God Squeezes the Flesh to Refine us to Faith - Mark 5-6

 Mark 6:45-52 (ESV)

Immediately HE made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while HE dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, HE went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and HE was alone on the land. And HE saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night HE came to them, walking on the sea. HE meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 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.” And HE got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Jesus was in command of this entire scene.  The disciples had yet to grasps both the sovereignty of Jesus, or His power.   Note in the above what we read:

1. He made them get into the boat.

2. He dismissed the crowed from him. 

3. He went up to the mountain to pray.

4. He saw (from the mountain top) the storm.

5. He came to them walking on the water. 

6. He meant to pass by them is better interpreted that He came along side them. 

7. He spoke to them to not fear.

Jesus knew exactly what was going on.  This was no mistake to put them in a boat knowing that a storm was coming.  In fact, these were fishermen, they would have known a storm was coming and would have never jumped into a boat with one on the horizon.   This storm was also a sovereign act of Jesus.   The end of this passage gives us a clue about the point of the passage.  It states:

“And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”

Jesus, despite all the miracles prior to this event, knew that these men were still dull spiritually.    He knew there was much more learning to take place to soften their hearts for even harder truths to follow.   So, Jesus puts them in a place to show them His glory.   Jesus designed the perfect situation to test sailors with the storm of the sea.  Jesus had to show them the inadequacy of their striving so that they could be astounded at His glory.  Jesus puts us in tight places to show us that He has the power to deliver us.   Jesus was growing their faith by squeezing their flesh.   That is sometimes the only thing that replace the flesh with faith.