Welcome to 40 days with Christ sharing one time was truth with you for the Life of Christ in under 5 minutes daily. Today is Day 17. Lets start off with a word of Prayer.

Father in Heaven, thank you for giving the Word of life in your son Jesus. Help us to understand, to obey and to hold firmly to that word.  In Jesus name, AMEN!

Reading from Mark chapter 6 verses 45 through 50.

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

I wonder what Jesus’s followers thought when it was time to get into the boat. They probably didn’t want to leave Jesus behind.  Scripture says he made them get into the boat and go ahead without him while he dismissed the crowd.

‘How will Jesus get to Bethsaida if he doesn’t come with us?’ they may have wondered.  ‘How long will we need to wait for him there once we arrive?’. But of course, they obeyed their teacher and they went ahead without him.

Then, late at night with the wind blowing against them, the disciples were out in the middle of the lake straining at the oars while Jesus walks right past them on the lake as though he is walking on dry land!

The way I read it, Jesus made great time. He was passing the disciples up!  He could have arrived at Bethsaida before his disciples!  Imagine how surprised they would have been to arrive at their destination after working against the wind all night only to find Jesus already there!

But that was not to be.  For when they saw him walking on the water, they  cried out in terror thinking they had seen a ghost. Jesus tells them not to be afraid.  He climbs into the boat with them and immediately the wind dies down.

And they were amazed!

Lets pray.

Lord Jesus whenever we are struggling against the wind… Whenever we are slow to learn and slow to recognize your mighty power, please come into the boat of our lives with.

Teach us that we need not fear. Please help to calm our hearts.

Your power and your love are truly amazing.

It is in Your name we pray. Amen!