Chapter # 6 Paragraph # 5 Study # 2
February 8, 2022
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(284)
1901 ASV
6:47 And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
6:48 And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them:
6:49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
6:50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
6:51 And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves;
6:52 for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
- I. And Evening Having Come (Into Being)...
- A. The meaning of "evening" is given in 1:32 as that time "after the sun had set" but, at least an implication is given in 15:42 that Joseph of Arimathea had time to take the body down and take it to the tomb. This is a bit complicated in that the timing was "late on the day of preparation for the Sabbath". Since the "Sabbath" began at sundown, it is possible that the time frame allowed for Joseph to get his work done before the actual time of "sunset".
- B. The use of "evening" by Mark is significant in respect to our current part of the record in that this is the second time Jesus had His disciples out on the sea after dark, and both times an event occurred that caused the disciples significant discomfort and pressed them to ask themselves to try to determine what the events signaled in terms of Jesus' identity (4:41 and 6:49-52).
- 1. There is something about Jesus' use of "setting" that included "darkness" for the disciples.
- a. In John's record, John makes a special point of the fact that, when Judas departed to betray Jesus, "it was night" (John 13:30). This was a follow-up to Jesus' statement that "...everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (12:46) because "...I am the Light of the world..." (John 8:12).
- b. Mark does not even use the word "dark" in his record of this event; he simply makes it an integral part of the event because it happened "...about the fourth watch of the night..." (6:45).
- c. In the earlier "event" on the sea that caused the disciples great fear, Mark wrote that it happened "...on that day when evening came...", when Jesus was "...asleep on the cushion..." (4:35-38).
- 2. Thus, two of the major issues in both accounts of miraculous events upon the sea because of stormy winds, the "sea" and the "darkness" are integral elements of "setting". The "sea" being an environment of death (9:42) which created significant fear in the disciples (4:38) and an environment of death which created significant, laborious, effort (6:48) was combined with the "darkness" as an environment of "blindness" to characterize the "conditions" in which the disciples had to function ... and they did not do well with those conditions. According to Luke's record, the disciples' pattern for fishing was to fish at night (Luke 5:5) so that it was the norm for them to voluntarily involve themselves with "the sea" and "the darkness". They were used to these conditions and, thus, fell into the trap of thinking that, because this was their norm, they could "handle it". This "self" confidence is the nemesis to the development of disciples who can function as good stewards of the grace given to them. Thus, storms and blindness are sent upon them to bring them to their senses (just as a refusal by an unclean spirit to yield to their "authority" over them created a significant problem for the disciples in 9:28). The issue is their "self" confidence and their inability to tell when "faith in the Lord" has unwittingly shifted into "faith in themselves".
- II. The Boat Was In The Midst Of The Sea.
- A. This use of "boat" is significant in that Mark makes a "boat" a significant part of his narrative in chapters 1-8 and mentions a "boat" no longer after 8:14 and its context. At issue with a "boat" in these early chapters is Jesus' use of such to press men into a recognition of Him as He is and of them as they are. He is the One to be trusted, but the "boat" has usurped His place.
- B. Likewise, the "midst of the sea" is significant because "the sea" is a strong oppositional concept to "Life" so that the disciples, early on, are "fishermen" who risk their lives on the sea every time they get into the boat to go out to obtain the "necessities of life". The "sea", being a domain of death for men, has become the "source" of their "living" for the disciples before Jesus calls them away from it (1:16-20). Then, He twice uses it as the "impressive context" for the disciples' need to come to grips with "Who is this?" Interestingly, they "miss the point" both times; first because of a serious failure of "faith", and, second, because of a serious problem of their "hardness of heart". It is noteworthy that of the fifteen references by Mark to "the sea", thirteen are in the first seven chapters of his work (the last two being used by Jesus for the sake of significant illustrations (9:42 and 11:23).
- III. He Was Alone On The Land [Earth].
- A. There are "shades" of similarities between this statement regarding Jesus and the one regarding Adam, who was "alone on the earth" until God provided him a "suitable helper". The Septuagint uses the same terminology in Genesis 2 about Adam being "alone ... on the earth". Theologically, Jesus is going about the process of "gaining a Bride" as He works with The Twelve to turn them into "suitable helpers" in the formation of The Bride of Christ.
- B. For Mark, the "aloneness" issue in respect to Jesus and His disciple-making is significant.
- 1. In 4:10, the disciples seek understanding of the parables when they are "alone" with Jesus.
- 2. In 6:8, Jesus insists that the disciples take nothing for their journey "except only a staff". This is Jesus' intentional limiting of the disciples' "provisions for their task" (not unlike the mere 5 loaves and 2 fish) for the purpose of establishing His "point": He provides what is necessary; they just count upon Him to make provision for them to be able to do what He tells them. The risk is always the decision to count upon someOne/someThing.
- 3. In 6:47, Jesus is "alone on the earth" while the disciples are in the boat in the midst of the sea.
- 4. In 9:2, Peter, James, and John are "alone" with Jesus on the mountain to "see" His transfiguration.
- 5. And, last of all, in 9:8 the disciples see "only" Jesus after the transfiguration is over.
- IV. And Having Seen Them Being Tormented With the Pushing...
