Mark 6:45-56
Q .1. Why did Jesus ask His disciples to get into the boat? How did they progress?
Why did they think Jesus was a ghost? What was Jesus teaching His disciples? – (Mk.7:45-52)
Jesus had just fed five thousand men, as well as the women and children. He must have been exhausted and would have been longing for the refreshment of communion with His Father (see Mk.6:46 c.f. Mk.6:34-44). Consequently, He sent His disciples ahead by boat (see Mk.6:45). It did not seem strange to the disciples, since He often went off by Himself (see Mk.1:35-37). Sailing into a stiff breeze, they had made little progress. By early morning they were still in the middle of the lake straining at the oars (see Mk.6:47-48). Jesus had more to teach His disciples about His true nature, and – 48 … He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified … (Mk.6:48-50). He calmed them and got into the boat with them – and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened (Mk.6:51-52). It must have been an unbelievable experience. The description of their ‘hardened hearts’ was also used by Jesus, when explaining why people divorce (see Mk.10:5). We should understand this as a statement of fact, not condemnation. We all have a problem with hard hearts at times. It is a sobering thought that the response of Jesus puts the apostles at the same level as divorced people.
Q.2. What happened at Gennesaret? How did the people respond to news about Jesus? What did Jesus do in the towns around the Sea of Galilee? How many were healed? – (Mk.7:53-56)
No sooner had they arrived at Gennesaret, than they were besieged by crowds of people from around the country (see Mk.6:53-55). At this stage of His ministry, Jesus visited the towns and villages, where – they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak … (Mk.6:56). No one who reached out to Him for healing was disappointed. He was fulfilling all the prophecies to help the Jews to identify Him as their Messiah (see Isa.35:5-6; 61:1-2).