WHAT JESUS DOES TO COUNTER SATAN AND HOW THE PEOPLE RESPOND ARE SHOCKING
You can be set free from Satan’s attacks of financial distress, family conflicts, destruction, crime, drug addiction, natural disasters, or whatever; Jesus has come to set you free.
“Welcome back! This is Part 5 of our 13-part series. We are studying the Book of Mark. Here, we examine how Jesus deals with the forces of evil and how people commonly respond.
There is a battle between good and evil. In this battle, Jesus, the captain of good, has come to release God’s hostages.
Join us as we examine some of the moments in Jesus’ captivating work of setting the captives free.
But, before we begin, as always, let’s invite God’s Presence.
Inviting God’s Presence.
Almighty God, we thank you for sending your son to set us free. Help us claim our deliverance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 5)
Miracles Around the Lake
Part 1 Introduction
Jesus came to unshackle us from the chains of Satan and set us free. The Gospel of Mark is filled with stories of the miracles he performed and the love he showed to free us from the hands of Satan. What’s interesting is how the people respond.
This lesson demonstrates that you can be set free and your life transformed. This is evident in the events shared in the Gospel of Mark.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus does most of His work in Galilee, specifically around the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is actually a lake, almost 13 miles long (21 kilometers) and 8 miles wide (13 kilometers).
It is the largest body of water in the area therefore, it was the center of life for the people living in Galilee.
In fact, many lived nearby and made their living from working on the lake.
What’s interesting is that Mark 4 ends with Jesus and His disciples traveling across the Sea of Galilee.
A storm arises that Jesus calms by speaking to the wind and waves.
Mark 6 ends with a similar scene, but this time, it is with Jesus walking on the water toward His disciples in the boat.
Between these scenes on the water are numerous miracles of Jesus that were performed on land and His disciples’ first missionary activity.
The overarching characteristic of these dramatic stories is to let us know who Jesus is and what He can do for us.
Thus, Mark makes every effort to help us see who Jesus is and what He does. In Mark 4:35-41 he tells of Jesus Calming the Storm.
In Mark 5:1-20, he tells of Jesus Healing a Demon-Possessed Man.
In fact, this miracle shows that Jesus has authority over demons and can free us from our deepest struggles.
If you’re battling addiction, depression, bad relationships, or any other form of bondage, Jesus has the power to set you free.
Mark in 5:19 tells us that Jesus does not permit a healed man to go with him. Why, and what does this imply?
“However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you’ ” (Mark 5:19, NKJV).
Mark 5:25-34 tells of Jesus healing a Woman with an Issue of Blood: This woman had suffered 12 years of hemorrhaging. When faced with prolonged illness, we find that Jesus can bring healing and relief.
Most compelling is Mark 5:35-43, Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter from the dead, demonstrating that He has power over death itself.
So, when we encounter loss or feelings of hopelessness, we are reminded that Jesus is the source of life and can restore our hope and give us joy.
If that was not enough, Mark 6:30-44 tells of Jesus Feeding 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fishes, showing that Jesus can provide abundantly, even from the smallest resources.
So, when you feel like you don’t have enough—whether it’s time, money, or energy—trust that Jesus can multiply your efforts and provide your every need.
Even more compelling, defying the law of physics, in Mark 6:45-52 Jesus walked on water to reach His disciples’ boat in the middle of the lake.
This miracle reveals His divinity and reveals that He is in command of all the laws of science, including mechanics, physics, chemistry, biology, and any others.
Therefore, when you’re facing insurmountable challenges, remember that Jesus can help you overcome them, no matter how impossible they may seem. (Split)
These miracles that Jesus performed show that He identified Himself with humanity’s interests and needs.
He who was one with God linked Himself with humanity by ties that can never be broken. Jesus is not ashamed to call us family.
He is our Sacrifice, Advocate, and Brother, bearing our human form before the Father’s throne, and through eternal ages, He remains one with the race He has redeemed (Steps to Christ, pp. 14, 15). (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 301).
As we reflect on these stories and Jesus’s immeasurable compassion, power, and love, remember that He came to set you free.
Now, let us examine the events of Jesus’ life around the Lake more deeply. To do this, we first look at Jesus’ power to command the wind and the sea.
