Denise Whitfield
Director of Christian Education
When Straining at the Oars
There are some stories in the Bible that I fear when we read them, we can almost miss the best parts. We can miss the irony and humor in a moment of profound revelation—none of it is lost to God. I think the Triune God delights in every orchestrated detail.
I can remember listening to my dad and my uncle telling stories together with dueling embellishments. They chronicled each tale with such sheer delight. Even after numerous telling’s, the twinkle in their eyes never diminished. I picture the Father and the Son laughing in this way as they reminisce together about some events here on earth.
In Mark 6:47- 52, we find the familiar story about the disciples, several avid fishermen among them, following Jesus’ instructions to “get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida.” Hours later, they find themselves straining at the oars, having gotten no further than the middle of the lake because “the wind was against them.” What Scripture records next is hysterical . . . “Shortly before dawn He went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them.” I can almost hear Him saying, “Hey fellas, need a hand?” And if they hadn’t been so scared out of their sandals, I imagine them replying, “Yes, for Simon Peter’s sake, grab an oar and get in here and help us row.”
The disciples were slow on the uptake. They were still trying to figure out just exactly who Jesus was. They had witnessed Him “heal many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons.” He had raised a little girl from death. Just earlier that day, they had witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, with the end result—a banquet of leftovers. Mind you, they had even been in a similar situation before. Scared out of their wits on the water—this environment which had always been their area of expertise.
And yet here they are, at first not recognizing Jesus as He approaches, and then, I imagine, still underestimating His contribution to the solution to their trouble. But as always, Jesus meets them at their point of need. He encourages them with the words, “Take Courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” He climbs into the boat with them and the winds stop. The Scripture says “and they were greatly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”
We bear a striking resemblance to the disciples. We have seen God’s faithful working in our lives and yet, under new and extreme circumstances we can underestimate what God is willing and capable of doing. In our own efforts, we strain at the oars. But there is a better way. Welcome Jesus into your boat. Expect and trust Him, not to make a contribution to your human efforts, but to exercise His complete authority over your life’s challenges.
He can do greater things, for greater glory.