“ ^{Mark 6:45} And straightway He constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people. ⁴⁶And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray. ⁴⁷And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land. ⁴⁸And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.”

Jesus has fed the multitude, and twelve baskets of fragments have been gathered up “that nothing be lost.” Now the Lord will orchestrate events so the disciples’ faith will be tested. He will make known the extent of the profit they have realized from the “miracle of the loaves” that they have just witnessed. Those who have a strong desire to see the miraculous must know this, that there is much more involved in witnessing the working of the Lord than satisfying human curiosity, or meeting an immediate perceived need. The Lord will also test those who have seen His works, to see what they have gleaned from them, and how they can associate that knowledge with what they face in life. This is involved in the trying of our hearts. As it is written, “The LORD trieth the righteous” (Psa 11:5). And again, “but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Prov 17:3). Jesus would have the churches know, “I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (Rev 2:23). Men are responsible to learn from what God does in their presence, whether it is Pharaoh, Israel, or the disciples of Christ. They become a custodian, or steward, of what is delivered to them. This is a kingdom manner that has been greatly, if not altogether, obscured by spiritual Babylon. We live in a time of religious self-centered-ism.

“^{Mk 6:45} And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people.”

HE CONSTRAINED HIS DISCIPLES. Now, Jesus must withdraw for a season, refurbishing His spirit, and spending time with His Father. This will be a time when even His disciples will not be allowed to remain with Him. While this did not appear to have occurred frequently, there were times when He sent His disciples away, unaccompanied by His immediate presence. We will find, however, that they were still within His watchful eye, even though He could not be seen by them.

Most of the other versions read that Jesus “made His disciples” get into the boat and go before Him to the other side. Other versions read “compelled,” ^DARBYand “caused.” ^GENEVAThe word “constrain” is a strong one, meaning “to necessitate, to drive, whether by force, threats, entreaties, of other means.” ^THAYER People can be compelled by a severe threat, of by physical force, or by strong appeals, exceeding great rewards, etc. There are different ways to motivate people, to be sure. How did Jesus “constrain” His disciples? How did He move them to get into a boat, after a long day, and go to the other side, while He remained behind?

There is an aspect of Jesus and His disciples that is brought out in this text. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). The phrase “hear my voice” does not refer to a mere hearing of its sound. The word “hear” means understand, discern, and attend to. The sheep not only are able to recognize the voice of their Master, they are inclined to do what He says. That is one of their traits. Moses foretold this characteristic of the coming Messiah: “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deut 18:15).

Jesus “constrained” His disciples by simply telling them what to do – like the Lord did Abraham when he left his home, (Gen 12:1-3), and when he was required to offer up Isaac (Gen 22:1-2). It was not necessary to threaten the disciples, or to offer them some unusual incentive to make the trip. His word was sufficient, just as it was for Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:6).

It is not certain that any individual who fails to hearken to the Lord is His disciple, or that such is even saved. Moses affirmed the people would hearken to Him. Jesus said His sheep knew His voice and followed Him. I gather this is an unvarying trait of the “sheep.”

Faith often requires that the children of God to move out with an element of uncertainty. In this case, the disciples knew where they were going, but did not know what would be experienced on the way. Abraham was called to leave his country, and kindred, and father’s house, “unto a land” that God would later “show” to him (Gen 12:1). The Spirit later witnesses to us of this occasion, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Heb 11:8). Although there is this natural desire within man to have the future clear before he makes any decisive move, faith can move without knowing what is ahead, and do it confidently.

GO TO THE OTHER SIDE. Matthews says that Jesus constrained His disciples to “go before Him unto the other side” (Matt 14:22). They knew, then, that Jesus fully intended to follow them. Notwithstanding, they would have to make this trip without Him, as their faith was about to be tested. They had to do what was right, even though it would appear as though they were all alone in the doing of it.

HE SENT THE PEOPLE AWAY. Why was it that Jesus sent the multitude away? Why did He not continue teaching them. After all, they had ran on foot to be with Him. John provides some insight on this matter. Following the feeding of the multitude Jesus “perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king” (John 6:15). They had made no connection with Him being a Savior from sin, even though the prophets had clearly said this was the case (Isa 53:4-6). For this crowd, their earthly circumstance had obscured their spiritual condition. Even following His resurrection His disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus did not say this would never happen, but replied, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power” (Acts 1:7). This was not His primary mission, even though it appeared to be one of Israel’s primary desires. Now, having witnessed the miraculous feeding of such a multitude, some considered this was the time to make Him their king – like David was. He would surely restore the glory to them that was found in their history.

