If Jesus cares, why does He allow storms in our lives? In today’s episode, J. Mark explores that question through Mark 6:45-56, where Jesus walks on the water and reveals His divine identity with the words, “I AM.” Looking at three moments of aloneness within the passage, J. Mark shows how God uses life’s storms not to abandon us, but to reveal His power and His person in deeper ways and to remind us that in the storm, He is near.
Transcript
Thanks for being there. It is good to be here. It is valuable to sit with the Bible and open our hearts to hear what God is saying to us. Before today’s lesson, I want to reflect on the titles from today’s lesson and from the previous session. It presents an interesting question. “Does Jesus care?” was the last title, and today it’s “Sent into the Storm.” We concluded that yes, Jesus does care; however, we also know that life has many storms. The question that arises is: if Jesus cares, why does He allow storms?
We know that Jesus could have prevented this storm and the storm we are dealing with, but why did He not? This question is a difficult one to address. There are many sermons and books on this very question. One answer is the one J Mark will expound on shortly, he says, “God allows storms into our lives to reveal His person and power.” So, stay right there and follow along in Mark 6.
All of us face storms in life. They come in the form of illness or disease, broken relationships, a crisis of faith, the death of a loved one, and so on. These storms can destroy our faith or strengthen it. Much depends on our response.
In our journey through Mark’s Gospel, we’ve come to the end of chapter six. At first glance, the most memorable part of this section is Jesus’ walking on the water. Isn’t that amazing? However, when this event is placed in its broader context, the scene gains greater significance for our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus. It also speaks to our lack of spiritual awareness and how slow we are to recognize Jesus for who He truly is.
I’ve titled today’s teaching, “Sent into the Storm.” Our text is 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 sent the multitude away.
46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.
48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Beof good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.
54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,
55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.
56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
This text shows us how God sends storms into our lives to reveal His person and power. There are three EXAMPLES of being alone in this narrative.
The First Example is,
Jesus Alone
Here, the context implies that Jesus was in a storm unique to Him. Let me explain. The Bible uses the troubled sea as an analogy for the evil in our world (Isaiah 57:20). In this storm of violence and evil, Jesus was sent to rescue us sinners. In the previous section of verses, Jesus described the masses as “sheep without a shepherd.”
So, Jesus cared for them. He taught them about His kingdom and invited them into a relationship with Him. He healed their crippled and diseased bodies and provided food for them. He poured himself out to the point of exhaustion, without taking time to rest or eat. Immediately after the miraculous feeding of this crowd of thousands, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and set sail. After they’re gone, He supervises the dismissal of the crowd. Jesus is left alone.
John’s narrative tells us why. The crowds had become so excited by Jesus’ miracles that they were ready to proclaim Him king! Sending the disciples away removed them from the political atmosphere surrounding the Messianic kingdom. They, too, held similar misconceptions about the kingdom’s composition and purpose.
Fame and the praise of men are powerful stimulants. A mere man would’ve been swept along in this euphoria, but Jesus realized this was an attempt by Satan to thwart God’s plan. This was His storm, a conflict between human desires and God’s plans. How can I say that? The Scriptures are clear: Jesus was tempted in every way we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus left the crowd and went to a mountain nearby to pray. He was there for several hours. He needed that time to refocus his life around his purpose and calling. I imagine Him dealing with the temptation to accept praise and acclaim from men. Anyone involved in ministry and public visibility will experience the same kind of storm.
Jesus’ Father sent Him into the storm of sinful humanity. He didn’t come to eliminate the storm but to provide peace in the storm. However, to do so, he had to experience storms Himself.
The Next Example is,
The Disciples Alone
Verse 47 shifts our focus to the disciples. “Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.” Jesus had come down from the mountain and was once again by the sea.
He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. They were rowing like madmen but making no headway. These men were in deep trouble.
Sometime between 3 am and 6 am, Jesus approached that boat with its exhausted crew. The text says, “He intended to pass by them.” Why would Jesus intentionally pass by these men? Furthermore, why does God seem to pass us by in some of our struggles?
In Exodus chapter 33, God commands Moses to lead the Israelites from Mount Sinai into the Promised Land. Moses wants to make sure that God will go with them. God reassures Moses of His presence, which leads Moses to respond, “Please, show me Your glory.” Pay close attention to what God says next. And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
I believe that Jesus’ purpose in “passing by” the disciples was to reveal His glory. Jesus had just performed a notable miracle in the feeding of the multitude, a miracle in which the disciples participated. Despite all they saw Jesus do, they were blind to who He was.
In this scene, Jesus is walking on the sea. And He intends to pass by them as they labor at the oars. However, they all saw Him and cried out in terror because they thought they were seeing a ghost. They didn’t recognize Him in the darkness.
Jesus left them to struggle for several hours. He didn’t immediately come to their rescue as he had in the previous storm. Why? There was something they needed to learn. What they needed to learn is that He is God.
Have you ever been in a storm where it seemed God was nowhere to be found? You cried out to Him, but He seemed to be silent. You needed His help, but He seemed not to care. In those times, you can be sure that God has something He wants you to learn.
The Final Example is,
God Alone
Jesus responds to their cries of terror. “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Something is exciting and very important in Jesus’ statement. Do you remember Moses’ conversation with God at the burning bush? Moses asked, “When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “Tell them: I AM WHO I AM.”
That is what Jesus is saying to the terror-stricken disciples. “Take courage, the I AM is here. There’s no need to be afraid.” They knew that no human being could walk on water. That was the sole domain of Yahweh; Job 9:8, “He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.” The disciples knew this.
Picture Jesus standing on the boiling waves, speaking with the disciples. Then he climbs into the boat, and immediately the wind stops. “And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.” God is here.
Why did Jesus respond to the disciples like this? We don’t have to wonder because the next verse gives us the answer. “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” Mark implies that they were amazed because they failed to comprehend the full significance of the miracle of the loaves and fish.
I am so grateful today that Jesus was sent alone into the storm of our sinful humanity. I am thankful for these glimpses of His humanity in Scripture and for the recognition of His need for time alone with His Father. Because He was victorious, I can be too.
I’m glad Mark gave us the details of this account of the disciples being left alone in their boat to struggle in the storm. And while I never like the storms in life, I am grateful for the work that God does in my heart through them.
Finally, I’m thankful that God alone can meet our needs in every situation. And when we know His presence, we stop straining at the oars. We are removed from our torment, and we are left in a state of awe and reverence before Him.
I don’t know what storms in life you’re facing, but Jesus does. He is praying to His Father that you endure and remain faithful. He is saying to you, “Take courage, the I AM is here.” So, don’t fear the storm, hold onto the hand of the One who walks on the water.
Thank you, J. Mark, for explaining this passage in this way. What do you think, can the same Jesus care for us and send a storm? The key takeaway from today’s lesson is a resounding Yes. Not only that, but you can know that He is with you in your storm. This is only possible because He loves and cares for us. Wow, that is humbling.
If you have any questions about today’s lesson or would like to contact us, please do so via email or online. Our email address is hope@heraldsofhope.org, and our website is heraldsofhope.org. Contact us using the method that is easiest for you. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
It was a pleasure to be with you today. Thank you again for being there. I close with the verse from another storm Jesus calmed. “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Praise God, He is bigger than any storm, yours and mine included.
