I Can’t See In The Dark

I Can’t See in The Dark

Mark 6:45 – 52

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[1]

Introduction

May I be honest with you for a second? I don't like being in the dark. It's not that I'm afraid of the dark. I don't like being in the dark because I can't see. I don't know about you but one of the most challenging things ever is to navigate through darkness. Have you ever tried to walk through a dark house? Many of us have tripped over things trying to walk in the dark. Many of us have bumped into things trying to walk in the dark. Heaven forbid, many of us have stubbed that good pinky toe, walking in the dark. I don’t like being in the dark because I feel slightly vulnerable. I feel as though as long as I'm in the dark I am not in control. I have come today because I have a funny feeling and a sneaky suspicion, that someone feels like me. Just maybe someone knows what it's like being in the dark feeling as though you have no control, no help. Tired trying to navigate and see in the dark. I am here with good news. Jesus can be trusted in dark and chaotic times. Thats right! Even in your darkest day and your most chaotic time Jesus is present and still in control. This my friends is the message that screams from our scripture today.

Biblical Background

The passage of scripture that I have read to you comes from the Gospel of Mark. It has 16 chapters, 678 verses, and 15,171 words within it. The synoptic Gospel of Mark is unique in a historical stance as it is mentioned by scholars to be named the first Gospel to have been written. It is noted as the shortest of the gospels, yet the most action packed out of the others. This gospel is full of mind blowing action packed moments that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat anticipating every moment of the text. the son of Mary, nephew of Barnabas, spiritual son of Peter wrote the Gospel of Mark based on the testimony of the Apostle Peter. The purpose of the text is found in the very beginning of the book, Mark 1:1. The opening narrative of Mark unbolts with the bold statement “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (NRSV). This audacious declaration reveals Jesus as more than just an average man, prophet, or teacher, yet as the Messiah of the world and the Son of God. It is within the rest of the book that we find what it means for Jesus to be the Messiah of the World and the Son of God.

Our text opens after the miraculous miracle Jesus feeding over 5000 hungry people with two fish and five load of bread. Marks narrative suggest that immediately after feeding the thousands and taking 12 baskets Full of remaining food Jesus makes the disciples get in the boat and head to Bethsaida. The Bible says that Jesus then goes to the mountains to pray.

The Disciples in Darkness & Chaos

The text says that later that night, the disciples were in the middle of the sea of Galilee. At this time it's dark, and there is a chaotic vicious winds and waves were beating up against the boat. Can't you see them as they're rowing in the middle of the sea with the wind blowing in their faces and the waves beating up against the boat. It's dark and it's chaotic and they are here because Jesus sent them. And it looks like they are by themselves. Can I talk to some tour Christians today? We love following Christ when he is healing, doing miracles, feeding thousands, giving site to the blind. We love following Christ when it looks Beautiful. But my question today is can you follow Christ when it leads to dark chaotic times? I don't care who you are where you come from all of us have to face dark and chaotic times. I don't care how much you pray or how much you read your Bible all of us have to face the daunting day when darkness and chaos is at our doorstep. The question is can you stick with Christ when things get dark and chaotic?

Can I tell you why we can stick with Christ in dark and chaotic times? Answer found right here in the text. Verse 47 says that they’re in the boat, and it also says that Jesus is on land watching them. That is good news for a few of us that God sees you in the storm. Not only does he see them in the storm but goes to rescue them from the storm. The good news is you might be in it but you're not in it by yourself God is with you he sees you and knows how to rescue you.

Christ Displaying Power

May I be honest with you for a second? I don't like being in the dark. It's not that I'm afraid of the dark. I don't like being in the dark because I can't see. I don't know about you but one of the most challenging things ever is to navigate through darkness. Have you ever tried to walk through a dark house? Many of us have tripped over things trying to walk in the dark. Many of us have bumped into things trying to walk in the dark. Heaven forbid, many of us have stubbed that good pinky toe, walking in the dark. I don’t like being in the dark because I feel slightly vulnerable. I feel as though as long as I'm in the dark I am not in control. I have come today because I have a funny feeling and a sneaky suspicion, that someone feels like me. Just maybe someone knows what it's like being in the dark feeling as though you have no control, no help. Tired trying to navigate and see in the dark. I am here with good news.

Can I ask you a question? What does it mean for Jesus to walk on water? What does it mean for Jesus to display such dominion over the elements? It's imperative to note that the only other time such power is seen and displayed in scripture is in the Old Testament scriptures. In Job 9:8 God the father is described as the one who, marches on the waves of the sea. Look at Jesus, doing this mind – blowing act, walking in the image of his father, walking on the water.

This, my friends, is not where the explanation it ends. In the Old Testament times the thought of God having dominion over the waters was an ancient Near Eastern image of God’s triumphant authority over chaotic matters. You missed me let me bring it back. Jesus in the New Testament is displaying the same power and authority over the water that God the Father displaced in the Old Testament. And this symbolizes God’s triumphant authority over chaotic matters. And I know I’ve got about two or three people in the building who can testify to the fact that God has control over even my chaos. God can step into some mess and bring peace. I got some people who can say I'm here right now because God stepped into my chaotic matters and brought peace. Do I have 14 and I’ll make 15 myself, who can give God the glory because God has authority over chaotic matters. Jesus can be trusted in dark and chaotic times because he has dominion over chaotic matters.

