19th. January. 2021. Daily Devotion.

⁴⁵ Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. ⁴⁶ After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

⁴⁷ Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. ⁴⁸ 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, ⁴⁹ but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, ⁵⁰ because they all saw him and were terrified. Mark 6:45-50

After Jesus fed the huge crowd of thousands of people, he sent his disciples ahead of him in their boat to the next lakeside town. Later, in the deep of night, they were straining to make headway against a strong wind.

Jesus had gone to a quiet place to pray, and then, just before dawn, “he went out to them, walking on the lake.”

Now, to our way of thinking, it’s utterly amazing that Jesus would walk on water. But there is lot more going on here. In the minds of ancient peoples, he was walking on the fearful, untameable, uncontrollable, deadly sea. So he wasn’t just walking on water; he was trampling on chaos!

Seeing their great trouble in the darkest part of the night (just before dawn) and on the deepest part of the lake (the middle), Jesus goes out to his followers, and they are terrified.

But look at what happens: with great care he encourages and assures them not to be afraid. He is with them. And when he gets into the boat, all is calm.

I can identify with the disciples. I sometimes struggle with believing God’s care and power are for me. But Jesus doesn’t reject his tired, confused, and fearful disciples. Instead, he helps them to believe! Even through the dark and from a great distance and despite our fear, Jesus comes to us and invites us to trust in him. D. MacLeod

Prayer

Jesus, you are Lord over all that is dark, fearful, and chaotic. Help me to take courage, for you come to me in my distress. With you, I need not be afraid. Amen.

Thank You Jesus

Kind and loving Jesus: How often we forget that it is because of you that we live. You made all of us from the very dust that you created. Then you did the most wondrous of all things, you made us in your image, and You breathed life into us. I join those praying with me today in thanking you for our lives, and we pray that You continue to sustain us each day. From your heavenly place accept our prayers and our praise. Amen.

For Humility

Heavenly Lord, no matter what I do or which way I turn, my pride raises its ugly head to damage my life. It tells me that my opinions are correct, no matter how ill-informed I might be. I fail to appreciate my stupidity, my weakness, my self-deception and rationalization for my many errors and shortcomings. Help me, O Holy Spirit, to see my fault. Instruct me in my error and support me in my efforts to follow your commandments; for I love you, Lord God, and want to grow in service and faith. In the name of Christ, forgive me and bring me closer. Amen.

A Prayer in the Midst of the Coronavirus God of labyrinthian journeys, thank you for walking with us through paths that lead to places that centre us, not confusing and blocking our progress like mazes. Thank you for being present with us, even when we forget you are with us. Thank you for the witnesses we have to your faithfulness and love for generation after generation. Thank you, God, for being with Sarai and Abraham as they travelled to places, they did not choose, lands foreign to them and challenges they did not design. Thank you, God, for Shiprah and Puah, the midwives to the Hebrews, who risked their lives to make sure new life thrived, letting their commitment to you and to the community take priority. Thank you, God, for being with Naomi and Ruth as they return to Bethlehem after the death of loved ones, for their courage to stay steadfast to one another and to you, and the abundant harvest they found where there once was famine. Thank you, God, for the gift of Mary, who anointed Jesus with costly perfume, reminding us that caring for the body of Christ is primary for us all. Finally, we give thanks for leaders in our midst throughout time who have showed us the way forward as prophets, preachers, pastors and shepherds. Journey with us, O God, in the tumult, twists and turns of this coronavirus crisis, and lead us to a place centred on your love, trust, promise and new life that conquers all. In the name of the one who created us, redeems us, and sustains us, our One God. Amen. — The Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty, PCUSA