Sermon Video:
Recognizing Jesus > Mark 6:45-56
6:45-47 The test. Immediately after the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus sends the disciples back across the sea. He remains to dismiss the crowd and then heads to a solitary place to pray on his own. Mark sets up the scene for what will follow…
6:48-52 Hard hearts. Jesus walks on water to the disciples as they row hard against the wind. They are, at first, afraid, not recognizing Jesus. He gets in the boat with them and promptly reassures them of who he is. Mark makes clear that the disciples remain hard-hearted at this point, not fully understanding who Christ is and what he is doing.
6:53-56 Soft hearts. By contrast, once Jesus and the disciples reach the other shore, the crowds do recognize the Lord. They believe that he can and will help their physical needs.
The Point: Sometimes, we miss what is right in front of us. The disciples did: they missed that Jesus is fully God. Yet, Jesus had mercy on them, and the disciples would grow to recognize and respond to Jesus as the Son of God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, too often we are distracted. We are filled with unbelief. Help our unbelief! Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what matters most: Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man and he is our King! Make us to faithfully follow him.
Application: Follow Christ, not just his miracles. Believe in him, not just in what he can do. Who can you help to know of Christ’s mercy and grace? How will Jesus’ patience with the disciples encourage you this week?
Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________
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