Communion With the Christ:: Jesus Passed By

"Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the sea. He was about to pass by them," Mk:6:48

As the Disciples struggled in the darkness against the wind and waves there in the midst of the Sea of Galilee, they made little head-way as they rowed and attempted to press on to the other shore.

The Disciples might have been growing tired and discouraged. The sea's adversity may have made them wonder why Jesus had sent them into it and without Jesus in the boat, the situation seemed helpless.

However, unbeknownst to the Disciples, we are told in the Gospel narrative, that Jesus had been observing their situation and was fully aware what was taking place. Jesus knew what they faced, and where they faced it, and it was there in the midst of the darkness and ragging storm Jesus' eyes were upon them.

"He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them" Mk:6:48

Passing Them By

Then, at the darkness part of the night when things seemed to be at their worst for the Disciples, Jesus came to them in the darkness and a midst the stormy sea and it was here, that they had a profound encounter with Jesus.

"and about the fourth watch of the night Jesus comes to them walking on the water”, (48b)

Yet, paradoxically, when Jesus came to them, he did not immediately change their situation, the Disciples continue to struggle and row with the storm still raging around them.

We are then told in the narrative of the Gospel that Jesus "passed by them”. Jesus seems to do nothing, but rather appears to just pass by them even as they struggled.

"and about the fourth watch of the night he comes to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed by them”. (48)

This action brings a response of fear from the already exhausted Disciples, as they misinterpret Jesus' presences in their collective plight.

But when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled"(48b-50a)

Yet, we see Jesus passing by them was a deliberate action on the part of our Lord Jesus for the purpose of giving the Disciples and all of us a clearer revelation and understanding of who Jesus is.

Jesus speaks to the Disciples out of the stormy darkness and assures them that it is he that is with them, to assure them that they are not alone in their situation .

"And immediately Jesus talked with them, and said to them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid"(50b)

The Disciples do not need to fear, Jesus is there. They are not alone. The Disciples are not abandoned as they might have believed, their struggle has not been for nothing. Jesus has the power to redeem any and all situations, even this ragging storm and darkness.

But there, on the sea, a great supernatural occurrence is underway. Jesus is where he logically should not be. Jesus is there in the a midst the darkness of the storm walking on water.

We are told that Jesus was "passing by them” in their difficulty. Jesus had positioned himself, and they, in such away for him to reveal himself to them in a way they may never had realized or understood.

In "passing by them" Jesus is making a statement about "Who He is”. Jesus is not attempting to walk away or abandon them as they may perceive, but rather to give them a revelation of his divinity.

This action of "passing by them" has been repeated before in the Scriptures all for the purpose of revealing the Great God, the same God who was there with the frightened Disciples in the person of Jesus.

God Passed By

As Moses led the people of Israel on their pilgrimage to the Promised land, Moses came to see the glory of God as Moses approached the Lord God on behalf of the people of Israel.

"Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” Ex: 33:18-23

The Lord tells Moses that "my face must not be seen”. This is telling us that the incarnation had not come yet, that he could not see the "face of God", that is, Moses could only see God's back, meaning that there was not yet a full revelation of who God is; the incarnation had not yet occurred, so that God had not assumed a human face for us to look upon. Jesus had not come, had not yet become "flesh" as one of us. Jhn: 1:14

This tells us that Jesus is the face of God. That when you look at Jesus you see all that God has to show us about himself. This means that Jesus is the "self" of God; if this were not so, God could not revel himself in Jesus.

The Lord God "passed by" on the mountain so that Moses might see just a glimpse of God's glory and know that he is God and see his glory, but only his back, meaning Moses did not receive a full revelation of God's glory this would only occur in the incarnation.

Jesus "passed by" now on the sea so the Disciples might see that he is God and so that they might see His glory and know that he is God.

"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."2Cor:4:6

When we read the Old Testament it is as if we are seeing the "back of God", but when we read the New Testament we are peering into the face of Jesus, the very face of God...This tells us that the law only hinted at "good things to come".....The Old Testament was the incarnation anticipated and the New Testament is the incarnation fulfilled.

They Worship

In St. Mathews:' account we are told of St. Peter stepping out of the boat even as the storm ragged and walked toward Jesus, and in the midst of the storm Jesus saves St. Peter and the rest of them. Jesus enters the boat and the storm is stilled and they worship him, coming to see that he is the Son of God.

Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matt: 12:28-33

Jesus Passes By Us

There are times in our lives when, we just like the Disciples of Jesus, find ourselves in the midst of storms and struggling to make progress, darkness may seem to surround us and every action seems futile. Yet, even in the midst of it we are not alone, Jesus' eyes are upon us watching us, as he watched the Disciples.

Jesus clearly sees us even if we can't see him. Jesus has not abandoned us as it may first appear from our point of view.

Many times, we are in such circumstances. These storms can arise, they take many form in this life, and at times they can reach a point where we just do not know if we can keep going. Often in these dark moments that we might feel that Jesus has "passed by" us.

At times, critics can whisper words of condemnation and cast doubts in the midst of everything. The situations can be difficult. We become fearful or filled with doubts.

If we perceive that Jesus has "passed by" us in the midst of a ragging storm on the sea of our lives and we are at the darkest past of the night, he has done so that we might see his Glory, that is, see that he is God.

That Jesus is placing himself in relation to us so that we ultimately come see his glory, and that Jesus can enter the boat of our lives and bring calm to the raging sea even as we worship him.

If you feel that our Lord has "passed by" you it is merely the dark moments before Jesus is making ready to give you a greater revelation of his Glory that you might see that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

Benediction: May we each and all know that our Lord is there in the midst of all the storms which we face so that we might have a greater revelation of who our Lord Jesus is, today, tomorrow and forevermore .Amen.