Mark 6:45-56

Read Mark 6:45-56

Helpful Background Information: 

• After feeding the five thousand, Jesus immediately sent His disciples away by boat while He went up on a mountain to pray. As the disciples rowed across the Sea of Galilee, they struggled against a strong wind. Late at night, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. At first, they were terrified, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus reassured them with the words, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” When he got into the boat, the wind ceased, and the disciples were utterly astonished, though Mark notes they still did not fully understand because their hearts were hardened.

• The passage ends with Jesus and His disciples reaching Gennesaret, where crowds immediately recognized Him. People rushed to bring the sick, laying them in marketplaces, hoping even to touch the fringe of His garment. And all who touched Him were healed. This moment reveals both the disciples’ slowness to grasp who Jesus truly is and the faith of ordinary people who recognized His power. 

Reflection Questions: 

• The disciples struggled against the wind for hours. Have you ever felt like you were “rowing against the wind” in life? How does this passage encourage you in those moments?

• Mark notes that the disciples’ hearts were “hardened” and they did not understand. What does it mean to have a hardened heart, and how can we guard against it?

• The wind stopped as soon as Jesus got into the boat. What does this teach us about His presence in the storms of life?

• Compare the disciples’ confusion with the crowd’s confidence in Jesus. Which one do you most relate to right now? Why?