Mark 6:48-52 says, “Then He saw them straining at rowing. For the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out. For they all saw Him, and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them, and said to them, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; Do not be afraid.‘ Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.”
As far as the great men Jesus chose to change the world – 11 men – He did not choose them for their intellect. I think you can see that. He did not choose them because they were of a higher spiritual stature. He didn’t choose them because they were without weaknesses and faults and flaws. He chose them because they’re just like you and me. He chose them to show us what He can do with us.
“They all saw Him and they were troubled.” Do you realize that sometimes the Lord comes to you in a form that you don’t recognize? Sometimes He’s right there, and He scares us to death. Until, like the disciples, we realize this is not a phantom. This is not a ghost. This is not a spirit. This is not something for me to be terrified from. This is my best friend. This is my Lord and Savior. He’s right here with me.
Why didn’t they recognize Him? Why couldn’t their eyes see Him? He’s the same Man that broke the bread. He’s the same Man that sent them off into the to the boat to cross the sea. “And they marveled, for they had not understood about the loaves because their heart was hardened.” Why is what happened here on the sea a result of what happened there at the miracle of the feeding of 5000? They saw the miracle. They saw the power of God revealed. They saw the loaves broken. They saw the people fed. And they walked away from it with hardened hearts. Sometimes you and I see God at work in mighty ways, in someone else’s life. And we go, “Well, that’s nice. God’s working in their life, but you know, He’s not going to do it in mine.” And we walk away. Could I just encourage you when you feel like God’s not listening, or you feel that He is far from you? Listen to His voice.
You say, “How’s He going to speak to me?” He’s going to speak to you through His word. And after He speaks to you through His Word, He’s going to speak to you through the Spirit. You know, a lot of Christians have never realized the secret to power. The secret to power has been handed to us as a gift. We have the Spirit of God dwelling within us. We have the Bible, and we don’t realize the Spirit of God without the Word of God is not going to reflect the power of God. The Word of God without the Spirit of God is not going to imbue us with the power of God. It’s only when you put the Word of God in the hands of the Spirit of God, that the Spirit of God is then able to begin working in and through you in a mighty and a powerful way to accomplish the plan and the purpose of God.
See the whole series “When God Hides His Face” >>>HERE<<<