Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mark 6:50
Today's Scripture:
Mark 6:45–56 (NIV):
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Moviegoers heard the beautiful voice of Emily Blunt as the starring role in Mary Poppins Returns. Amazingly, it was four years into their marriage before her husband discovered her vocal talent. In an interview, he revealed his surprise the first time he heard her sing, thinking, “When were you going to tell me this?”
In relationships we often learn new, sometimes unexpected, details that surprise us. In Mark’s gospel, Christ’s disciples initially started with an incomplete picture of Jesus and struggled to grasp all of who He is. In an encounter on the Sea of Galilee, however, Jesus revealed more of Himself—this time the extent of His power over the forces of nature.
After feeding a crowd numbering more than 5,000 people, Jesus sent His disciples out on the Sea of Galilee, where they were caught in a fierce storm. Just before dawn, the disciples were terrified to see someone walking on the water. Christ’s familiar voice spoke words of comfort, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:50). Then He calmed the raging sea. Upon seeing such great power, the disciples were “completely amazed” (6:51) even as they struggled to fully comprehend this experience of Christ’s power.
As we experience Jesus and His power over the storms of our lives, we gain a more complete picture of who He is. And we’re amazed.
Today’s Hynms:
HE
The Stranger of Galilee
Scripture to Respond:
Matthew 16:13-16 (NIV)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Mark 4:41 (NIV)
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Reflection :
The greater and the more unexpected the storms are, the more they manifest the power of Jesus!
The pandemic out of control, the economic meltdown, neither Hong Kong nor the whole world know when we will get out of this mess. In the midst of this difficult situation, how does knowing Jesus’ power and who He is help you face the challenges ahead with energy and faith?
Prayer:
Jesus, Your power really surprises us. Please open our eyes so that we can know You better, and more deeply adore You.
Wong Wai Tung
(Chief executive officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation)&
Sam Chow
( Administrative officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation)
