Jesus: The Eternal Shepherd
Main Point: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lovingly leads the disciples to recognize him. Will we respond like the disciples or will our hearts be changed by his work?
In stark contrast to Jesus’ mastery over nature and divine self-revelation stands the disciples’ failure to respond. First stymied by the wind, they then react in terror at Jesus’ numinous presence. From a human perspective, this might seem like a natural response. Yet these are the disciples who have seen Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. They have just witnessed Jesus’ divine authority to feed multitudes with a few loaves and fish. By now their faith should be strong, yet they react with fear and disbelief.
At the end of Matthew’s version of the story, the disciples cry out, “Truly you are the Son of God,” and they worship him (14:33). Mark has a different slant. This is the beginning of a downward spiral that will bring the disciples to a dangerous turning point. In 8:14–21 (an episode again involving a boat, bread, and “hard hearts”), Jesus will warn the disciples against having eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. Their faith is in the balance.
The disciples’ problem is not that they are unable to make headway against the wind or that they are not rowing hard enough. It is that they have not learned the lesson of the loaves—that God is at work through Jesus to accomplish his saving purpose. Disciples of Jesus are not expected to be fearless in every circumstance, but they are expected to learn from God’s faithfulness in the past and to grow in their faith for the future.