"Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him." John 6:45
When I was reading through this "familiar" and rather simple passage a few days ago, questions that came across my mind included:
1. Why would Jesus "made his disciples" do anything ? Is it to the best of His own interest or that of the disciples?
2. How did Jesus achieve this? Did He simply commanded? Encouraged? Challenged? Or taught?
3. Why were the disciples to go ahead of Jesus? Is this a test of Faith or the natural consequences of submission?
4. Was there a time in my life that Jesus tried to "make" me do certain things and how was my attitude or response?
5. What lesson did I learn from the passage?
May I learn from your answers (comments on line) ... before I share mine at a later date?
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We are taught to follow Jesus and to walk with Jesus. Only in a number of rare instances in the Bible, disciples were told to go ahead of Jesus. In Mark 6:45, we are told that Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side. Why did Jesus command his disciples to go to the other side ahead of him? We all know Jesus did everything with a purpose. But how well do we know His purpose?
ReplyDeleteIn the second half of Mark 45, we are told that Jesus dismissed the crowd after sending his disciples away. In John 6:15, we are told further that Jesus knew the crowd were about to come and take him by force to make him king. It is likely that one of the purpose to send his disciples ahead of him was to protect his disciples from harm. It is always wise to follow his command, for he knows what is best for us.
When Jesus told us to go, our obvious choice is to trust and obey. If Jesus has not advised us to go, we better follow him closely and walk side by side with him.
Understand his purpose for us is not always obvious. Sometimes we get impatient and try to force an answer from Jesus. We need to understand that his purpose for us may not always lead to success. Success may not be his purpose for us. His purpose is always making us perfect in his sight. The process of making us perfect may put us into trials and temptations. His purpose may not call us to lead many to Christ, but to change a stubborn person to Christ.
Isaac Hann was a little-known pastor who served a small church in Loughwood, England, in the mid-18th century. At the close of his ministry, the membership of the church numbered 26 women and 7 men. And only 4 of the men attended with any regularity. Isaac Hann would be considered one of those pastors who never quite "made it". Yet, when he died at 88 his parishioners placed a plaque on the wall of their meeting house that remains to this day. It reads in part: "Few ministers so humble were, yet few so much admired. Ripened for heaven by grace divine, like autumn fruit he fell; Reader think not to live so long, but seek to live as well." (From Daily Bread August 9, 2010).
Are you seeing His purpose in your life? Or are you trying to fulfill your life with a purpose? His purpose or yours, this is the question!
Walter