The Compassionate Christ: Mark 6:45-52

Introduce

Last week you were told of Jesus, the shepherd who sees, satisfies, sends, and saves. You saw this as you were faced with Jesus’s teaching and feeding of over 5,000 people. Now the story we just read picks up where last week’s left off. Instead of Jesus’s ministry to the crowds we get another glimpse at His ministry to the disciples. So, please consider the story with me and then its application to you.

Retell

Right of the bat, see Jesus seek solitude : 45-47

Immediately after the events of last week’s passage, evening was upon them. Jesus sent His disciples to the other side of the Sea Galilee. While they left, he said farewell to the people and retreated to a mountain to pray. The boat was at sea. Jesus had the solitude He sought, but it wouldn’t last too long.

A little further, see Jesus scare sailors: 48-50

While in solitude, our Lord saw His disciples struggling against the wind and the sea. “And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.” The fourth watch of the night is between 3:00 and 6:00 A.M., which means the disciples had struggled against the sea for hours. The Sea of Galilee is smaller than Lake Truman.

It is when the disciples are at their whits end that Jesus comes. He is going to pass by them, as Yahweh passed before Moses on Mount Sinai. Indeed, it is only Yahweh who treads waters. It is He who made and governs both the dry lands and seas. The disciples mistook Him for a Ghost. However, Jesus’s reply reveals His true identity. He is no ghost. He is Yahweh incarnate. A literal translation of Jesus’s words are as follows: “Take heart. I am. Do not be afraid.” He identifies Himself as the I Am, who spoke with Moses from the burning bush! As Jesus walks on the water, the scared sailors are seeing the covenant God of Israel, who passes by His people and is present with them in the waters.

At the end, see Jesus stump students: 51-52

Jesus got into the boat with the scared sailors, His disciples or students. The winds ceased. The students of Jesus, His disciples, are stumped to the point of astonishment. Their astonishment stems from misunderstanding the loaves. Their hearts were hardened. What did the loaves have to do with the present story? John’s Gospel may aid us here. John, after telling of the feeding of the 5000, transitions to what Jesus taught the crowds. Jesus is the bread of life. They did not see that behind the miracle was a deeper truth about Jesus. If they believe in Him, then they need not worry about storms, food, or even death. The disciples couldn’t yet receive Jesus as Yahweh and the Messiah. But when Jesus raises from the dead and sends His Spirit the come to believe and understand in greater detail what they through out the Gospels misunderstand and disbelieve. Indeed, the man they once misunderstood, will be the one they give their lives for in service to Him, and for some in martyrdom.

Transition

Jesus has sought solitude, scared sailors, and stumped students. We, like the disciples, are often confused and frightened by life. We are even sometimes confused by our Lord and His plans for our life. What truths does this passage teach us to answer our confusion and our fear? Jesus compassionately reveals Himself. This big idea is seen clearly in the text. When His disciples fear the waves and mistake Him for a ghost, He says, “Take courage. I am. Do not be afraid.” When we like them are cast along life’s waves, Jesus says, “Take courage. I am. Do not be afraid.” So, with the big idea in view consider two responses that it should it should stir in you.

Apply

1. Jesus compassionately reveals Himself, so trust in Him

I have charged you to trust in, believe in, or place faith in Jesus every message. I do it again without apology. Without Christ all other charges I would give you fall flat and are rendered meaningless. Before I can tell you what to do. It must be certain that you believe in the one who is true. You must trust in the one who fed the 5,000 and walked upon the waters. You must place faith in the one who lived in perfect righteousness, died a substitutionary death, rose victoriously as a sign of His sacrifice’s acceptance before God, ascended where He reigns over His people and intercedes for them, and will one day return to make all things new.

Christian, as you toil at work and struggle in life, Christ is your anchor and hope. His glory is your life’s end. Therefore, it is the end of you work. Do your job for His glory and the good of His people. Don’t allow your job, whether it be as a stay at home mom, farming, teaching, nursing, or anything under the sun, to become the object of your faith, the source of your joy, or you purpose in life. 

Unbeliever, if you are to experience the comforting grace of God, you must first trust in the Lord Jesus. You must embrace Him as God the Son and your redeemer.  It is required of every individual that they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and trust in Him. Do you trust in Him? He will go through the storms of life with you. He will bring you safely to a shore of eternal joy and bliss. Trust Him. 

Church, on our bulletin you should notice that it says we are committed to the Christ, Committed to the Church, and Committed to the commission. This is what I hope will be the mantra of Vista Baptist Church and an accurate summary of what we are about. Christ is first on purpose. We are committed to Him. We confess Him as our Lord and Savior. We believe on Him for our survival and our success. 

Jesus compassionately reveals Himself, so trust in Him.

2. Jesus compassionately reveals Himself, so love like Him

Jesus loved His disciples. This truth shines in the text. He loved them enough to not only pass by them, but to reveal Himself and enter the boat with them. He loved them enough to one day die for them, their sins, and their salvation. Jesus still loves His disciples and that includes everyone who trusts in Him. However, such trust or faith is followed by the fruit of repentance from sin and the pursuit of holiness. This means the disciple of Jesus seeks to live and love like Him.

Loving like Christ in marriage means that Husband you must love your life as Christ loved the church. You must show compassion to her. You must be gracious. You must lead sacrificially and give yourself for her benefit.

Wife you should imitate Christ by submitting to you own husband. Respecting His leadership, and giving grace for His failures. Jesus alone is Jesus. Jesus doesn’t need your grace, compassion, or mercy, but your husband does.

Yes, Children you also should imitate the compassion and patience of Jesus with your friends and parents. You should patiently and lovingly obey them.

Unbeliever, you by yourself are unable live like Jesus. You cannot do it by your own power. Apart from Him even your attempts and success to mimic Jesus fall short of God’s glory. You still are condemned. You must do as I charged you in the first point: Trust in Him. The Jesus who compassionately revealed Himself to the doubting and frightened disciples is revealing Himself to you now. He is speaking through His Word and servant. He is calling you to believe in Him for the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life. He won’t turn away even the most vile of sinner, who comes to Him in faith. Trust in Him and you shall be saved.

Church, commitment to the church and commission flow out of our commitment to Christ. His mission is the establishment of His Church, namely His people. He does this through the great commission. That is those who are His disciples are to make more disciples through proclaiming His gospel and faithfully witnessing its effects in their lives. So, to love like Christ means to participate in the mission of Christ, meaning we as a church must love like Him and point others to Him as the great I am. 

Jesus compassionately reveals Himself, so trust in Him and love like Him.

Conclude

You have now considered the story and its application with me. You saw Jesus seek solitude, scare sailors, and stump students. You have faced the truth that Jesus compassionately reveals Himself. You have been charged to trust in Him and love like Him. These charges have been applied to work, home, the unbeliever, and our church as a whole.

I end with a simple question to all of you. What will you do with the Word you have heard this morning? Will you instantly forget it or will you receive it in faith and seek to live in light of it? If you choose option number one, then why are you here? Especially, you who come week after week, why are you here to only forget what has been proclaimed? The Word of God brings blessing to those who hear it in faith and not to those who forget it in folly. If you choose the second option, keep believing in and keep striving to imitate your redeemer. He who treads the waters with you, He will not fail. He who underwent judgement in life and death for you, He will not abandon you.

To all of you, Jesus has compassionately revealed Himself to you this morning, so trust in Him and love like Him.