Calming the Sea
February 9, 2010 | Posted by Doug
"‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’" -Mark 6:50
| Reading: Mark 6:47-52
Many Bible scholars believe this is a resurrection story. Their research tells them that the original version of Mark ends at 16:8. The resurrection stories in verses 9 to 20 are a later addition to Mark’s original text. They believe, that Mark’s original work has instead scattered resurrection appearances throughout the story.
The gospel is written 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Up until that time, the stories of Jesus have been circulated by word of mouth. As the first generation of disciples are dying, this is the first major work to preserve the story of Jesus for generations to come. Mark writes down the stories of Jesus, but is also very conscious of the struggles the disciples are going through in his day.
This is a good example, mixing a story from the earthly ministry of Jesus with a resurrection appearance. The disciples and Jesus have been working together. Jesus was teaching, and then they said the crowd with just a few loaves of bread and fish. The disciples went ahead in the boat while Jesus went up on the mountain to pray.
The story tells of actual experience, but also uses it symbolically to demonstrate the struggles of the disciples to carry on the work without Jesus. As they “were straining at the oars” they realized that Jesus was among them. At first “they thought it was a ghost.” But when he spoke to them, saying “take heart, it is I; do not be afraid;” they and the circumstances around them became calm.
What do you think of that interpretation? What does the story say to you?