A small boat for the Master

A small boat for the Master

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Mark 3:7-12

OBSERVATION:

The scene is at the lake of Galilee, where a large crowd eagerly follows Jesus. Imagine the chaos of the situation. Many with diseases pushing and pressing, trying to squeeze through the crowd, desperately attempting to reach Jesus. People would be shouting asking Jesus to heal them. Demons would be shrieking as they threw their demon-possessed hosts to the ground before Jesus. It certainly must have been an incredible situation to behold.

As a logical and practical measure, the Lord asks His disciples to prepare a small boat for him, so that he can space himself a little from the pressing crowd. It is from this makeshift platform that He is also able to teach them the Word of God.

APPLICATION:

Consider the application and purpose of the small boat. In a sense, all of us are like small boats, able to carry our Lord that He may reach out and touch others. Just like the boat had no significance on its own, but played an important role in helping Jesus as He ministered, so too, we must realize our place as humble vessels, not thinking of ourselves higher than we ought, but simply as a helping tool to help Jesus reach others. Now remember that Jesus walked on water, and actually had no need for the boat. However, to do so would have so distracted the crowd to the miracle that they would not have listened to His teaching. Instead, being in a humble fishing boat also shows the Lord’s humility and willingness to be with the people, in their daily, simple lives. The Lord could perform great signs in Heaven to cause men to bow down and worship out of awe but He instead uses humble vessels like us to share of His goodness and draw others to Himself through daily, simple testimonies.

PRAYER:

We praise You and thank You, precious Lord, that in Your great wisdom, You chose us to participate with You to preach the gospel, and to bring others to You through our testimonies in everyday life. Help us O Lord, be good testimonies for Your glory, and learn to testify of Your goodness day by day to those who do not know You yet. Be so real in our lives we pray that we cannot help but speak of Your goodness. Speak to us, and show Yourself real to us. Lead us day by day even as You call us. Provide opportunities for us to share, and bring us to the place where we may please You. We thank You and praise You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.