GOING WITH JESUS
Mark 4:35 "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side."
Jesus had spent the day teaching the disciples and His other followers by the seaside. When it was evening, He said to His disciples, "Let us pass over unto the other side."
It is noteworthy that Jesus extended an invitation to the disciples. He said, "Let us......." Jesus' statement meant that He was going with the disciples. He would be their traveling Companion. Jesus' statement continued with "........pass over unto the other side." Passing over to the other side suggests a change of environment; a change in physical conditions. Jesus wanted the disciples to transition with Him.
What can we learn from our verse of focus? There are many lessons that can be learned. However, three are mentioned below.
1. Jesus does not require us to perform tasks without His help. He knows the tasks to be accomplished. He understands what the tasks involved, and therefore He equips us for them. Just as He went with the disciples, He shall be with us. Psalms 54:4 states, "Behold, God is mine helper...." Jesus is our helper; He is our guide, and He is our director. We are assured that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8.)
2. When people give us invitations to special events, they do so because they value our presence and they want us to enjoy the occasions together. Jesus extends invitations to us because He loves us and desires to have rich spiritual experiences with us.
In Psalms 34:11, He invites us to come to Him, so that He can teach us. The verse states, "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." Another invitation is given in Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest". We cannot afford to decline Jesus' invitation.
There are many situations in life that can and do burden us. He wants to give us rest. When we trust God explicitly, we can experience complete rest in Him.
3. Jesus wants us to transition. Life is never stagnant. There are always opportunities for growth and development. Growth is being able to transition; having the ability to move, and possessing the power to improve.
Conversely, if we are not growing, then we are dying. Jesus invites us to grow in Him. 2 Peter 3:18 admonishes us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Jesus is still saying to us today, "Let us pass over unto the other side." The 'other side' may not be known to us, but He knows it. On the 'other side, there are new experiences to be realized. May accept the invitation knowing that life with Jesus brings unspeakable joys and untold pleasures.