The text says that Jesus walks on the water. Verse 48 that he would have passed them by. I'm gonna be honest with you I struggled with this statement. I put Jesus on the witness stand. I asked Jesus, how is it possible that you see the disciples struggling, yet you're looking to pass them by? Jesus told me you're looking at this the wrong way. Go back to the Old Testament. This isn't the first time you here God passing by someone. In Exodus 33 God passes by Moses to reveal a glimpse of his glory. In 1 Kings 19:11 on God passes by Elijah to reveal his glory. Just as God the Father revealed his glory by passing by His appointed messengers in the Old Testament, Jesus is equally walking on the water “passing by” the disciples in hope to reveal glory as the “Christ” and Son of God as well. Do I have any witnesses in the how who can testify to the fact that God won’t leave you out there by yourself? God will show up for you in your situation and will reveal his glory. He will show up and show out for you. I love how the old church used to say it. The problem that I had, I just couldn’t seem to solve. I tried and I tried, I just kept getting deeper involved I turned it over to Jesus, and I stopped worrying about it. I gave it over to the Lord and He worked it out. I can trust in Christ in dark and chaotic times because he has the power to reveal his glory even in the dark.

The text says that Jesus is walking on the sea of Galilee. Revealing his glory as one who has dominion over chaotic matters. And when saw Jesus they were immediately afraid thinking that he was a ghost. It's dark yet they can still see Jesus. But they can't identify who he is. Notice how he responds to their fear. He says don't be afraid it is I. This sounds quite insignificant until I looked at the text in its original translation. In the Greek this phrase translates to, “be of good courage: I am”. This may not sound like much, do you remember in Exodus chapter 3, when God is sending Moses to Egypt to free the slaves. Moses asks a question, who should I sent me? God responded by saying I am that I am. Tell them I am sent me. In Jesus telling his disciples be of good courage I am, is referring to himself in the same way that God refers to himself. Here is Jesus is referring to himself as God. Jesus can be trusted in dark and chaotic times because Jesus is God.

After Math

The tick says Jesus gets on the boat and the wind ceases. These disciples are completely astounded by what they have seen. It's interesting to note that during this time people honored Poseidon, Neptune and other little g mythical gods as ones who had authority over the sea. Is it possible that they were sounded not just by what they had seen, but also by who they saw do it? Is it possible that though they had found Christ, and witness miracle after miracle, they weren't expecting this miracle to be one they would see from Jesus? Is it possible that in these moments they had more faith in superstition traditions than they did the supreme sovereign God?

What's even more interesting is verse 52. They saw all of this according to verse 52 they did not understand it because their hearts were hardened. Here is Jesus showing his glory as God, the one who has complete dominion over chaotic matters. They could not see it and understand, because their hearts were hardened. This Harden heart is easily parallel to the hard heart that Pharoh had in the book of Exodus.

In my study time I came across two definitions for this hardened heart. One focuses in on a blindness. It’s as though these disciples were seeing spiritually blind. The other definition focuses in on the mind. It suggests that a hardened heart happens when you become close minded towards Christ. A hardened heart will have you seeing God and thinking he’s a ghost. A hardened heart will have you seeing God and becoming afraid of him instead of embracing him and worshipping him. This comes with a warning to watch your heart.

They couldn’t process this miracle because they were still confused about the last one. This hardened heart came from the fact that they did not understand the last miracle with the two fish and five loaves of bread. Their heart was hardened. I’ve come to ask the question, how is heart? How are you handling what God is doing in your life? Are you carrying anything in your heart that has hardened it?

The shouting news is that even though they did not understand what Jesus was doing. It didn’t stop him from doing what needed to be done. Jesus does not allow their hardened heart to stop him from doing what he was doing with them. He is merciful enough, and gracious enough to be patient with them even with their hardened hearts. He can be trusted in dark and chaotic times because he is patient enough to stick with you even while youre trying to get your heart and mind right.

Close

I have been trying to tell you this whole time is that Jesus can be trusted in dark and chaotic times. Don’t give up on God when things get dark. I know you may not be able to see in the dark God can see and is in control. I’m done I have to go. But before I go please allow for me to provide you with a parabolic exegesis of this thing.

A story is told of father who is putting his six-year-old daughter to bed. He puts her in bed, tucked her in very nicely, kissed her on the forhead and said good night princess as he did every other night. This night in particular the father did something different that he never does regularly. Instead of keeping the light on, as he usually does, he went over to the light switch on the wall, and for the first time, this father turns out the light for his daughter to sleep peacefully in the dark. Unbeknownst to him, when he turned the light out, this man’s six – year – old daughter began to scream to the top of her lungs. The father immediately turned the light back on and asked his daughter, girl what is wrong with you? The daughter said daddy, when you turned out the lights I got scared cause I couldn’t see you anymore. That father looked at his daughter and said baby, I know you couldn’t see me, but trust me, I never took my eyes off of you!

Good night my brothers and sisters, may the Lord bless you real good. But is there anybody here who can say, Im so glad that I serve a God who sees me, even in the dark. He sees me even in chaos.

This wasn’t the last time Jesus had to face dark and chaotic time. It was one Friday on a Hill called Golgotha. The sun refused to shine. He hung bled and died.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives

He walks with me

He talks with me

He tells me I am His own

And the joy that we share as we tarry there. can't see in the dark

I know you can’t see,

But when you walk through a storm hold your head up high

And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of the storm is a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain

Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on with hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone.

I don’t feel no ways tired, I’ve come too far from where I’ve started from.

Nobody told me, the road would be easy.

I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me.

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 6:45–52.