Read Mark 4:35-41 Then Continue to Part 2: Calming a Storm.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 5)
Miracles Around the Lake
Part 2: Calming a Storm
Feeling overwhelmed by life’s storms? Mark 4:35–41 lets us know that Jesus’ presence and power can bring peace and calm to any situation.
Jesus came to set the captives free. His miracles reveal His divine power and authority over all creation.
Mark 4:35–41 tells us:
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. (Split)
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:35–41)
At the beginning of Mark 4, we see Jesus stepping into a boat to teach the crowd on the shore.
Then in Mark 4:10–12, it appears that he got out of the boat and privately talked with the disciples.
Now, after a long day of teaching, Jesus’ disciples take Jesus in the boat “as He was,” indicating that he was very tired.
So, He immediately falls asleep on the boat’s cushion, which would be in the stern of the boat.
A great storm arises on the lake, and the boat is at risk of sinking when the disciples awake Him.
Jesus commands the wind and waves to stop. A great calm settles over the lake. Notice the disciple’s response; they become very afraid of Jesus’s display of divine power.
This event shows us that when we face overwhelming challenges, Jesus has the power to bring peace and calm to our situation. Just as He calmed the storm, He can calm the raging storms in our lives.
The disciples’ fear highlights their lack of faith. Jesus questions why they are afraid, pointing to the importance of trusting Him even in the most frightening circumstances.
Thus, in times of fear or uncertainty, instead of panicking, we can turn to Jesus, who has the power to calm the raging storm in us or around us.
Psalm 104:1-9 describes God’s majesty and power over creation, painting a picture of Yahweh as the sovereign ruler who commands the waters.
Similarly, in Mark 4, Jesus’ command over the storm reveals His divine nature, aligning Him with the powerful image of God in the Psalms.
Theophany means a manifestation of God or one of His angels to humans. This story contains four out of five elements of a theophany:
- The Display of Divine Power: Jesus calms the storm.
- Human Fear: The disciples are terrified.
- The Question, “Why are you so afraid?” and the Command, “Do not fear.” Jesus questions their fear, indicating they should trust Him.
4) The Words of Revelation: where a divine message is accompanied by a visible appearance of God or an angel. The manifestations add significance and authority to the revelations.
- Human Response: The disciples are left in awe, questioning, “Who then is this?”.
The missing element here is number (4): The Words of Revelation, the direct verbal message from God.
This missing detail plays a role in the pattern that runs through the entire Gospel of Mark, in which the truth about Jesus will come out.
The disciples’ question, “Who then is this that the wind and the sea obey Him?” pushes them and us to answer the missing words of revelation.
Who is He? He is the Son of God, the Lord Himself.
Jesus’ actions convey His identity and divine authority, inviting us to recognize Him as the Son of God.
So, absorbed in their efforts to save themselves, the disciples forgot Jesus was with them.
When they finally turned to Him, He brought peace. What does this say to us?
We should rely on Jesus in every aspect of our lives, trusting His strength and care when the storms of life are raging all around us. We can feel safe and secure because Jesus is with us.
His presence brings peace, and His power overcomes any earthly challenge. (Split)
If you thought that Jesus calming the sea was a divine manifestation of who He is, what about His encounter with a man filled with over 5000 demons? Read Mark 5:1-20
Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Can You Hear a Whisper Above a Shout?
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 5)
Miracles Around the Lake
Part 3: Can You Hear a Whisper Above a Shout?
At Jesus’s command, demons departed from their victims, leaving them calmly sitting at Jesus’s feet, subdued, intelligent, gentle, and in their right minds.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by forces beyond your control, battling against struggles that seem insurmountable?
If the night before on the lake was an unforgettable moment, what do you think about their arrival at the Ga-da-renes the next morning?
Mark 5:1-29 is a powerful story that shows the ongoing war between good and evil and reveals Jesus’s divine power.
Here Mark lays out heartbreaking details about a man possessed by over 5000 demons.
Abandoning all restraints, he lives in isolation, in the tombs among the dead.
His condition is disturbing. He screams day and night, cutting himself with sharp stones, and “No one had the strength to subdue him” (Mark 5:4, ESV). (Split)
This man’s suffering is a vivid representation of the destructive power of Satan.
But then the man meets Jesus.
6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;” (Mark 5:6, NASB).
The Greek word translated as “fell on his knees” means “to worship.” This shows that the man recognized Jesus as someone who could help him.
