Mark 6:48 - Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, see Job 9:8 and he would have passed by them,
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What does "Mark 6:48" mean?
This verse from Mark 6:48 describes a pivotal moment in the story of Jesus walking on water. Let's break it down:
"Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them..." The disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, struggling against a strong headwind. They were toiling and making little progress, likely exhausted and perhaps even fearful. Jesus, on the shore or a high place, could see their predicament.
"...about the fourth watch of the night he came to them..." The "fourth watch" refers to the time period between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM. So, this was in the very late hours of the night/early hours of the morning. The disciples had been battling the wind for a considerable time.
"...walking on the sea..." This is the miraculous part. Jesus defied the laws of nature and walked on the water towards them. This demonstrates his divine power and control over creation.
"...see Job 9:8..." This is a textual note, likely added by a later scribe or editor. Job 9:8 says: "He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea." By referencing this verse, the note implies that Jesus is demonstrating the same power and authority attributed to God in the Old Testament. It's a subtle way of highlighting Jesus' divine nature.
"...and he would have passed by them." This is the most puzzling part. Why would Jesus, after going through the trouble of walking on water towards his struggling disciples, seemingly intend to just walk past them?
Possible Interpretations of "He Would Have Passed By Them":
1. Testing their faith: Some scholars believe Jesus intended to test the disciples' faith. Would they recognize him? Would they call out to him for help? His apparent intention to pass them by forces them to acknowledge him and cry out.
2. Showing his divine initiative: Other interpretations suggest that Jesus' initiative in coming to them demonstrates his love and care. He's not waiting for them to solve their problem; he's proactively intervening. The intention to "pass by" might simply mean he was moving at a pace that would have taken him beyond them had they not responded.
3. Emphasizing the extraordinary: The phrasing might emphasize the extraordinary nature of the event. Jesus' power and freedom are so great that he could walk on water and even pass them by without stopping. The fact that he chose to stop shows his mercy and compassion.
4. Theophany: It could be a subtle reference to the concept of a theophany, where God reveals himself but in a way that can be missed if not actively sought. The disciples need to be alert and receptive to recognize Jesus' divine presence.
In summary, the verse describes Jesus' miraculous intervention to help his disciples who were struggling against a storm. The phrase "and he would have passed by them" is often interpreted as a way to test their faith, highlight Jesus' divine initiative, or emphasize the extraordinary nature of the event. This sets the stage for the disciples' reaction and the subsequent events in the story (Jesus calming the storm and entering the boat).
Mark 6:48 - Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, see Job 9:8 and he would have passed by them,
What does "Mark 6:48" mean?
This verse from Mark 6:48 describes a pivotal moment in the story of Jesus walking on water. Let's break it down:
"Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them..." The disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, struggling against a strong headwind. They were toiling and making little progress, likely exhausted and perhaps even fearful. Jesus, on the shore or a high place, could see their predicament.
"...about the fourth watch of the night he came to them..." The "fourth watch" refers to the time period between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM. So, this was in the very late hours of the night/early hours of the morning. The disciples had been battling the wind for a considerable time.
"...walking on the sea..." This is the miraculous part. Jesus defied the laws of nature and walked on the water towards them. This demonstrates his divine power and control over creation.
"...see Job 9:8..." This is a textual note, likely added by a later scribe or editor. Job 9:8 says: "He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea." By referencing this verse, the note implies that Jesus is demonstrating the same power and authority attributed to God in the Old Testament. It's a subtle way of highlighting Jesus' divine nature.
"...and he would have passed by them." This is the most puzzling part. Why would Jesus, after going through the trouble of walking on water towards his struggling disciples, seemingly intend to just walk past them?
Possible Interpretations of "He Would Have Passed By Them":
1. Testing their faith: Some scholars believe Jesus intended to test the disciples' faith. Would they recognize him? Would they call out to him for help? His apparent intention to pass them by forces them to acknowledge him and cry out.
2. Showing his divine initiative: Other interpretations suggest that Jesus' initiative in coming to them demonstrates his love and care. He's not waiting for them to solve their problem; he's proactively intervening. The intention to "pass by" might simply mean he was moving at a pace that would have taken him beyond them had they not responded.
3. Emphasizing the extraordinary: The phrasing might emphasize the extraordinary nature of the event. Jesus' power and freedom are so great that he could walk on water and even pass them by without stopping. The fact that he chose to stop shows his mercy and compassion.
4. Theophany: It could be a subtle reference to the concept of a theophany, where God reveals himself but in a way that can be missed if not actively sought. The disciples need to be alert and receptive to recognize Jesus' divine presence.
In summary, the verse describes Jesus' miraculous intervention to help his disciples who were struggling against a storm. The phrase "and he would have passed by them" is often interpreted as a way to test their faith, highlight Jesus' divine initiative, or emphasize the extraordinary nature of the event. This sets the stage for the disciples' reaction and the subsequent events in the story (Jesus calming the storm and entering the boat).