However noble such a desire may appear to men, here it meant the end of their time with Jesus. He “sent the people away” – it was time for them to separate company, for they were attempting to make Him a part of the world from which the Father sent Him to deliver them. It is essential that we comprehend that when our agenda becomes more prominent in our thinking that God’s “eternal purpose,” He will soon dismiss us from His presence.

“ ⁴⁶ And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray.”

Jesus was a praying Man. This was because He saw all things clearly, realizing that, as a Man, He was wholly dependent upon the Father. Recognizing the direction in which the people were now thinking, the Lord quickly repaired to the Father. This would drive away the fleshly mist that had penetrated that place. Exposure to flawed thinking demands that time be spent with the God of heaven, whose “work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deut 32:4).

When the Lord Jesus “dwelt among us” (John 1:14), He lived by faith, putting His “trust” in God (Heb 2:13), and was “led by the Spirit” (Lk 4:1). In the fullest sense of the word He “saw light” while He was in the light of His Father’s glory (Psa 36:9).

Ponder the times when Jesus prayed. (1) Following “all the city” being gathered to Him, when He healed many. Early the next morning, Jesus “departed into a solitary place and prayed” (Mk 1:35). (2) After His fame had been spread abroad and great multitudes were drawn to Him, He “withdrew Himself into a wilderness and prayed” (Lk 5:15-16). (3) After healing a man with a withered hand in a synagogue, that was subsequently filled “with madness” (Lk 6:10-12), and before choosing the twelve apostles (Lk 6:10-13), “He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” (4) As He began to enter the last phase of His ministry, “He went up into a mountain to pray” (Lk 9:28). (5) After upbraiding the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, He “thanked” God that He had “hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matt 11:25-26). (6) That dark night, on the even of His betrayal, He took His disciples and went into Gethsemane, telling them he was going to “pray yonder” (Matt 26:36-44; John 17).

Luke provides a general summation of the Lord’s manners, particularly as regards the latter part of His ministry. “And in the day time He was teaching in the temple; and at night He went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives” (Luke 21:37).

In these circumstances we behold at least three kinds of occasions when our Lord’s prayers were particularly noted.

■ When making epochal decisions – as in the choosing of the twelve Apostles (Lk 6:12-13).

■ When exposed to the multitudes and their wills and ways (Matt 11:25-26; Mk 1:35; Lk 5:15-16; 6:10-12).

■ As He entered the latter part of His ministry and prepared for His appointed death (Lk 9:28; Matt 26:36-44; John 17).

It seems to me that in each of these general categories, the wicked one was particularly active. The Savior being endowed “with the spirit of wisdom and understanding” (Isa 11:3), He knew when prayer was especially critical to the completion of His mission. Those who think of prayer as merely “talking with God” do not think of these critical times that transcend the ordinary.

In the first matter – the choosing of the twelve – Satan no doubt sought to infiltrate the chosen with his own seed. Indeed, the purpose of God allowed for one of Satan’s seed to be part of the inner circle. However, that was in order to the fulfillment of Scripture. As it is written, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12).

In the second matter – exposure to the multitudes – the adversary sought to turn Christ to lesser things. We know that He once offered Him “the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (Matt 4:8), if He would only fall down and worship him. How the “old serpent” would have loved to turn Jesus aside to be a temporal King, engaging in some skirmishes with the Roman empire. And, what a cost would have been paid should that have happened, for the chief difficulty with the human race – sin – would never have been addressed.

In the third matter – laying down His life for the sins of the world – the devil’s efforts were raised to an even higher level. The temptation to seek a way out of this death was so strong that Jesus prayed in an agony, and his sweat was “like great drops of blood falling to the ground” (Lk 22:44). A special angel was dispatched from heaven to “strengthen” Jesus during that critical hour (Lk 22:43). How pivotal it was that the Savior know WHEN to pray.

In order to obtain “grace to help in the time of need” (Heb 4:16), it is imperative that we be able to recognize such a time. It is not enough to say every hour is a “time of need,” and that is not what the text means. There is such a thing as “the evil day” (Eph 6:13), when we are under special assault by the wicked one. Jesus referred to it as the “time of temptation” (Lk 8:13), and “the hour of temptation” (Rev 3:10). It is the time when we are being subjected to unusual and dangerous influences that go beyond the normal – like Job’s sufferings (Job 1-2) and Peter’s sifting (Lk 22:31). Jesus saw such times and withdrew for prayer.