However, the demons within him seized control and shouted at Jesus. Yet, Jesus heard the man’s desperate whisper for help above the noise of the demons’ shouts.
The demons, recognizing Jesus’ authority, begged Him for permission to enter a nearby herd of pigs.
Jesus granted their request, and the demons left the man and entered about 2,000 pigs, which then rushed down a steep bank into the sea and drowned.
This event caused a significant financial loss for the pig owners.
But the most astonishing aspect of this story is the demons’ acknowledgment of Jesus’ identity and their powerlessness before Him.
Despite their number and strength, they knew they couldn’t stand against Jesus. Therefore, they pleaded with Him twice, Mark 5:10 and Mark 5:12, fully aware of who He is and His supreme power; they asked to be allowed to enter the pigs.
This story has two dominating characteristics. First, it is filled with items of uncleanness or ceremonial defilement according to Old Testament law.
Tombs and the dead were unclean, according to Numbers 19:11, 16.
Bleeding made one unclean, according to Leviticus 15.
Pigs were unclean, according to Leviticus. 11:7.
Second, superseding the list of defilements is the battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil.
The man’s possession by thousands of demons illustrates the severe impact of the forces of evil and the power of God to subdue them.
Jesus’ encounter with the possessed man reveals His immense compassion and power.
He not only hears the man’s cry for help but also takes immediate action to free him from his torment.
This shows Jesus’ willingness and ability to save us, no matter how dire our situation.
The fact that 5,000 demons were powerless against Jesus underscores His unmatched authority over all evil.
This reassures us that no matter how powerful the forces of darkness may seem, Jesus is infinitely more powerful.
After the demons leave, the man is found sitting calmly, fully restored to his right mind.
Jesus’ intervention brings about a complete transformation, demonstrating His power to renew and heal.
In some ways, this man was the unlikeliest missionary, but he definitely had an amazing story to tell.
This story teaches us that Jesus possesses absolute power over evil and that His compassion can transform even the most desperate situations.
This leads to the story of a desperate father and a desperate woman. Read about them in the sandwich story found in Mark Mark 5:20-43. Then Continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: On the Roller Coaster with Jesus.
Trapped by life’s circumstances, desperate for a way out? We now explore a powerful story in Mark 5:21-43 that shows how Jesus came to set the captives free, demonstrating His boundless love, compassion, and power.
21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.
22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet
23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. (Mark 5:21-24)
As shown in Mark 1:22, Mark 3:2, 6, and Luke 13:14, like most other religious leaders, Jairus was not really a friend of Jesus. However, Jairus approached Jesus with a desperate plea. His beloved daughter was dying, and in his dire need, he fell at Jesus’ feet and earnestly asked for His help.
Any parent can understand his plea. His daughter is dying. He has faith that Jesus can help. Without saying anything, Jesus immediately goes with the father to his home.
But something interrupts their travel to Jairus’s house. Was it a traffic jam? No!
On their way to Jairus’ house, the story changes to a scene that stirs up pity. A woman who had suffered from a bleeding disorder for 12 years shows up.
This story of Jairus and the woman is the second sandwich story in Mark.
To understand what is a sandwich story review my previous video, on YouTube, The Book of Mark Lesson 3 @ Sabbathschooldaily by Dr. Brenda Davis. Also read Mark 3:20-35.
The contrasting characters in this story are Jairus and the woman, both desperately seeking help from Jesus.
She had spent all her money on treatments, but she only grew worse. She believed that if she could just touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be healed.
Among a crowd of people, the woman comes up behind Jesus, reaches out, and touches the hem of His clothes. Immediately, her bleeding stops, and she is well.
This might have been the end of her story, but Jesus, aware that power had gone out from Him, turns and asks, “Who touched me?” (Mark 5:3).
The woman, trembling with fear that Jesus was angry, admits what she did. Though it had been a wild ride for her emotionally, Jesus wanted to heal not only her body but also her soul.
He responds with compassion, saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:34).
Imagine the woman’s courage and faith. Despite societal norms and personal fear, she reached out to Jesus. Her faith and Jesus’ response show us that no matter how long we’ve suffered, His power to heal and restore is ever-present.
Jesus came to set the captives free, and this woman’s story is a testament to that.
