Reconsideration, Reevaluation, Reconciliation
May 23, 2004 - Mark 6.48-56 This is a parallel passage to our scripture of last week and this week. What happens when Jesus and the disciples reach the other side?
Open It
When is the last time you remember being in a terrible storm?
What is one lesson you had to learn the hard way?
Explore It
What problem were the disciples having? (Mark 6:48)
How did Jesus respond to the disciples' needs? (Mark 6:48)
How did the disciples react when they saw Jesus walk on the water? (Mark 6:49)
When did the disciples cry out? Why? (Mark 6:49-50)
Why were the disciples "completely amazed"? (Mark 6:51-52)
What is significant about the wind dying down? (Mark 6:51)
What had the disciples failed to understand? (Mark 6:52)
Where did Jesus and His disciples finally land? (Mark 6:53)
What did Jesus do after He and the disciples had crossed over the lake? (Mark 6:54-56)
How did the crowds respond to Jesus when He came to their villages? (Mark 6:56)
What difference did it make that the crowds welcomed Jesus? (Mark 6:56)
What does the fact that "all who touched Jesus were healed" tell us about the people's attitude? (Mark 6:56)
Get It
When has God done something for you that was completely amazing to you? What was it?
How did you respond the last time you sensed God's work in your life?
Why do you think we are sometimes so surprised by God's goodness to us?
How should you follow Jesus' example in this story of taking time out for prayer?
When have you been terrified, as the disciples were in this story?
How can Christ calm our fears or help us when we are afraid?
What difference does it make that Jesus has the power to control the forces of nature?
What does this story tell us about Jesus?
What does this story tell us about human nature?
What can we learn from Jesus' commitment to help people and teach them?
In light of this story, how can you increase your faith in Jesus?
Apply It
How can you discipline yourself this week to spend time in undistracted prayer each day?
What specific fear or anxiety do you need to turn over to the Lord and entrust to Him?
How can you make yourself sensitive to the lessons God wants to teach you this week?
NOTES
Mark 6:49-50: The disciples were surprised to see Jesus walking beside them on the water. But they should have realized that Jesus would help them when they were in trouble. Though they had lost sight of Jesus, he had not lost sight of them. His concern for them overcame their lack of faith. The next time you are in "deep water," remember that Christ knows your struggle and cares for you.
The disciples were afraid, but Jesus' presence calmed their fears. We all experience fear. Do we try to deal with it ourselves, or do we let Jesus deal with it? In times of fear and uncertainty, it is calming to know that Christ is always with us (Matthew 28:20). To recognize Christ's presence is the antidote for fear.
Mark 6:52: The disciples didn't want to believe, perhaps because (1) they couldn't accept the fact that this human named Jesus was really the Son of God; (2) they dared not believe that the Messiah would choose them as his followers-it was too good to be true; (3) they still did not understand the real purpose for Jesus' coming to earth. Their disbelief took the form of misunderstanding.
Even after watching Jesus miraculously feed 5,000 people, they still could not take the final step of faith and believe that he was God's Son. If they had, they would not have been amazed that Jesus could walk on water. The disciples did not transfer the truth they already knew about Jesus to their own lives. We read that Jesus walked on the water, and yet we often marvel that he is able to work in our lives. We must not only believe that these miracles really occurred; we must also transfer the truth to our own life situations.
Mark 6:53: Gennesaret was a small fertile plain located on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum, Jesus' home, sat at the northern edge of this plain.