Step 19

Mark 6:45-56 Stormy Journeys to Discovery

About Mark: We are now in a section where more of Mark's structure begins to emerge, as described by William Lane in the Comment below. The journey motif has established a pattern of progressive discovery. But this central section is unique to Mark. Though the shortest Gospel, Mark twice tells of large crowds being miraculously fed by Jesus, crossing the sea, conflict with Pharisees and discussion about bread.
 

These events are set in a recurring pattern, as Lane shows. It is as if, at this point the disciples go twice around a circuit of discovery, to confirm what they have seen Jesus do. But at the end they have learnt something they would not have noticed unless Jesus had deliberately pointed it out. These were not circles over the same ground, but spirals of progress. We too need to ponder the times when we think we are going round in circles.

Bible: Mark 6:45-56, Jesus Walks on the Water
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 51 Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret. 
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touchedit were healed.

Comment: STORMY JOURNEYS TO DISCOVERY
THE PROCESS of learning about Jesus can be long and confusing, even terrifying and astonishing, as we see with the disciples in the boat. One experience with the loaves (52), may not be enough. And while the disciples are slowly working out who Jesus is (the confession of Peter in 8:29 is an obvious climax in their quest), there are many others who simply see Jesus as a wonder-worker; who approach him like the crowds that Mark describes (53-56); who touch the fringe of his cloak and are healed but who never become involved in the much more confusing but important matter of being disciples of the Messiah, the Son of God (Mk.1:1, 8:29). 

William Lane points out this slow, involved process, by showing how Mark structures the
events he reports in his Gospel leading up to Peter's confession. The first cycle of events is: feeding the thousands (6:30-44), crossing the sea (6:45-56), conflict with Pharisees (7:1-23), conversation about bread (7:24-30), healing (7:31-36) and confession of faith (7:37). The second cycle follows the same pattern: feeding the thousands (8:1-9), crossing the sea (8:10), conflict with Pharisees (8:11-13), conversation about bread (8:14-21), healing (8:22-26) and confession of faith (8:27-30). 

While the crowds seem to approach Jesus with superstitious ease, the disciples are confused. They did not understand about the loaves (6:52). They see him at one point in the storm and, thinking he is a ghost, cry out in terror (50). Jesus speaks words which could be taken for the name of God ("it is I" in verse 50 could refer to God's name Jahweh, "I am who I am"), but can that possibly be what he meant? They didn't know. And in this tumble and turmoil of events it seems impossible to get a clear answer. Not only that, it seemed to them that their hearts were hardened (52), even in the midst of all they were seeing, which only added to their confusion and bewilderment.

Discipleship today: Becoming a disciple requires many lessons. You might think that knowing the physical Jesus as the disciples did would make it easy. But not so. They too were left on their own, as we so often feel. 

Stormy events often have the benefit of reminding us of our frailty and fragility. And a mystical experience, like thinking Jesus is a ghost, is little help in this quest. We need to discover who Jesus is, so that whatever sensations overtake us, we have a faith that is firm when all else shakes. 

If you are finding this quest of discovery arduous and painstaking, then be comforted that you are on the same track as the disciples.