“ROWING THROUGH LIFE” Mark 6:45-52
intro: Famous Painting = Under the Wave off Kanagawa, about 1830–31, Katsushika Hokusai. Woodblock print (nishiki-e) in Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. William Sturgis Bigelow Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- The problem with waves is they are unpredictable & hard to row against / Just like life!!!
Mark 6:45-52 (ESV)
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.
I. HINDERED ROW
A. ANYONE WHO HAS LIVED A WHILE UNDERSTANDS THE HINDERING ROW IN LIFE!
1. We can see that the disciples are trying to be obedient to Jesus words “Go before me to the other side”
a. The winds were against them and it was a painful advancement for them!
Mark 6:48 (ESV) 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,
b. We can all come to this place where we are trying to go forward but we’re hindered!
2. It is at this place where we begin to wonder if this was the course we’re supposed to take
a. It is when life comes against us that we question if it is the WOG / If God is in this why is it hard?
Illustration: Melanie and I went with some friends (Jaime / Christine) - Had to make it to our island at night. (Row boat, thunderstorm, crawdads and a lantern on a tree) - Dramatize Idea of how hard to row at night!!!
b. The bible says at the “Fourth watch” Jesus saw them… 3am - 6am
B. WHAT WENT THROUGH THE DISCIPLES MINDS?
1. Why should we keep rowing? = We’ll catch up with Jesus later!
a. One of the strategies of hinderances is to make us tired
b. This happens all the time when we go through things that are against us!
- Sickness, deaths, persecution, trials, Shocks in life!
2. James & Peter have warned about how trials can wear us down!
a. First hindering trials: (Meet with TRIALS VARIOUS KINDS)
James 1:2-4 (ESV) 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
b. Secondly Peter spoke of TRIALS:
1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
&
1 Peter 4:12 (ESV) 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
C. V.48 “He meant to pass by them.”
V48 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,
1. Jesus walks close enough for them to see him passing by…
a. It is profound how Jesus is always in our thoughts or crosses our mind but we miss what he wants!
2. Jesus wants to help us but he wants us to ask him for it!
a. Many of us assume the God should just help us because “He knows all things”
b. These disciples could of still been rowing today because God doesn’t impose his will on us!
James 4:2 (ESV) 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
II. HARD WAVES PRODUCE HARD HEARTS
A. IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL HARD WAVES CAN PRODUCE HARD HEARTS
1. When we view only the waves / hinderances of life in front of us we can become bitter!
a. The same Jesus who can help us seems foreign to us!
- In our text they thought he was a ghost
b. Our perspective can change even when God has done miracles for us in the past!!!
V52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
2. The disciples were amazed at everything Jesus did but then they would instantly forget
a. I have always sympathized with the disciples because hardly anyone can truly take everything in!
- It is like when someone moves away - Man in Brawley talking about how awesome Colorado rive is
- I was like yeah… big deal I can go whenever I want!!!… Sometimes we don’t recognize beauty
b. Many times people forget HOW GREAT JESUS IS!
B. The reason why we forget the awesomeness of Jesus is because our hearts get hard!!!
1. Just like the disciples we forget the miracle of salvation!!!
a. We did a testimony service on Wednesday night… I heard it was great…
b. HOWEVER THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY: “Why should I testify?”
- Singing the song in their heads by Janet Jackson “What have you done for me lately?”
2. Hard hearts always produce fear and and a thankless tongue!
a. Our disciples saw the miracle of 5 loaves and 2 fish feed thousands and their heart were hardened!
b. They didn’t see it… (Just another day of miracles)
C. You see WE CANNOT COME TO THE PLACE OF MUNDANE MIRACLES
MUNDANE definition: Lacking interest or excitement - Dull
1. The hard waves or trials is not just to say we made it but it is what is PRODUCED IN US!
a. Getting through the trial means two things:
- #1 - Are we changed more into the glory of Christ
- #2 - Are OUR HEARTS MORE TENDER TOWARDS GOD?
III. WHAT IS THE KEY FOR US HERE?
A. JESUS ANSWER TO LIFE WAS ALWAYS PRAYER:
V 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
1. Jesus didn’t wait like the disciples to cry out when the rowing in life was ROUGH!
a. Jesus prayed all the time - He didn’t have time HE MADE TIME!
Luke 6:12 (ESV) 12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
&
Mark 1:35 (ESV) 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
&
Luke 5:16 (ESV) 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
2. This was the key for Jesus and it is the key for us!
a. “You’ll never rise above your prayer life.” Quote
B. Jesus is the God of the Supernatural and he sees us in the midst of trials / waves
1. One of God’s names is El ROI - El Rahee - Meaning the God who sees me!
a. You see in the storms of life and the hindering waves we must recognize Jesus is for us but we must ask
2. We run into people ALL the time… Pastor I was sick… Why didn’t you call? Uhh I didn’t know…
a. We must like the disciples make our requests known!
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
C. Here is the idea that the disciples needed to understand Jesus is the CALMER OF STORMS
1. Once Jesus gets in the boat the storm stops… He didn’t say anything this time… Just his presence calms
a. Maybe your struggling - Jesus needs to be invited into your boat / life today
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
