#29 Be Not Afraid Series

#29 Be Not Afraid

Series: Mark

Chuck Sligh

October 4, 2020

This is a scary world we live in. In the story of Jesus walking on the water, we learn how Jesus wants us to handle our fears.

NOTE: PowerPoint or ProPresenter presentations are available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives.

Some thoughts and illustrations for this sermon were adapted from David Dykes’ sermon on SermonCentral.com titled Jesus Says, “Don’t Be Afraid.”

TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Mark 6:45-52 – “And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”

INTRODUCTION

I. FIRST, WE SEE JESUS PRAYING ON THE MOUNTAIN IN VERSES 45-47 – “And immediately he constrained his disciples get into the boat, and go before him to the other side to Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed to a mountain to pray. 47 And when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.”

Immediately after feeding the 5,000, Mark tells us that Jesus “constrained” his disciples to get into the ship to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The Greek word translated “constrained” implies an urgency.

Why the hurry? The answer is given to us in John’s version of the story where we read in John 6:14-15 – “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the prophet who is to come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he departed again into a mountain by himself alone.”

The crowd was inflamed with Messianic fervor and wanted for Jesus to take Israel back from the Romans by force, with Jesus as the Messiah-King. This was not God’s plan in Jesus’ first advent, so He wanted to get the disciples away lest these Jewish Zealots infected the disciples and confused them.

However, rather than accompanying them, Jesus stayed behind to pray on a mountain. Certainly, He had a lot to pray for: His ministry was expanding, and the physical strain was showing on the whole ministry team. Also, the disciples needed a lot of prayer for their dullness in grasping spiritual truth. And while He was praying over these things, He knew that they were in the middle of the lake with a storm coming on.

II. NEXT WE SEE JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER IN VERSES 48-50. – “And he saw them toiling at rowing; for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night (which was about 3-4 AM) he came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him and were troubled. But immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, ‘Be of good cheer! it is I; Do not be afraid.”

Verse 48 says Jesus “saw them toiling at rowing.” Did Jesus see the disciples so far out with His human eyes, or was this a manifestation of His deity? The Gospel writers don’t tell us, but we know that somehow Jesus saw them.

Halfway out on the sea a howling wind came from the northeast. Any sailor would know that you would have to take down your sails in such a windstorm or your boat would be blown over and overturned. So they took out their oars and began rowing, and verse 48 says they were toiling at the oars. The word translated “toiling” means literally “to torment.” Yet, despite their toilsome efforts, they found themselves farther away rather than closer to shore.