Scripture: Mark 6:45-52 He meant to pass by them… (v48)
Observe What does this mean? Why wouldn’t he get into the boat instead of just ‘passing them by’? Surely it was his intent to enter the boat… Wasn’t it? Apparently not. I’m reminded of Moses’ encounter with God after the giving of the Law: Moses said that he would not lead Israel any more until God commits to going with them. The LORD says yes, he will go before them. Then Moses (incredibly!) said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ The LORD replies, ‘OK…
…I will cause all my glory to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. For I will have mercy on those on whom I will have, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.
There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back. But my face shall not be seen.’
If Jesus’ meant to ‘pass by’ the apostles, but he turns to them when they call out to him, maybe – just maybe – the Lord Jesus Christ, the One the Father ‘uses’ to create all things, to reveal himself, to whom the people of God would not be allowed to see his face on pain of death, now chooses to face his new people? To hide his face from Moses but turn his face toward me. What astonishing grace!
Application Is it possible that the Lord would pass me by but stop when I cry out to him? Is this prayer the ‘crying out’? It implies persistence. So, do I pray persistently, pray consistently? Or do I pray mindlessly, with no sense of God at all? Do I miss the presence of God as he passes me by? Do I seek him with all my heart and cry, ‘Lord, show me your glory’? Because frankly, if God does not go with me, why go at all?
Life application for today Be humble and aware of God’s presence when I pray. And don’t be afraid of asking God, ‘Show me your glory’!
Pray Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart that I might ‘see’ you. Help me not just to speak my prayers but to cry out to you. And thank you – thank you! – for turning toward me as I pray. Amen.