Last time we saw Jesus feed the multitude with only 5 loaves and two fishes. Let’s pick up the story:

Mark 6:45-46

45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away.

46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Jesus sends them away to protect them and to test them. We’ll see the test in a minute. But what was He protecting them from? The crowd! They had seen the miracle, had recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah, and wanted to immediately install Him as the king. But God has better timing!

John 6:14-19

14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."

15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

He had already sent the disciples away, because He didn’t want them to be tempted with this same issue. He knew they didn’t fully understand the Kingdom He was preaching. Neither the crowd nor the disciples had a full appreciation for the timing of God. So Jesus gets rid of the crowd, and goes away to pray by Himself.

Now here comes the test for the disciples:

16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.

19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles …

The disciples are in the middle of the sea, it’s dark, and there’s a terrible storm. They’ve been rowing since early evening. But think about this: are they where Jesus wants them to be? Yes! He told them to get in the boat and go to the other side. They are where God wants them to be, doing what God told them to do. They are trying their best, but they are having a little trouble!

Just because you are having difficulty doing what the Lord wants you to do does not mean that you are not supposed to be there. Hindrances to the will of God are to be expected! Difficulties are not a reason to turn around and go back to the side of the sea where you started.

Sometimes what the Lord asks of you is beyond your ability to accomplish.

Mark 6:47-49

47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land.

Jesus has been on the mountain alone, praying all night. When it gets to be dawn, He looks out and sees the disciples:

48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (that’s between 3 and 6 am) He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.

God is always aware of every hindrance and difficulty you will face in fulfilling His will. And He has made provision to overcome any obstacle!

“Pass them by” in the Greek is PARERCHOMAI, and it means to come alongside, or to approach. (He wasn’t just going to pass by them!) He is coming along to give them some encouragement.

49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;

There’s a point to make here: even though the Lord is with you, the storm may not stop. But you will have Him alongside you to comfort and encourage you.

50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid."

Immediately He comforts them!

There will always be storms and difficulties in your life, even when you are doing exactly what God wants you to do! But in the storm, He promises to come alongside and encourage you.

Next time we’ll see Peter walk on the water.