Struggling Against the Wind

Struggling Against the Wind - Part II

Last week I highlighted the story in Mark 6 where Jesus sends His disciples out across the lake while He stays on land. In the middle of the night, Jesus, who is still on land while the disciples are "far out to sea," sees them "struggling against the wind." Jesus does His walking on water thing and crosses the lake. He intends to walk right by His struggling disciples . . .

Honestly, I got a little stuck right there - He intended to walk right by His struggling disciples? What?! What kind of loving Savior does that?

It must be the kind who wasn't worried, who saw no cause for alarm. He knew they'd make it to the other side. He obviously intended to surprise them and meet them when they did; but as soon as He saw that they were afraid, He climbed into the boat and the winds died down. Jesus was going to walk right by them because He wasn't worried about them. The disciples were fine. Absolutely fine. But when Jesus saw that they were afraid, He went to them immediately.

I love the heart of Jesus here. He's not worried about the disciples (and He's not worried about you and whatever situation you're in). He knows they'll make it to the other side of the lake (as will you), but when He sees that He's frightened these grown men, He doesn't keep on walking past. He doesn't say to them, "hey guys, it's Me. Stop being such babies! Buck up. Get some backbone. Geez!" To the contrary, His heart goes out to them, and He immediately climbs into the boat and finishes the trip with them.

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