Now back to Jairus. Read Mark 5:35-43. He, too, is on a wild emotional ride. Messengers arrive from Jairus’ house, saying his daughter is dead. Jesus, unfazed, tells Jairus in Mark 5:36, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.
Jesus continues to Jairus’ house, taking only Peter, James, John, and the girl’s parents inside. He cast out the mourners, telling them the girl is not dead but asleep, and they laugh at Him.
He goes into the room where the dead girl lay. Jesus then takes the girl’s hand and says, “Ta-li-tha (cumi) koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).
The word Ta-li-tha means “lamb” and thus would be a term of endearment for a child in the home.
Immediately, the girl stands up and walks around. Jesus instructs the parents not to tell anyone about this miracle.
The command to keep things secret is part of the revelation/secrecy motif that runs through the Gospel of Mark and points toward who Jesus is and that, ultimately, cannot remain hidden.
Think about Jairus’ faith. Even when the situation seemed hopeless, he trusted Jesus. Jesus’ words and actions demonstrate His power over death, offering assurance that He can bring life and hope into our darkest moments.
Jesus came to set the captives free, and Jairus’ daughter’s story underscores His authority to release us from the captivity of even death.
This passage shows us two interwoven stories of faith and Jesus’ immense power. Jairus, a respected leader, and an unnamed suffering woman both come to Jesus in their desperate times of need.
Despite societal barriers and personal fears, their faith in Jesus leads to miraculous healing.
This sandwich story of Jairus and the suffering woman teaches us about the power of faith and the boundless compassion of Jesus.
No matter how dire our circumstances are, Jesus invites us to come to Him in faith. Just as He brought healing and life to Jairus’ daughter and the suffering woman, He can bring hope, healing, and restoration to our lives. Who in their right mind would reject Him? To find out, Read Mark 6:1-6
Then, Continue to the next segment of this video: Part 5: Rejection and Reception.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 5)
Miracles Around the Lake
Part 5: Rejection and Reception
Trapped by circumstances, misunderstood, rejected? We look at a powerful story from Mark 6:1-6 that shows how Jesus came to set the captives free, demonstrating His boundless compassion and power even in the face of rejection.
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.
2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. (Mark 6:1-6)
Have you ever felt that those closest to you are the hardest to convince of your capabilities?
Jesus faced similar skepticism from His own hometown, yet He continued His mission undeterred.
Why would Jesus’ hometown reject Him?
Generally, when someone from a small town becomes popular, the locals enjoy the attention. But not in Nazareth.
Despite His love, compassion, power, and incredible miracles, the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus.
They were offended and couldn’t accept that the carpenter they knew had become a powerful teacher and mighty healer.
His move from being a builder to a teacher seemed hard for them to accept. Their familiarity bred contempt and unbelief, which limited the miracles Jesus could perform there.
Yet, even in rejection, Jesus’ mission to set the captives free remained steadfast.
Jesus did many miracles in Capernaum but not in Nazareth. Luke alluded to this in Luke 4:23:
23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ” (Luke 4:23)
This may have fueled jealousy among the Nazarenes. Not to mention His past disagreements with His family (see, Mark 3:31-35) and His humble origins may have added to their reluctance to accept Him.
In Mark 6:7-30, Mark gives us another Sandwich Story. Remember to understand Sandwich Story better, view Lesson 3 on Youtube @ Sabbath School Daily by Dr. Brenda Davis and click on the Book of Mark Lesson 3 titled Controversies.
This narrative technique involves starting one story, then beginning another, and finally returning to the first story.
Here, we see Mark talking about Jesus’ instructions to the Twelve disciples and their work in spreading the message about Jesus.
Mark in Mark 6:8-11 shares the instructions Jesus gives to the twelve telling them to:
“take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—
9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” (Mark 6:8-11)
Then in Mark 6:12-13 Mark tells of their outcome:
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.
13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:12-13)
In the middle of his story about the twelve, Mark interjects the story of John the Baptist’s imprisonment, silence, and later execution.
He begins by talking about King Herod’s concern that John the Baptist had risen from the dead
Mark 6:14-16
14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
15 Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” (Mark 6:14-16)
Mark lets us know that while the twelve were working with Jesus, John the Baptist faced a horrible fate. Imprisoned for condemning Herod’s unlawful marriage, John is eventually beheaded due to a vengeful request from Herodias’s daughter (see Mark 6:14-29).
This is the third sandwich story in Mark (view lesson 3).
