by Tim Hall

"If only Jesus were with us; He could do something to help." All in the boat had been thinking the same thing. There had been that time when Jesus was with them when the storm arose. Thinking they were about to be shipwrecked, the disciples awoke Jesus. He promptly stilled the storm with a simple command (Mark 4:35-39, New King James Version). But that was then; now Jesus wasn't with them. "If only He knew how much we need His help!"

Hours earlier, Jesus had told these men to get in the boat and go on ahead. He would remain to send away the crowds who had been listening all day to His teaching. Jesus knew His disciples were bone-tired after a hard day. Besides, He needed time alone on the mountain to pray to His Father. Nothing could revitalize our Lord more than time spent in prayer.

For hours the disciples had been rowing, fighting the stiff wind that had descended on the Sea of Galilee. The journey should have taken only a fraction of the time they had already been out. Making no progress, they were now more then exhausted -- they were discouraged.

The observation in Mark 6:48 has become one of my favorites in all of the Bible: "Then He [Jesus] saw them straining at rowing . . . and about the fourth watch of the night He came to them." How could Jesus possibly have seen them? It was now totally dark, with even the light of the stars and the moon blocked by the storm clouds. There must have been some distance between Jesus and the rest, for He was still on the mountain. Nonetheless, Jesus saw them. Centuries before, David had foreseen this ability: "Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to you" (Psalm 139:12). The Son of God had no trouble seeing, even at that pre-dawn hour.

But the best part is that "He saw them straining". More than just seeing figures in the distance, Jesus could discern their dilemma. He knew they needed help. Thus, "He came to them". A marvelous miracle followed as Jesus walked on the water to reach them. But for me the most blessed part of the account is the revelation that "He saw them straining . . . He came to them".

This scene needs to be the subject of much meditation by every disciple. Each of us will occasionally strain at our rowing, thinking we are making no progress, become more frustrated with every passing hour. Knowing, however, that He sees us in our strained condition will help us to persevere. We will know that in due time He will come to us and help us through the windy night.

"Does Jesus care when I've said 'good-by' to the dearest on earth to me, and my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks -- Is it aught to Him? Does He see? Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares." (Frank E. Graeff, 1901)