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Snapshot

My Dear Friend,

After walking on water to save His disciples, Jesus walked on land to heal the afflicted. It happened in Gennesaret (Mark 6:45-56).

The disciples' night crossing without Jesus was, to put it mildly, harrowing. They had already been stressed out when crossing Galilee in a storm during the daytime with Jesus visibly on board. But now, they were crossing at night, He was not with them, and the “wind was contrary” to their course. But, though not with them, Jesus had not forgotten them.

To the contrary, His eagle eye was watching their every move from a mountain beside the lake. He could see them “toiling in rowing” all night long (v. 48). Not only was He watching, He was also praying - surely for them in their desperate situation! This continued for over nine hours, maybe more!

Not until the “fourth watch” (3 - 6 am) did He intervene to end their trouble. Why so late? He was testing their faith by delaying His response to their dire situation, as He later did when His close friend Lazarus fell ill (see John 11:5-7). Would they still trust in Him when all appearances seemed to prove He didn’t care?

While He delayed, all their efforts looked and felt futile. They were “toiling,” or rowing very hard, but making very little progress. Mark tells us why. The winds which they needed at their backs were instead battering them head-on: “the winds were contrary” (v. 48). Despite many hours of intense labor, they were only “in the midst of the sea,” or about halfway across the lake! So, they were exhausted, physically and psychologically.

Finally, Jesus intervened, they recognized Him, and He spoke comfortingly, “It is I; be not afraid,” and the terrible, hindering winds “ceased” (v. 51). John adds, as soon as they received Jesus into the boat “willingly,” they were immediately at the shore (John 6:21). Finally, the harrowing test was over. What a night crossing! But this was more than a divine test.

It was also a satanic attack to prevent Jesus from getting to the other side. Satan, the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), stirred meteorological chaos to buffet the apostolic ship in a fierce but futile attempt to prevent it from arriving at its divinely appointed designation, Gennesaret, a small village near Capernaum. But Jesus' intervention quickly ended all the resistance.

After the disciples landed, it soon became clear why Satan had been so stirred to “Stop that ship!” The instant Jesus arrived at Gennesaret, everyone there recognized Him and began running all over the countryside gathering the sick and afflicted and bringing them to Jesus. The excitement was at fever pitch. It was a holy healing frenzy, arguably creating the most prolific healing meetings Jesus ever had in the Galilean “villages,” “cities,” and “country[side]” (v. 56). It seems certain that hundreds, maybe thousands, were not only healed but also converted, and thereafter believed on Jesus.

The supplicants' goal was simple: touch the tassel hanging from the edge of Jesus' garment. The results were miraculous: “as many as touched him were made well” (v. 56). It was a 100% success rate! But notice where the power of God was flowing out of Jesus: “the border of his garment” (v. 56), or His tassel! (Compare Mark 5:28.)

The tassel on the fringe of Jesus' robe was significant, because it was worn as a visual reminder of the Jews' separation unto Yahweh and His Word (Numbers 15:37-41). Every time the Jews looked down and saw the tassels on the edges of their garments, they remembered the Lord and reconsecrated themselves to fully obey His Word. So, the tassel was a visual sign of entire consecration to God - and the anointing of the Holy Spirit’s miraculous power flowed through that tassel. Or, more specifically, what it represented, which was Jesus' entire consecration.

The lesson for us is this: Behold, the awesome power of full consecration to God and His Word! The power of the Spirit comes into and upon every born-again Christian who follows Jesus' example in full separation unto God and His purpose.

Such believers testify with boldness, preach with inspiration, teach with authority, counsel wisely, evangelize convincingly, and pray for the sick, afflicted, and oppressed with extraordinary power and results. Considering this, perhaps instead of praying for power so much, maybe we should focus instead on completing our consecration!

Have we fully separated from sin? Have we turned completely away from the three areas of worldliness John identifies (1 John 2:15-17)? Or are we still flirting with these spiritually crippling harlots? Are we living every hour of every day in full consecration mode, conscious that we are not our own but Christ’s, and willing to do whatever He wants, serve however He wishes, and go wherever He sends us? Oh, and are we willing to submit to difficult testing for His glory and our growth, say, like enduring stormy night crossings of our Lake Galilees without abundant evidence that Jesus is with us?

If you’re in a similar night trial, remember the story above. Jesus may not be showing His power in your behalf yet, because He must test your faith, patience, and, yes, your endurance, too. So, it’s hard right now. You are toiling. It’s dark. A long time has passed since your passage began. And you still can’t see the other side toward which you are rowing. It feels like you have lost your way.

But you haven’t. You are in Christ’s way, on His course, and He is doing something in you. Character cannot be forged except in fire. Nor can the tassels of spiritual consecration be sewn into your life in a day. So, don’t think for a minute that Jesus has forgotten you. To the contrary, He’s watching you - intently. And at the Father’s right hand, He’s praying for you, just as He prayed for His disciples in this storm, and as He prayed for Peter when Satan requested to sift him: “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31). And before it is too late, He will intervene to openly, visibly, help you. So, keep rowing. Stay on the course He set for you, however hard the winds may blow.

Then you, too, will find God’s power will flow through you to the extent of your consecration. So, let Him have His way. Sew some tassels on the hems of your soul. Fully separate from all sin and worldly entanglements, and fully draw near Jesus, and He will fill your tassels with His Spirit’s power.

In the days ahead, many Christians will sew tassels on their souls - and know and demonstrate the power of full consecration.

Consecrating and rowing…