When God Passes By

“He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.”
Mark 6:48b

This is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Gospels. Why would Jesus intend to pass by His frightened disciples? Was He ignoring them?  

Not even close. 

To a first-century Jewish ear, this phrase was loaded with meaning. When Moses asked God to show him His glory, God responded: "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you" (Exodus 33:19).  

When Elijah stood on the mountain in despair, "the Lord was passing by" (1 Kings 19:11).  

This was not abandonment. It was a divine encounter.  

Jesus was not going to bypass the disciples. He was revealing Himself to them, the same way God revealed Himself to Moses and Elijah. 

Moses was terrified of the wilderness ahead. God passed by him to say, "I am with you."  

The disciples were terrified in the storm. Jesus passed by them to say the exact same thing. 

Sometimes when you are in a season of fear, what you need most is not a solution.  

You need a revelation. 

 A glimpse of who is actually with you.  

That is what Jesus offered them. Not just rescue, but revelation. 

Read Exodus 33:18–22 today. Let the connection between Moses on the mountain and the disciples on the sea remind you that God shows up in moments of desperation.  

Ask God to reveal Himself to you in your current situation.

Prayer:

God, open my eyes to see You in the middle of what I am facing. I do not just need answers. I need You. Pass by me today and show me Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.