Today’s gospel (Mark 6:45-52) has some verses that have always, for me, lingered between odd and troubling: “When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and [Jesus] was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.” (v.47-48) Previously in Mark 4, Jesus had calmed the storm at sea. This earlier event focused attention on the authority of Jesus’ word; here his whole person is involved as he walks across the rough water. On both occasions the disciples fail to understand who Jesus is and experience stark fear and amazement and yet “He meant to pass by them.” That’s the part that lingers between odd and troubling.
It might be as simple as Mark describing a theophany, a manifestation of the transcendent Lord who will “pass by” as God did at Sinai before Moses (Ex. 33:19, 22) or on Horeb before Elijah (1 Kings 19:11). The text simply uses the language of theophany familiar from the Septuagint. But given Mark’s readers are likely Gentiles in Rome, one wonders if the reference will be clear… or the language odd to troubling.
Mark is not particularly skilled in Greek. Some scholars offer that the verses should be moved to a first-person voice: “He meant to pass by us, but when we saw him walking upon the sea we thought it was a ghost, and cried out; for we all saw him and were terrified.” Other scholars think Mark confused his conjunctions and the text should read “for he intended to pass their way.” This way when Jesus saw that the disciples were wearing themselves out, he already felt the desire to reveal his presence to them by passing their way. These grammarian suggestions provide some solace, but… are they only serving to make me feel better about the verses?
What if Jesus, as the text says, meant to pass the disciples by? Why would he do that? I can’t begin to answer that question, but perhaps the better question is “does Jesus mean to pass me by?” If it is the theophany kind of “pass by” I am totally OK with that. I am more than a little reluctant to rely on the assurances of grammarians. And as my thoughts drift from “that’s odd” to “troubled” I am left with “why would Jesus pass me by?”
Maybe I have the scriptural references wrong, maybe it’s not the theophanies Mark is trying to point out. Maybe he is pointing to the insights of Job: the Lord “treads upon the back of the sea … Should he come near me, I do not see him; should he pass by, I am not aware of him.” (Job 9:8,11) Why wouldn’t I be aware of God?
As the first reading (1 John 4:11-18) tells us: “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” Have I remained in love? “If God so loved us, we also must love one another.” Do I love others? If the answer to either or both is leaning into “not really” or “no,” then perhaps it is “for he intended to pass my way” just so that I might take notice.
As the world spins back up to its busyness, post-holiday emails pile up at the office, the kids are trapped inside by the most recent snow storm, the credit card bills from Christmas arrive, and you are already failing on your New Year’s resolutions – perhaps we need to remember God so very much loves us and asks that we love one another. That way, we will always be aware of the God who has no need to pass by to get our attention, we will come to the deep awareness that God is always present, the lover calling to the beloved.
Image credit: Pexels, Johannes Plenio, CC-0