The Twelve Apostles’ mission to spread Jesus’s message contrasts sharply with John the Baptist’s imprisonment. The disciples are instructed to travel light and rely on others for support, making the missionaries dependent on the people they serve, fostering a bond between them, and encouraging those who need their message to receive it.
The Baptist, however, had no such connection with Herod and his family.
John’s death is recounted in shocking detail as the scheming Herodias exploits Herod’s indecisiveness and evil desires.
Herodias’s daughter further escalates the scandal by horrifically requesting that the head of John the Baptist be delivered on a platter.
The silencing of the Baptist’s powerful voice coincides with the Twelve Disciples preaching repentance, just like John.
His death foreshadows that of Jesus. John is executed, buried, and rumor surfaced that he had risen from the dead see Mark 6:14–16, 29, mirroring Jesus’s future fate as recorded in Mark 15 and 16.
These parallel stories signal an impending crisis for Jesus and His followers.
We may face rejection and hardship, but like Jesus and His followers, we are called to remain steadfast in our mission.
In the Messiah’s liberation of the captive, Israel had a false misconception. They expected the Messiah to come and free them from Rome’s oppressive rule.
Jesus could have certainly done that, but Jesus’ work was greater than that.
This He demonstrated in a crowd of people on a hillside and to his disciples on the sea. Read Mark 6:34-52
Then, Continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: A Different Kind of Messiah.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 5)
Miracles Around the Lake
Part 6: A Different Kind of Messiah
Mark 6:34-52 shows how Jesus came to set the captives free, demonstrating His compassion and miraculous power even in the face of impossible situations.
34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.
36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”
37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.
41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.
42 So they all ate and were filled.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.
44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. (Mark 6:34-52)
So, after a long day of teaching, Jesus and His disciples go with Jesus to a secluded area on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee to rest.
But a huge crowd of 5,000 people arrive. Jesus, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, teaches them for the entire day.
In the evening, the disciples recommended that Jesus send them away to find food, but Jesus had a different plan.
In Mark 6:37, we see Jesus telling His disciples, “You give them something to eat.”
Looking at the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples in Mark 6:35-38 shows that the disciples are looking at the problem from a human perspective.
But Jesus is looking at the problem from a divine perspective. Thus, he miraculously feeds the large crowd with five loaves and two fish.
This event plays right into the popular misconception of the coming Messiah in Jesus’ day.
The Jews expected the Messiah to free them from Roman rule and oppression and usher in peace.
The gathering of 5,000 men in a desert setting could carry with it military overtones of revolt, indicating an attempt to form an army. See, for example, John 6:14-15 and Acts 21:38.
This idea is made stronger by the mention of Jesus seeing the people as “sheep without a shepherd,” a phrase partly taken from Numbers 27:17, where Moses asks God to choose a new leader for Israel after him.
This way of talking about a shepherd for God’s people shows up in other parts of the Old Testament, usually referring to Israel not having a leader or king as expressed in 1 Kings 22:17; 2 Chronicles 18:16; Ezekiel 34:5-6.
This event showed that Jesus had all the resources he needed to liberate Israel and establish himself as King, but his mission was far greater than that.
Jesus doesn’t fulfill their mistaken hopes. Instead of leading a revolt, He sends His disciples away and dismisses the crowd.
Rather than starting a rebellion against Rome, He goes to a mountain to pray—certainly not what the people were expecting.
So, Immediately, Jesus had His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went to the mountainside to pray.
Then, In Mark 6:46-52, we see Jesus walking on the water to meet them, showing His control over nature.
46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.
48 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.
49 And 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 troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. (Mark 6:46-52)
This act further demonstrated His divine authority and His mission to set people free from fear and doubt.
This story teaches us the importance of having a correct understanding of Jesus’ mission.
The Jews missed the true purpose of Jesus’ coming because they were focused on temporal, political freedom.
We must grasp the spiritual messages in God’s Word to ensure we correctly understand God’s plans for us.
Jesus came to set the captives free—not just from physical hunger or political oppression but also from spiritual bondage, fear, and doubt.
We are to receive His compassion, accept His love, rely on His power, and bring our wants, desires and needs to Him. Just as He fed the 5,000 and calmed the stormy sea, He will provide for you and bring peace to your life. With Jesus, what seems insurmountable becomes possible.
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