“⁴⁷ And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land. ⁴⁸And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.”

Matthew tells us “He was there alone” (Matt 14:23). Mark compares where Jesus was to where the disciples were: “the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land.” John says of the occasion, “And it was now dark, and Jesus was not with them” (John 6:17). The disciples, we will find, were not aware of Jesus, but He was surely aware of them. When we are engaged in obeying the Lord, we may not always be as aware of Him as we prefer, but He is not ignorant of us. It is ever true, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Pet 3:12). There may very well have been other ships on the sea that night, but the Lord was focused on the one in which His disciples were found.

HE SAW THEM TOILING IN ROWING. Other versions read, “straining at rowing,” ^NKJVor “making headway painfully.” ^RSVHere the disciples were, fulfilling the word of their Master, and yet difficulty was associated with their obedience. Being in the heart of the will of God does not mean things are easy because we are intent upon pleasing the Lord. Earthly ease is by no means an unvarying indication of Divine approval!

We ought to recognize that while Jesus is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” He does not always rush to our aid so as to minimize all of our discomfort. If we have this idea about Jesus, life will become confusing to us, and seemed filled with irreconcilable contradictions. Far better to have the perspective of the disciples in this storm, and “toil” and “strain” in rowing through life, determined to get where Jesus has sent us. In New Covenant terms, that is remaining “steadfast and unmovable,” “fighting the good fight of faith,” and “quitting like men” (1 Cor 15:58; 1 Tim 6:12; 1 Cor 16:13).

THE WIND WAS CONTRARY TO THEM. They were rowing in one direction, and the wind was blowing hard against them. A lot of effort was being expended with very little headway being made. They were holding to their course, heading straight for Bethsaida as Jesus has said, but progress was slow. Matthew adds, “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary” (Matt 14:24). John adds, “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew” (John 6:18). The wind was blowing, and the waves were rising and thrashing against the bow of the ship. Yet, they were “toiling in rowing,” expending their best efforts to fulfill the word of the Master – and doing so without Him in the vessel.

There is a strong tendency in man to view trouble and difficulty as a curse instead of a test. Much of the religion of our day encourages such notions, even offering all manner of counseling and the likes to help people out of their trouble. Blessed are the persons who know this is not the case – who see difficulty as a test, and believe the Master sees them while they row, as it was, against the wind of trial and tribulation.

HE COMETH TO THEM. His great heart could not behold His disciples without coming to them. They names were written, as the prophet Isaiah would say, “upon the palms of” His hands (Isa 49:16). The trial that was so difficult for them, of course, was no trial for Jesus at all – even when He was yet in the flesh among men, to say nothing of the enthroned Christ.

He came to them during “the fourth watch,” or about three in the morning, “walking on the sea.” John tells us the disciples had “rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs,” or “three or four miles” ^NKJV(John 6:19). They had probably been rowing for at least six hours, and possibly more. They were little more than half way across the sea, which was over seven miles across. Now, Jesus comes to them walking on the stormy water. He appears to traverse the distance quickly, the winds and the waves giving Him no trouble.

HE WOULD HAVE PASSED THEM BY. Here is another test for the disciples. When Jesus finally reaches them, He is seen walking right past them. Some versions read, “He intended to pass them by,” ^NRSVand “He meant to pass them by.” ^RSVJesus did a similar thing after He had risen from the dead and was walking with the two on the road to Emmaus. It is written that “He acted as if He were going farther” ^NIV(Lk 24:28). When hearing Bartimaeus, Jesus proceeded on as though He did not hear him (Mk 10:48). He did the same with the woman from Canaan (Matt 15:23). Jesus taught us that God often “bears long” with those who cry out “day and night unto Him” (Lk 18;7)

. Part of the trying of our faith is the Lord waiting “to be gracious” (Isa 30:18) when we are toiling in rowing or fervently supplicating. It is one of His ways with which vast numbers of professing believers have absolutely no knowledge. Every confessing believer should aggressively seek deliverance from the idea that God exists to serve man, or that His compassion is to be interpreted in view of a purely human analysis. We must not stumble when it seems like the Lord is passing us by. Rather, let us call out to Him!