Real Life Reflections

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...

Have you ever noticed that life can be hard? I know, amazing revelation there, but I'm pretty sure it's true. Just when you think things are finally going your way - BAM! You get hit with another one. I've come to the point where if I have that thought - that, "hey life isn't so bad right now" thought - my next thought is "uh oh. Why did I just think that?" as if not recognizing a current lack of difficulties could ward off future difficulties. In Mark 6, the disciples are out on the lake in a storm, and Jesus isn't with them. He actually told them to cross the lake without Him ( The Message translation says He insisted ), and when they're "far out to sea," the wind picks up against them. Jesus, who is waaayyyy back on land, "could see His men struggling with the oars." So He comes walking on by, and scares His disciples half to death. When Jesus sees that they're afraid, He comforts them immediately and climbs int...