FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

Weekly Word

A 3 AM Message for the Misunderstood
[The Morning After]

48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

Mark 6:48-52 New Living Translation

This story is mentioned in two gospels. One of the references to this story is found in Matthew’s gospel and our featured text. Matthew’s gospel differs from Mark’s gospel because it adds Peter’s experience of walking on the water as opposed to Mark’s only mentioning Jesus’ experience. What is common to both is the message of the Messiah that is being conveyed in the 4th watch of the night that is interpreted 3am in the morning. What we see as a message at 3am in the morning is not necessarily what Jesus says but what we see! What Jesus DOES [HIS ACTIONS] goes beyond what words could ever say in this text.

What is problematic in the text is that, at night, the disciples are STRUGGLING AGAINST THE WIND AND THE WAVES. However, at 3am in the morning, Jesus shows up walking on the water. This suggests that whatever seems to be worrying us, JESUS IS WALKING ON IT. This means that whatever we are STRUGGLING AGAINST, JESUS IS STRONGER THAN OUR STRUGGLE. In other words, what we are whining and worrying about…GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL BECAUSE IT IS UNDER HIS FEET!!! JESUS IS WALKING THROUGH THE WIND AND ON THE WAVES!

There is a message for the misunderstood in the text:
• 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

It was because of the disciples fear that they saw JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER AS A GHOST AND NOT AS AN ALL POWERFUL GOD. The message for the misunderstood in the text is that, THE SAME SAVIOR WHO CAME TO THE RESCUE OF HUNGRY SOULS ON THE SHORE IS THE SAME ONE WHO WILL COME TO OUR RESCUE OUT ON THE STORMY SEAS.

Pastor James A. Simmons