Gospel of mark
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. The word straightway indicates urgency in the situation to move away from the place where Jesus has been healing the sick and feeding the large crowd. John the Baptist’s execution and the messianic expectations of this crowd make staying any longer than this dangerous. As the news of this miracle reached neighbouring towns the spies of Herod would be moving through the night, and troops could be mobilized to make an arrest. In the Gospel of John we see that the people who had been involved with the miracles of healing and the feeding of the crowd recognized Jesus as the promised future prophet and were determined to make him their king, using force if necessary. Jesus therefore compels the disciples to embark hurriedly onto the ship while he dismissed the crowd. It is not time yet to die, but it will be next year. There is a divine plan being followed here, as in our own lives, and so the timing of the Lord is the key to understanding what to do in each situation and when to do it. There is some geographical difficulty about the location of Bethsaida as referred to here in these verses. The simplest solution seems to be that Bethsaida Julia of the Jordan spread across the western side of the Jordan was called Bethsaida in Galilee. It was a fishing suburb of Capernaum. The disciples who had left the town from the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee had been blown off course southwards eventually landing at Gennesaret on the western shore. After Jesus sent away the disciples Jesus went into the mountains alone to pray. While there may be confusion about actual locations for people today there was no danger of the disciples being lost to the Lord in the storm, whatever the visibility of this night. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. Jesus continued praying well past midnight. Meanwhile the disciples were making little headway out on the lake because a strong wind was blowing against them from shortly after their departure, but it is a contrary wind, and they are not able to just “run before” the wind and return to where they had started. In the dim light of the early dawn Jesus saw them and went out to them walking on the stormy water surface. A storm at sea is always noisy, and after rowing most of the night these men are exhausted and through wind, sea spray and noise they are confused about what is going on. The words, “He was about to pass by them”, does not mean He was going to bypass them. He intended to pass beside them in the sense that all the Old Testament visitations of God came to the saints of old in order to reassure them. The disciples cried out with terror at the appearance of Jesus’ walking on the water. Mark explained that they responded in this way because they all saw Him, and they didn't know what was going on, fearing the enemy was giving them an apparition, and that this was a “portent” of doom to them, so they were all terrified. The Lord tells them to take courage, and stop being afraid. He says “it is I”, or more truly the word “I am”, and this is probably intended here to echo the Old Testament form of God revealing Himself as “I am who I am”. Exodus 3:14 Isaiah 41:4, John 8:42-58. The enemy may deceive at times, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, so it was vital the Lord personally identified himself to these scared men in the midst of the storm. We need to be discerning as the days grow darker, for the enemy will become more active with “signs and lying wonders”, and only by the certification of the Word of God are we safe and secure. Matthew 7:13-23, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. As the Lord climbed into the ship the wind ceased and the disciples were totally amazed at what has happened. Mark concentrates here on the personal impact upon the men in the boat. They are stunned, and we mustn’t be harder on them than they were on themselves – for they have missed the point about the feeding and healing miracles, and were not prepared for the Lord’s power over nature. Our theology often limits our work, for our concept of the Character of God is often too small. Psalm 93:2-5, 107:23-43. Mark tells us in the final verse of this section that they had not caught on to the full meaning of who Jesus Christ was when the loaves were being multiplied because of “hardness of heart”. This is why they did not recognize Jesus as Himself as He walked on the water through the storm. They were so bound up in their “hardened” attitudes that they were not open to receive new information about what Messiah would be and do. The honesty of Peter and mark here is refreshing. They needed to spread out the tent of their understanding and we do also. Isaiah 54:2-5. APPLICATION Here we have people who are convinced of his Messiahship but want to accept Him their way rather than His. This is still a problem today. A lot of people want Jesus on their terms. Many people nowadays do not want Jesus Christ to be their Saviour and the Lord of their life. They want Him as a great teacher, a great example, but they want a "comfortable saviour", a person who does not disturb their lives too much. You will find in life that frustration and worry are like magnets; they draw in other problems and troubles. If you do not deal with frustration and worry you will get into further problems. As a believer, if you harbour worry in your soul you get more and more spiritually off balance. Quick confession and speedy return to fellowship with the Lord is required to stop further troubles. When you are in trouble the first thing you need to remember is the full holy Character of God. Keep on remembering who saved you. So you are in problems, you will only die when the Lord wants you to die, relax in his hands. We should be like the preachers in Revelation 11, who kept right on preaching until they were killed. God's people are invincible, and we will continue until God takes us home. Should you be worried if you are going to die tomorrow? The answer is No. If He wants you to die tomorrow there is no better time to die. Psalm 68:20, 116:15. You should get your eyes on Him and not your problems. