Mark Sorensen I loved revisiting the story of Hagar in last week’s Harvest message on anxiety. Here was a young woman who found herself in an incredibly chaotic situation; yet, in the midst of the desert she ran into, she was met by the Lord who reminded her of a truth found in three important words: “I see you.”
You know, it also reminds me of another story found in Mark’s gospel.
Allow me to give you some context.
The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 had just happened. Remember, in that miracle, Jesus was teaching His disciples a powerful lesson that, through Him, what’s given in small amounts can be multiplied in powerful ways! As the crowd was beginning to disperse, Jesus instructed His friends to get into a boat and go on ahead of Him into Bethsaida where He would meet them on the other side of the lake. I can imagine the disciples climbing into the boat thinking, “Finally, some time away!” Hold on. Jesus had one more lesson to teach them on that day
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:47-50)
Can you even imagine being one of the disciples on this night when the storm comes out of nowhere with Jesus M.I.A.? I can’t imagine the terror this moment must have had for those in the boat. However, Jesus was not missing in action. In fact, just the opposite: Jesus was watching them from the mountain. Did you catch that in Mark’s gospel? It’s right here: “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn, he went out to them, walking on the lake.” (Mark 6:48)
Jesus saw them.
He saw their struggling. He heard their cries. He witnessed the storm come up out of nowhere, and He wasn’t content to let them struggle alone. He walked out to them with the following words of encouragement: “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Friend, the good news for you today is this: He still sees. Jesus sees you. He’s the cornerstone and a firm foundation that shall never be shaken. And what happens when we stand on that cornerstone? God reminds us all in Isaiah 28:16: “the one who relies on it shall never be stricken with panic.”
