to his beloved cousin. Upon hearing the news, Jesus left the group to spend time alone. Upon arriving at his destination, Jesus sees a crowd gathering and begins to minister.
Come evening, the disciples realized that they had no means of feeding the multitude so they suggested to Jesus that they send them on their way so they can find food for themselves. We know after this that Jesus performed a miracle, feeding a crowd of 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
Afterward, Jesus sends the disciples on their way so that he may attempt to spend time alone again. While far from land, the disciples encounter a storm and find themselves battling strong winds and waves. Jesus comes walking on the water, another miracle. Understandably, the disciples were terrified and believed Jesus to be a ghost.
It would appear that in the time spanning the miracle of the multitude and this situation, that the disciples forgot the miracle. Did they understand the character of Jesus better because of the miracle? Were they in awe of what they had witnessed, or did them remain unchanged? I can’t say for certain, but when found in a situation beyond their control, panic crept in and they forgot all that they had seen earlier that day.
We too can find ourselves in similar circumstances. Too often we leave the presence of God unchanged, hardened in heart, and with the absence of awe and wonder.
We must not forget His character, compassion, and nature in the midst of uncertainty. In moments of the miraculous, there is much to be learned about who God is. We can learn from the disciples that it is all too easy to forget what God has done for us in our lives.
We must live with open hearts, never allowing ourselves to be unmoved by God.
