Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-56 45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-56 47Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake.

47Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake.

Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-56

He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.

He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.

Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-56

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-56 53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.

53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.

Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-5655They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

Mark 6:45-56Mark 6:45-5656And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

56And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

What Is The Question,

Mark?

Mark 6:45-56

He has been called: a prophet… a devil… a ghost…

The question of the identity of Jesus is the most important

question of history… and of your life.

For Mark there is one answer…

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,

the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)

Look one more time at the most critical question of

all by asking two important questions

about Jesus…

A.What is His destiny?

Mark 6:45-4645Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of [Him] to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

In Mark’ gospel every time Jesus prays He is facing a temptation to

not carry out God’s mission for Him

Mark 1:38 Mark 14:32&33

What’s the temptation here?John 6:14-15

14Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.“ 15So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

He withdrew to go pray… He came to be King.

He wants to be King of their lives but

NOT THIS WAY!

A.What is His destiny?

His destiny is a crown but not before a cross.

B.What is His identity?

Mark 6:47-5247When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night

B.What is His identity?

Mark 6:47-5247When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night

B.What is His identity?

Mark 6:47-5247When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night

He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them,

He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them,

"Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." 51Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52for they had not gained any insight from the [incident of] the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

"Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." 51Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52for they had not gained any insight from the [incident of] the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

Who is He?

Jesus calms the storm –

“Who is this?” Demon possessed man Woman with bleeding problem Jarius’ dead daughter Feeding the 5,000

Now Jesus passes by them walking on water and says

“I Am”

This Man is GOD!

51Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52for they had not gained any insight from the [incident

of] the loaves, but their heart was hardened. (Mark 6:51& 52)

They saw the marvel and missed the revelation inside it!

C. What is His ministry?

Mark 6:53-5653When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54When they got out of the boat, immediately [the people] recognized Him, 55and ran about that whole country

and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was. 56Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.

Notice: Jesus occasionally retreated

but always returned to where the people were.

His ministry to people shows no bias.

He would not be a King but He was always a servant.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,

and to give His life a ransom for many.”

(Mark 10:45)

II. ASKING THE QUESTION

A. Who do you say Jesus is?

The point of this story is that knowing the answer doesn’t mean you have grasped the truth.

B. It’s not only who YOU say Jesus is…but what difference has that made in YOUR life?

It is not enough to believe the events Mark recorded happened… We have to transfer the truth of those moments to our situation.

If we can’t do that Mark says we are a church with

Right Answers and

HARD HEARTS!

It is the question for every church for all time!

It is the question for every Christian for all time!

Your life is giving answer to the question but I wonder is your answer giving you life?