GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 6:51
Exceedinlgy Amazing
In the early morning of July 4, rain started in Kerr County, Texas. At 1:14 a.m., officials issued a flood warning, but many people along the Guadalupe River were asleep. Officials upgraded the flood warning at 3:25 a.m., but many Texans in Kerr County were asleep—comfortable and dry. Rain continued to fall, getting more intense by the minute. By 7 a.m., six to seven inches of rainfall flooded the picturesque Guadalupe River to over 30 feet in some areas. People asleep in their homes, summer camps, and RVs were trapped by sudden, raging floodwaters. Post-flood pictures from the area left people speechless. The loss of life and physical damage exceeds adequate descriptions—it is exceedingly amazing.
In 2011, Alice and I were driving east along I-44 in southwestern Missouri. A tornado with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour struck Joplin, Missouri, on May 22. Several weeks later, as we drove through the city, the destruction was massive. In one area, there was nothing standing—no buildings, no trees, absolutely nothing. Huge buildings were shoved off their foundations. At 5:42 p.m. the EF-5 tornado hit St. John’s Regional Medical Center and tore through its structure for 45 seconds, leaving walls collapsed, glass shattered, ceilings caved in, and water pipes broken. The damage was exceedingly amazing.
Mark described the voyage Jesus’ disciples made across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus remained behind to pray while the disciples, caught in a violent storm, struggled to keep the boat afloat while it was battered by wind and waves. Jesus saw the danger, ended his prayer, and went to the disciples—walking on the water. Thinking they saw a ghost, the disciples cried out. Jesus, however, assured them that it was he, and commanded them to take courage and not be afraid. “And he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped, and beyond measure, they were amazed in themselves.” (Mark 6:51) Translators have difficulty adequately expressing the response of the disciples to seeing Jesus walk on the water and the immediate cessation of the powerful storm. Literally, Mark wrote, “And exceedingly in abundance in themselves they were amazed.” Seeing the manifestation of Jesus’ faith was truly exceedingly amazing.
Without—I hope—stretching the application of Mark’s story too much, Jesus’ presence and work in believers’ boats today is still exceedingly amazing.
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