As I am becoming familiar with the terrain in the book of Mark, I become fascinated with various features of the landscape. I’m seeing things I hadn’t recognized, or hadn’t taken time to connect before, because this time I am going back and forth over the same ground repeatedly, looking carefully…and finding gems.

One of the thoughts I’ve had is that the disciples were not “connecting the dots”, so to speak, when it came to who Jesus is. I, of course, have the benefit of looking back to the events written, knowing much more than the twelve disciples knew when these events were taking place. At the beginning of the book of Mark, I already know how it ends.

But the significant issue is that, like the disciples, who grew up hearing and perhaps reading for themselves, the scriptures (and that would be, for them, what we call the Old Testament), I too can be faulted for not “connecting the dots” when it comes to understanding or interpreting, making sense of, the Bible I have, even though I grew up hearing the Word taught. And worse, having understood some things, not living according to what I know is true.

We all take in what we are taught but don’t always “do our own homework”. The Pharisees and other religious of their day had their ideas and traditions about what the scriptures taught. They closed-mindedly held to these in the face of Jesus’ teachings and works, rejecting him and teaching others the same. We can learn what not to do from looking at the Pharisees.

The Bereans (Acts 17:10-12), on the other hand, heard Paul preach the good news about Jesus and then, not just taking his word for it, searched the scriptures to see what was written and made up their own minds, based on what the Word of God said. They came to the conclusion Paul was correct and embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can learn a lot from their example, too. We need to be like the Bereans, taking in new information and going to the scriptures with openness to what the Word really says. Not openness to any and every idea of men, rather, testing everything against the Word of God.

In Mark chapter 4 verses 35-41 and chapter 6 verses 7, and 30-52 we have some accounts of events after which Jesus expressed disappointment with the disciples for their lack of faith. This is always interesting to me. I want to learn what is really going on with the disciples, and try to understand Jesus’ thinking in these situations. Not for intellectual reasons, but so I can benefit from others’ experiences, so I can avoid the same errors for which Jesus had expressed disappointment and sad amazement.

At this point in Mark’s narrative the twelve disciples had heard Jesus preach and teach about the Kingdom of God; had decided to follow him; and had witnessed Jesus heal all manner of sickness, disease, deformities and injuries. They had been chosen by Jesus to join him in his itinerant ministry, and had seen the crowds growing day by day. They had also begun to experience the disfavor and hatred of the Pharisees for Jesus and his followers (Mark 1-4:34).

The first incident, in Mark 4, after the explanation of the parable of the seed and soils, and other parables of the Kingdom, Jesus says to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side (of the Sea of Galilee)” (4:35). So off they go in the boat.

This is the account of Jesus falling asleep in the stern of the boat and “there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up” (4:37). Apparently this storm came up so fast and was so violent that the twelve, 1/3 of whom had spent most of their lives on this very sea, were completely panicked, being convinced the boat was going to sink and they were going to drown. They were scared spitless!

Their reproachful cry to Jesus had nothing of the “save us” plea in it, no hint of asking Jesus to do anything about the situation, or that he even could do anything. “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” (4:38). They thought everyone in the boat, including Jesus, was going to die within minutes.

But Jesus got up, spoke the “hush” word to the wind and everything became “perfectly calm”.

Did the disciples, having just been saved from sure death, shout and praise God? No. Now they were even more afraid; “very much” afraid! Of what or whom were they “very much” afraid? Of Jesus! “Who is this?” they said among themselves. Even the wind and waves obey him. Wind and waves do not obey men, even gifted Teachers of God’s word, even Healers. So who in the world is this guy we are following around?

Jesus’ response to their abject fear of death by drowning was “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” We’ll come back to this statement.

Skipping over to Mark 6 verse 7 Jesus commissions the twelve disciples to go out by two’s, giving them authority to cast out demons and preach the Kingdom of God. Just prior to this the they all had witnessed Jesus cast out a “legion”, which being interpreted is, a whole bunch, of demons from a man; healed a woman of a long-standing illness; and raised a girl from the dead. Peter, James and John, called into the death chamber, were eye-witnesses of this astounding event.

