They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” Mark 6:50 NABRE
Mark has told the story Jesus feeding of the five-thousand people in a field near the Sea of Galilee in a Jewish territory. After the miracle of the feeding of so many Jesus goes off to pray by Himself in the hills. His disciples get in a boat and headed across the sea to the town of Bethsaida. As they traveled across the sea they see a man (though they thought it was a ghost) walking toward them on the water. This of course is Jesus coming to join them in the boat. The disciples in the boat panic at seeing the figure walking toward them on the water. Jesus’ miracle of feeding is joined with a water miracle. These miracles mimic what God does for the people in the Exodus story, water miracles in the parting of the Red Sea for the people to walk across and while they were in the wilderness God fed the people regularly. Jesus is a new Moses who leads His people away from Egypt and now Jesus is becoming the shepherd of the people, He feeds them and leads them to a new Kingdom. Like Moses, Jesus has compassion for the people. Jesus is bringing the kingdom of God and He emphasizes the kingdom’s miraculous nature. Imagine seeing a miracle where so many people are fed from nothing. The disciple’s themselves witness the miracle and now Jesus is walking on water. These are signs of the type of kingdom God wants for people. Miracles of food and water, likely a place where love is shared and enjoyed by all. Jesus’ message is “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”
Jesus is our shepherd, He brings a miraculous kingdom in which we will be fed and know it is He we should always see coming towards us.
Do you seek the kingdom of God? Do you have eyes on Jesus?
Jesus is our shepherd, He brings a miraculous kingdom in which we will be fed and know it is He we should always see coming towards us. Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #water #miracle #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways