There is a Blessing of Success at the 4th Watch of the Night
In about eight weeks, we will wrap up 2024, and it will be time to settle our accounts with God. Some of you may feel you’ve lived this year well according to God’s will, and you might be ready to report, “This is what I have done in 2024.” Others, however, may feel that this year didn’t unfold as expected, leaving you uncertain about what you’ll be able to report when the time comes.
I believe most of us probably find ourselves in the latter group. Today, I pray that through the Word of God, we will meet the God who comforts and helps us. May we gain insight into the faith to approach the remaining eight weeks, so that when we conclude 2024, we may present great fruit as our offering. I bless you all in the name of the Lord.
Mrk 6:45-52 describes a scene where Jesus and His disciples are crossing the sea to Bethsaida. Interestingly, Jesus did not accompany them in the boat but sent the disciples ahead. Sure enough, they encountered a fierce storm while crossing, struggling against the wind. Then, Jesus walked on the water, came to the disciples’ boat, and as soon as He boarded, the storm ceased, and the sea became calm.
- Did Jesus not accompany the disciples?
This journey to Bethsaida was one that Jesus Himself planned, a journey He intended to take with His disciples. Yet, odd enough, He did not join them.
Firstly, why would Jesus, who planned this journey, not go with them?
In Mark 6:45 ,it explains that Jesus stayed behind to dismiss the crowd, which is why He sent the disciples ahead. But verse 46 reveals the true reason that He stayed back and went up to the mountain to pray.
Then, here is where the real issue begins…
Since Jesus had initiated this journey and was praying, wouldn’t you expect that no hardship would come upon the disciples? After all, how could anything bad happen while Jesus was praying? Yet, the scripture tells us that while the disciples were on the boat, evening came, and the wind was against them (Mark 6:47).
In spiritual sense, evening and the adverse wind represent times of spiritual or physical difficulty. If the story ended here, it would seem hopeless. But Jesus came to the disciples. He arrived during the “fourth watch of the night.” (Mark 6:48)
Both in Eastern and Western traditions, “night” refers to the hours from sunset to sunrise, typically from 6pm to 6am. A watch of the night means a watchman’s shift at night. Therefore, it varies according to culture or country. In the New Testament, there were four watches of the night :-
– 1st watch: 6pm-9pm
– 2nd watch: 9pm-12am
– 3rd watch: 12pm-3am
– 4th watch: 3am-6am
The 4th watch, therefore, represents the deepest part of the night-a time enveloped in darkness. And yet, it was during this darkest hour, in the 4th watch of the night, that Jesus came to His disciples. With His words, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid,” He resolved all of the disciples’ troubles.
Firstly, Jesus didn’t accompany His disciples teaches us that even if the journey was planned and initiated by Jesus, there may be times when Jesus seems to disappear from our sight. However, if He becomes unseen, it is because He is interceding for us. The fact that Jesus is praying for us means that He is with us in Spirit.
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age, and in Romans 8:34, we are reminded that He ascended to heaven and intercedes for us from His place at the right hand of God. Therefore, we can understand that Jesus meant to be with us forever is for Him to intercedes for us from heaven.
Jesus surely prayed for His disciples, asking for their safe arrival in Bethsaida, their destination, and for them to persevere in faith until they could reunite with Him. Therefore, although Jesus became unseen physically, He was praying for His disciples, we can say that Jesus was with them in Spirit.
If we rely solely on what is visible, we may miss seeing Jesus, who intercedes for us. Secondly, darkness came upon the disciples after they ventured out to the sea teaches us that for fallen humanity, darkness is inevitable. Following God does not mean we will never encounter dark times. If that were the case, believers would never experience illness or suffering. Yet, as believers, we still encounter physical ailments, financial challenges, spiritual struggles, and emotional exhaustion. Sometimes, as time goes on, the pain increases, and circumstances worsen (Acts 14:22). What is certain is that Jesus will not abandon us in that darkness; He will come to save us. Thus, our hope is in heaven and in Jesus.
Just as Jesus came at the fourth watch of the night, even if the night in our lives seems pitch black, do not give up hope. Conclusion: A blessing of prosperity is granted at the fourth watch of the night (Mark 6:48).
What is the fourth watch of the night?
- It is a time when we must wait until the very end (Matt 24:13; Habakkuk 2:3).
- It is a time of promised victory (Psa 78:7).
- It is a time to understand God (Mark 6:52).
The preceding verses record the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, where Jesus fed 5,000 men with a child’s meal, revealing His divinity. However, even after witnessing this, the disciples were still amazed when they saw Jesus walking on the water and disappointed when He did not remain physically with them.
As we conclude 2024, what is truly essential for us? It is to know Jesus Christ, to understand His Word, and to recognize God.
When we rightly perceive who the living God is, we can believe that we will indeed reach the desired heaven and experience blessings beyond what we have prayed for.
May you all persevere in faith to the very end, and even if you encountered the fourth watch of night, may you be victorious. I bless you all once again in the name of the Lord.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 