Navigating Life

Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. Mark 6:48

He intended to pass by them. What a curious statement! This is not like the story of the storm on the sea when Jesus was asleep in the boat. That time, the disciples were afraid that the boat might sink and they could drown. This time, their passage across the water is difficult because of the opposing wind. They aren’t described as being in danger but are simply having to work hard, and Jesus seems to be willing to let them.

As I wrote last week, we need to remember that Mark is telling us who Jesus is, the one we are to follow. This story is not really about how to follow Jesus. The only how to follow part in this story is the ubiquitous trust him. That is nothing new. Always we are remindedto walk in faith, but what can we learn here about who we are following?

One realization is that perhaps Jesus is not who we might think he is, or even who we might want him to be. Why doesn’t he stop and help his disciples? His intent to pass by and let them continue to strain at their work might not seem loving and compassionate.

But is Jesus supposed to make it so that the disciples don’t have to work hard? Is that what it means for him to be the Savior? If he changed the direction of the wind so it would be with them instead of against them, they could raise a sail and not have to row at all! But he doesn’t seem interested doing that.

The one we are following does not take away all hardships and obstacles, as much as we might want him to. He does not make everything easy. While this may seem unloving, remember that we are following him, and everything was certainly not easy for him.

So often we want Jesus to be the one who makes life pleasant and trouble-free, in other words, to give us a life that he did not have. We want no head winds and everything to “be a breeze”. But Jesus is our life, and he is giving us his life. That life doesn’t come without struggles any more than any life is free of difficulties. He experienced troubles that we might follow him and know how to navigate our own hardships.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me Matthew 16:24

We are learning who Jesus is, and he is the one who calls us to take up our cross. He did not bear a cross so we don’t have to, but bore his cross that we might know how to bear ours.

Make no mistake, no life in this world comes without a cross. Followers of Jesus are not the only ones who have a cross. Everyone has a cross to bear, but disciples of Jesus are able, through Christ and his example, to pick up that cross and bear it. Without him our cross would crush us to the ground.