ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

Mark 6:48  When Jesus saw that the disciples were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by.  

Jesus needed some time to himself to pray. Always a good idea, even when you're the Messiah! So he sent the disciples on ahead of him to their next destination, across the lake. Then when he decided it was time to see what the guys were up to, he saw that the winds were bad and they were really struggling with the oars. And he set out on foot to meet them: across the water. This didn't happen in northern Minnesota in the wintertime, so the lake wasn't frozen over. He walked on the water. And this version of the Bible says "he intended to pass them by."

I've always wondered about that. What was Jesus' plan? Was he going to just walk across and meet them at the other side? As it turns out, he paused and got in the boat with them and the winds calmed down and everyone was amazed. But what was the original plan? Was he just going to leave them to suffer against the wind while he went ashore to rest? 

I've seen other translations that take the original Greek words to mean something else - something like "he pretended to pass them by." I love that image. Jesus, pretending to walk on without noticing them - until they cry out for help. Jesus as the ultimate practical jokester. "Oh, I didn't see you there." 

We'll never know the original plan, but Jesus didn't leave them struggling. Jesus never leaves us struggling. Jesus handles it for us. Jesus calms the wind. Jesus gets in our boat. Jesus does not leave us alone.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for worship this weekend: Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 9. Check out our float in the parade on Saturday morning as well.