So then, after having fanned out by two’s across the countryside fulfilling their assignment, in Mark 6:30ff, Mark records they all come back and tell Jesus what they have been doing…things just like he’d been doing. Amazing stuff! They’d been walking all over Israel, village to village, duplicating the works of Jesus, preaching repentance and the Kingdom of God, healing the sick and casting out demons.

They are exhilarated…and exhausted. Jesus says they all need a rest so off they go to a secluded place, but of course, the people these things have been happening to see them and beat them to the desert resort. Jesus compassionately teaches and heals and then, when the disciples, who recognized the need of hungry people, deny they can meet the need of feeding these 5000 plus when Jesus tells them to do it, Jesus takes it upon himself to feed, with a small lunch, all 5000 men, and the women and children. He then sends them all away so he can go pray. The disciples he sent on ahead in the boat.

You know what’s coming. In the middle of the night Jesus walked on the water to cross the sea and was about to pass by the struggling men in the boat (the wind was against them) but when they see him and are petrified with fear because they think he is a ghost, he speaks reassuringly to them and climbs into the boat and calms the sea. This was nice of Jesus because these exhausted guys had been having a number of adrenalin pumping experiences lately.

(I really don’t get what Jesus was doing intending to pass them by when they were struggling. But then again, I have often struggled with “life as it is” and Jesus let me struggle. But if and when I call out for help, Jesus always helps. There’s something here….Thoughts for another time.)

Anyway, when Jesus spoke and the wind stopped, once again, they were “utterly astonished”. Why? “They had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves (feeding of the 5000) because their heart was hardened” (6:51, 52). They were not “connecting the dots” about Jesus.

They had been witnessing the miraculous and even been participants in producing miraculous events in their ministries, but they hadn’t really seen what was, even though it was right I front of them. Apparently their concept of Jesus was that he was a man, like them, with powers from God…but they didn’t see Jesus as being God.

They were right if they thought men couldn’t command the seas and winds. They were right if they figured the miracles they witnessed and took part in themselves were evidence of God’s power being given to men. That makes perfect sense. Even their concept of the promised Messiah, the Deliverer spoken of so much in scripture, could fit within this framework.

But something else was going on here and it was stretching them outside that framework they had always been taught and in which they had felt comfortable and safe. They were being blasted with truth through the events of Jesus calming a deadly storm, feeding 5000+ people, walking on water and again calming the wind and waves with a simple word of command; and they were hard-pressed to “connect the dots” to make up the picture so they could recognize who Jesus is.

If I have “connected the dots” of Jesus’ identity and say with my mouth I believe Jesus Christ is Who He claims to be, God the Son, King over all kings and nations of men; I must act out of that belief, mustn’t I? Yes, because faith without acts is dead. Faith in God is evidenced by our actions (James 3:14-26).

When we act based on faith in Jesus, rather than fear and unbelief, then we will hear Jesus say to us, “good job!”, rather than “don’t you have faith yet? Why are you afraid?” I’m sure I prefer to make Jesus smile (and even chuckle at my childish attempts to please him) than hear disappointment and astonishment in his voice because I still…don’t… get it.

And, oh my heart, every time Jesus says, “Take courage; it is I, don’t be afraid”, with the commentary that they hadn’t gained insight because their hearts were hardened, and “Why are you afraid? Don’t you have faith yet?”; I cringe, for how often Jesus has said these very words to me? I who have read the “end” of the book and know so much more than the twelve did at the time they were going through these stretching events. I have less “excuse”, if you will, for not “connecting the dots” of who Jesus is (God in the flesh who commands nature as well as mankind) and not responding to his words with “utter faith” in Jesus rather than “utter astonishment” at what he does.

