When God "Passes By"

By William Riley
Olive Tree Ministries
ot.waxahachie@yahoo.com

Q. What does it mean in Mark 6.48 where it says that Yeshua intended to “pass by” the apostles during a storm on the Sea of Galilee?

A. This story involves several concepts from the Torah. We find that when God reveals his glory he is said to be “passing by” his people. When Moses was on the mountain and he wanted God to reveal his glory to him. The Lord said that he would “pass by” and Moses could see some of it, but not all (Exo 33.18-23). So, in Exo 34.5-6 the Lord reveals himself and proclaims his own name and attributes to Moses. Job 9.10-11 says that God does great things without end and that he “passes by” us and we don’t see him and he “passes on” without any perception on our part. John 1.5 says that the “light” shines in the darkness but the darkness did not comprehend it. In Luke 24.28 Yeshua has appeared to the two on the road to Emmaus and admonishes them for not understanding the Scriptures about the Messiah having to suffer and then enter into his “glory.” As they approached the village he acted as though he was going to “pass by” the village. They ask him to stay and he does. There are many instances of this concept.

So, here’s one of the things going on in Mark. Yeshua has just fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fish, with 12 baskets left over. God’s glory was on display in providing food where there was none. The talmidim or students get into a boat and begin to cross the lake. Yeshua stays behind, on a mountain to pray. A storm erupts and he sees them straining against the wind and having a rough time. He goes down and walks on the water, showing his dominion over the domain of Satan and the world (Isaiah 57.20). It was about 4 am in the morning and they see him walking as if he was going to pass by. They call out to him, he tells them not fear and gets into the boat. The wind stops, they are astonished and then it says in v 52 that they did not have any insight into this whole thing because their hearts were dull, insensitive and hard.

The same thing basically happens in Luke 24, they didn’t understand either. God reveals his glory to us all the time and is said to “pass by.” But we don’t comprehend it. Returning to John 1.5 it says the light (Yeshua, his word, etc) shines in the darkness (4 am in the morning, storms of life) but the darkness does not comprehend it (Job 9.10-11, Mark 6.52, Luke 24.25) But, like Moses, the apostles and the two on the road to Emmaus when they “invited him into the boat” or “to stay with them” he will come and show us his word and give us comprehension.

His glory is seen or he “passes by” us all the time and we need to be spiritually aware of what is going on and ask him into our heart and minds so that we can comprehend his glory and what he wants to reveal to us. True believers are children of the light and the darkness of ignorance will not overtake us because Yeshua is “in our boat” or “in our house” to show us the meaning of all things. At the same time God is revealing himself to us there are others who will not understand or comprehend and they are deceived and will not believe the truth as it “passes by.” So, when you tell others about God’s glory he is said to “pass by” and there will be those who are blind and deaf (Job 9.10-11, Mark 6.52) and will not understand unless the Lord has opened their spiritual eyes to see and their spiritual hearts to comprehend it (Luke 24.31).