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you are in God's hands. There is a purpose for your life. 1 Peter 5:7. There is no room for fear in the believer's life. If you are afraid of anything you need to confess it and get looking at the Cross and remind yourself where you stand. Romans 8:35-39, 1 John 4:16-21. In these verses we have a good illustration of the Church Age, Tribulation and Second Advent. The personal ministry to the people in the desert represents our Lord’s ministry at the First Advent The departure of the Lord Jesus Christ alone to a mountain to pray represents His Ascension, Session, and High Priestly ministry at the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession for us. The disciples by themselves in the boat with their baskets of bread represent believers in the Sea of the Gentiles with the Word of God to sustain them. The storm at sea represents the Tribulation period where because of the pressure of the time people all would die without the personal intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord comes back telling them to have confidence. The entering of the boat by our Lord represents the Second Advent of Christ leading into His Millennial reign. Arrival at the destination indicates the start of the 1000 year Millennium. DOCTRINES CHRIST - I AM The use of the “ I AM” means that the Lord was saying that He is God. In Exodus 3:14 God reveals Himself to Moses as, I AM THAT I AM. Using this phrase at His arrest in John 18:2-6, He caused the army group to fall backwards due to His power as God flashing forth for a millisecond, before being led away as a willing sacrifice. We are not confronted with the Jesus of liberalism here, but with the Lord of lords, King of kings, God stepping down to speak authoritatively to mankind. There are seven “I AM’s” in the New Testament. 1. PROVISION - I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE John 6:30-35 - The feeding of the five thousand - a miracle involving bread. God provided miraculous physical food in the desert for forty years - Manna. Christ is our spiritual food. He says that he is the only source of spiritual food for you. There is life in no other. No one else can satisfy the spiritual hunger in man. He tells us He is the bread from heaven - He shows Himself as God. The bread of the Passover - unleavened, pierced and griddled; speaking of his body. 2. SPIRITUALITY - I AM THE LIGHT John 8:12 - The feast of Tabernacles (where He also told the people to have the everlasting water John 7:37-39). When the Lord says this He is saying that He is the only source of pure light as shown in His matchless character. He is stating that He is God. 1 John 1 says that God is light and in Him is there no darkness at all. We are to walk in the light in fellowship with God. 3. SALVATION - I AM THE DOOR John 10:7 - The Sheepfolds of Jerusalem, Psalms 22-24. To be the door of the sheepfold, He is the only way into the plan of God. Anyone that tries to come any other way is a liar and a thief. If this is not true there is no way to God. 4. GUIDANCE - I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10:11 - the good shepherd, the only one who really cares. Many from other religions say that they really care but it is Jesus the good shepherd, the only one who really cares. All other systems drop you into hell. 5. RESURRECTION - I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE John 11:20-25 - The death of Lazarus. Christ conquers death proving He is God, the resurrection and the life, He is the way the truth and life forever. The only way to eternal life is in Christ Jesus. To reject Him is to have eternal life in the Lake of Fire 6. TRUTH/LIFE - I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE John 14: 6 - There is no other way to gain meaning in this life and eternal life than through him. We are related to the King of kings and Lord of lords who came and died for us that we might live. We should be obedient to our Lord who bought us with His blood. I am the way the truth and the life. The only way to live is in the truth, the only way to have life and have it more abundantly is in Him. The only way to God is through the God man Jesus Christ. We need to live in Him as He is the only one who has the truth. 7. PRODUCTION - I AM THE TRUE VINE John 15:1-5 - Walking from the Passover meal past the Temple towards Gethsemane, He talks about the spiritual production that is ours in union with Him. I am the true vine - the only way to spiritual productivity is in Christ Jesus through the fruit of the Spirit. Love Joy Peace and the other fruit is only available in Christ. You have to be in the vine to have fruit. Many unbelievers want joy and peace but they cannot have it without Christ. CHRIST - ANGEL OF JEHOVAH 1. The Angel of Jehovah is identified as Jehovah (Genesis 16:7-13, 22:11-18, 31:11-13, Exodus 13:21 cf 14:19, Judges 6:11-23). 2. The Angel of Jehovah is distinguished from Jehovah (Genesis 24:7, Exodus 23:20, 1 Chronicles 21:15-18, Zechariah 1:12-13). 3. The Angel of Jehovah is therefore a member of the Trinity - the same as Jehovah, but distinct from Jehovah. 4. God the Father and Holy Spirit cannot be seen by man face to face (Exodus 33:18-23; John 14:17). 5. Therefore, the Angel of Jehovah is the second Person of the Trinity: the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. a) Jesus Christ identifies Himself as Jehovah (I AM) (John 8:58) b) The Lord Jesus Christ is the visible/manifest member of the Trinity (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:15-16). c) The Angel of Jehovah never appears after the Incarnation (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:15, 16, 1 John 4:12) d) Both the Angel of Jehovah and Jesus Christ are sent by Jehovah (the Father).