I do not want to have a “hardened heart”, blind to what is right in front of me! When I, who have witnessed, both in scripture and history and my own life, the mighty acts of God, see an obvious need in front of me and come to Jesus to do something about it, and he says to me, “you feed them”, whoa! I want to say, “Ok,” trusting absolutely that I will be able to accomplish what he tells me to do. And then figure out a way to do it. It may not, no, most likely will not be easy; it will take effort. But I am convinced that Jesus will honor even seemingly foolish attempts at stepping out in faith in him to do what he says! (In fact, I can even attest to some foolish attempts to obey the Lord and he has graciously worked through me/us!)

He will feed the thousands through my hands, if I act in faith at his command. He will calm the storm at my word calling on King Jesus who rules waves and wind, as well as the hearts of men. He will keep me in perfect peace in the midst of unbelievable chaos, when my faith in him is absolute. Fear comes, but Jesus takes it gladly from us when we give it over, and he gives his peace in its place (Phil. 4: 6,7).

It all comes down to daily, simple obedience to God by making Jesus, and God’s Word the priority in our everyday, mundane lives. God is always calling to us; as we draw near him we will hear his voice. Then we have the opportunity to choose to do what is impossible for us, at his command. And not fail. Because we trust not in our puny abilities, but in the Infinite and All powerful God.

I am convinced Jesus, who spoke to the disciples, is speaking today to us to do those works he did, and even greater works. We know the disciples did these greater works after Jesus ascended to the Father. They finally got it, after Jesus gave them his spirit. And we know he gave the spirit not just to the disciples, but to all of us who believe as well. To be our companion and comforter, to be sure, but not just to make us feel safe and good. Rather, to accomplish his works in the world. Our world. In our lifetime.

I was encouraged and challenged the first day of this new year as I was reminded to be and do my very best for Jesus Christ; to be totally surrendered and obedient to Him, to put self and my desires, even the consideration of others, aside and make my consideration Jesus and His desires, His purposes. To live a life worthy of the One who gave His life for me.

Immediately I recalled Hebrews 12: 1-3 in which God’s people are called to cast aside every sin and whatever holds us back or trips us up, being aware of the presence around us of those who have preceded us who have walked by faith (Hebrews 11), and above all fix our eyes on Jesus.

I like the term “fix” our eyes on Jesus. It is a strong word and to me feels like an anchor which hooks onto something which cannot be moved and therefore holds fast even in forceful waves; fixing, riveting, our eyes on Jesus, never taking our eyes from him as we go through each day. And then the capstone of these verses, “consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (12:3).

Oh my goodness. When we get a glimpse of what the people being addressed in the book of Hebrews were going through, we realize what we face is so small in comparison! They were being persecuted, harassed, oppressed; their possessions were confiscated, they stood up for friends and family whose goods and properties were also taken away…as well as their lives. They stood in mortal danger of having their families ripped apart and being killed themselves.

I know these things are happening today in many places in the world and we must try hard to identify with and pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering various kinds of persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. But I cannot say I have suffered such things. I have faced other sufferings but not abject fear for my life or that of my family, or even fear of my property being taken away, have you?

I am reminded of a verse God made real to me when Randy and I left everything to follow God’s call to start a ministry to the poor in West Virginia, which we named Mustard Seeds and Mountains. It was a struggle in many ways and on many levels. As I cried out to God for help and strength, in my Bible reading I came across this: “If you are slack (or faint) in the day of distress, your strength is limited (small)” Proverbs 24:10. What an indictment against my weak-kneed faith! It shouted “Buck up and be a man!” Be strong in the difficult times. God has not changed!

This verse is similar to one which has challenged us since Bible college days: “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5. In other words, if you fail the easy test, when life is not hard, how in the world will you survive when real dangers come?

Whew. We live in the “land of peace”, friends. We have yet to face tribulations. We have much to learn from our family members in Christ in other countries who are facing life and death every day for their faith in Jesus Christ. Will you or I do as well as they in the difficulties of life?

I want to live in Hebrews 12: 1-3, in the company of those who faithfully walked in the fear of the Lord, casting away from myself all that hinders that faithful walk in my life, and fix, rivet my eyes on Jesus, never forgetting what He endured, so that I will not grow weary and give up the fight!

So when I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year…this is what I have in mind for you too! May we all walk worthy of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

Jacque