Mark 6:45-56
Experiencing the LORD’s presence even when it stinks to be me
May be great,
They will not defeat me.
God, my loving Savior, sends them;
He who knows
All my woes
Knows how best to end them.[1]
In the course of a conversation when it appears that a person is
going through a rather difficult time of testing I’ll remind them; “stick out
your hand…you have five fingers. You can be reminded of the last five words
Jesus ever spoke to humans before He ascended into heaven…”I am with you always.” Or, I might say to that person,
“remember God’s promise to you – this is
for my good…”
And yet, the cynic inside of us can use another five word sentence
that says, “It stinks to be me!”
In a real sense all three phrases are true. We can be assured of Christ’s
presence in our lives. His promise is for you, ‘I am with you always.” Nothing will happen to you without His
perfect will being played out in your life. We can conclude, “This is for my
good.”
And at the same time we know that when we are in the midst of a
battle; as we live in a broken world outside of Eden; so yes, it is just as
true, sometimes, ‘It stinks to be me!”
The Savior brings His children into difficult and fearful
situations to strengthen their faith in His presence and power only to deliver
them from ultimate peril. During these difficult times; especially in times of
hardship, you need to know of Christ’s presence and power to save.
I. God
sometimes sends His people into fearful situations.
A. Jesus sent the
disciples into a perilous situation. Immediately Jesus made his
disciples get into the boat w and go on ahead of him to
Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up
on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat
was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the
disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the
fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was
about to pass by them, (Vv.45-48)
B. We sometimes
find ourselves in difficult contexts. Maybe it’s a health scare. Or
unemployment. Or under-employment. Possibly there’s trouble at home. Or a
special needs child. Maybe it’s living through the consequences of the bad
choices made in life. Yet we must never
forget that it is Christ and Christ alone who orders your days and directs your
path.
C. The question is
why the LORD would allow this to happen. We only know of yesterday and today.
He knows everything – your past and your future. He has not forgotten about
your current situation. You are where you are now so that in the future you
will then know and understand His ways.
II. The
LORD sometimes appears to pass us by in the time of peril.
A. Jesus appeared intent
on passing by the disciples in their time of peril. He was about to
pass by them (v. 48b)
B. It can appear to
us that our Savior isn’t paying attention to us in our time of need. When we
are tempted to think this way then we remember His Word. Then we remember His
promises – I will never leave you – I will never forsake you. I am with
you always!
C. At such
times of great peril and anxiety; danger and fright you pray. Even when prayer
doesn’t make sense. Jesus prayed when things were tough. You prayer because
this is what faith does. You pray because you know none other.
C. The question is
why He would do this. Sometimes we simply do not know! In the book of Job the
Lord speaks - Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he
thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters
his lightning y about him, bathing the depths of the sea. This
is the way he governs the nations and provides food in
abundance. (Job 36:30-31)
III. When
the LORD’s direction brings us hardship and He appears to neglect us, we often
respond with fear and despair.
A. The disciples failed to trust Jesus’ presence
and power to deliver them. But when they saw him walking on the lake,
they thought he was a ghost.
They
were tortured by the sea. So they cried out in terror. Yet notice the source of
their fear. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified for
they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (Vv.49-50a. 52) They could not recognize
Jesus because of fear and the hardness of heart.
B. When our obedience to the LORD’s direction brings hardship, we might doubt His presence and His gracious purpose.
Faith calls for us to recognize the Lord’s
working in our life. Especially when we cannot see His hand at God. The Lord
will never abandon you to the world you’ve recreated for yourself. Christ does
not withdraw to a contamination-free zone. He does completely the opposite. He
chose to enter into your world. He promises never to leave nor forsake you. To
does not leave you to fend for yourself. To get in with it on your own. Rather,
He enters into the darkness, seriousness and the consequences of human life.
John would remind us; “And the Word
became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1) He enters your world. He comes
in order to save.
IV. But the LORD’s
purpose is to use this experience to benefit us.
A. Jesus shows how
powerful He is by delivering us from that which would destroy us.
1. Jesus
demonstrated to His disciples His presence and power to save. Immediately
he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then
he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They
were completely amazed. (Vv.50b-51)
2. Christ
rescued us from the ultimate perils of sin, death, and hell by His sacrificial
death and victorious resurrection.
3. Christ
delivers us from the need to fear or doubt. We need not fear for Christ is
near.
B. The LORD uses
these experiences of hardship to strengthen our faith.
1. The
disciples were awed and amazed at Jesus’ power. The wind ceased. There was a
great calm. They were completely amazed (V.51b)
2. You are
awed at Christ’s grace and power to save.
Everything that is happening to you is ultimately for your good.
Christ cannot fail you. Never will He
leave you. Never will He forsake you. He is with you always! Even when it stinks
to be you!
Words-1,160
Passive
Sentences -2%
Readability
– 81.5%
Reading Level -4.5
[1] Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Lift High the Cross copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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