a) He wrestled with Jacob. (Genesis 32:24-30) b) He redeemed Jacob from all evil. (Genesis 48:16) c) He spoke to Moses from the burning bush. (Exodus 3:2) d) He protected Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19) e) He prepared Israel for the Promised Land. (Exodus 23:20-23) f) He reassured Joshua (Joshua 5:13-15) g) He commissioned Gideon (Judges 6:11-23) h) He ministered to Elijah. (1 Kings 19:5-7) i) He saved Jerusalem from Sennacherib. (Isaiah 37:36) j) He preserved Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego in the furnace. (Daniel 3:25)
a) Protection. (Proverbs 3:25-26) b) Strength. (Isaiah 30:15) c) Blessing. (Jeremiah 17:7) 3. Examples of confidence:- a) in God's provision. (Genesis 22:18) b) in God's sovereignty. (Genesis 50:20) c) in God's deliverance. (Daniel 3:17-18) d) in God's power. (1 Kings 18:36-39) e) in God's presence. (Psalm 71:5) f) in extremity. (Job 13:15) 4. Confidence relating to prayer:- a) confident access. (Ephesians 3:12) b) confidence to draw near. (Hebrews 4:16) c) confidence to enter. (Hebrews 10:19-22) d) confidence to ask. (1 John 5:14-15) 5. Confidence in the day of judgment. (1 John 4:17) 6. Confidence to complete His work in the believer. (Philippians 1:6) 7. Exhortation to maintain confidence. (Hebrews 10:35-39) DREAMS 1. Dreams have been used by the Lord in the history of his revelation to man to communicate specific warnings and prophetic truth. Of the seventy references to them, all but eight occur in the Old Testament period, and the others before the establishment of the church. They do not appear to be a common phenomenon for guidance or direction within the church age. This is likely due to the role of the Holy Spirit which is expanded from the Old Testament times, and is directive in this age. Refer Holy Spirit Ministries. 2. Dreams occurred many times in the history of Israel as a direct means for specific guidance. Genesis 20:3-6, 31:11, 24, 37:5-10, Daniel 7:1ff. They were used to direct Mary and Joseph, and the Wise men, quite specifically regarding the birth of Jesus. Matthew 1:20, 2:12-22. 3. Dreams, or visions of significance were either self explanatory or the person had to go to a person skilled in dream interpretation. Genesis 20:3, 28:12, Numbers 12:6, Deuteronomy 13:1. 4. Visions, like dreams were unusual events, and appear to be restricted to key personnel who were tasked with communicating God’s Word to others. 1 Samuel 3:1-15, Isaiah 1:1ff, Ezekiel 7:13, Daniel 2:19. 5. In Acts there are specific visions given to the apostles for very specific purposes. Acts 9:10-16, 10:27-29, 16:6-9, 18:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-7. 6. Dreams and visions may still occur, but they will occur in very unusual situations, for very specific reasons (as we see in Acts). They will occur in situations where, for some reason, the Holy Spirit chooses this means rather than directly speaking to the soul of the indwelt believer. While we must allow for the Lord to speak any way he chooses, this will be an unusual means nowadays because it is unnecessary due to the indwelling and filling ministries of the Holy Spirit for all believers; a situation not occurring in the Old Testament period. TRIUMPHAL MARCH THROUGH GENNESARET MARK 6:53-56 [MATTHEW 14:34-36] see HARMONY 74-11 53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. KEY WORDS
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