Sermon Synopsis
This sermon introduces a series on the Greek word tharseō — “be of good cheer” — by examining Mark 6:45–52. It shows how the disciples failed to recognise Jesus as God when He walked on the water, revealing their spiritual slowness despite witnessing great miracles. Through the deliberate actions of walking on the sea and passing by, Jesus revealed His divine identity and comforted His fearful disciples. The message challenges believers today to recognise the Lord’s presence and voice in daily life by knowing Him personally and spending time with Him.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Be of Good Cheer — Recognising the Lord
Mark 6:45–52
Introduction: A New Series — Tharseō (Θαρσέω)
Good morning everyone.
This morning I wish to commence a new series to share with you. I have entitled this series “Tharseō”, which is a Greek word I hope we can add to our vocabulary.
This word occurs about eight times in the Gospels and in Acts. Of these eight occasions, seven times it was uttered by our Lord Himself.
What I want to do in this series is to take us through each of the passages where the Lord used this word. We will look carefully at the context and ask why, on that particular occasion, the Lord spoke tharseō. Then we will look deeper into the passage and from there derive the lesson that we can apply to our Christian believing.
So you may be asking, what does tharseō mean?
Depending on your Bible version, it is translated as “be of good cheer,” “take heart,” “take courage,” or “have courage.” These are the words we will encounter as we study the passages.
This morning, for our purpose, we will begin with a familiar passage in Mark 6:45–52. We will spend some time here, so it would be good if you could follow along in your Bible. As we read, I would like you to keep in mind three simple thoughts that will help us unbundle the teaching of this passage.
One thing will become very clear as we read: the central lesson this morning is recognising the Lord — or rather, in this case, how the disciples did not recognise Him.
The Reading of Scripture
Mark 6:45–52 (KJV)
“And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent the people away.
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
May the Lord bless us in the public reading of His precious Word.
There are two pictures presented to us in this passage.
First, we see a physical picture of the Lord praying alone on the mountain. It would be presumptuous for us to say exactly what He prayed, but I am certain of one thing: He would have prayed for His disciples who were toiling in the sea — that they would persevere, that they would come out of this incident stronger in their faith.
Second, we see a spiritual picture of our Lord’s present and future ministry. At present, He is in heaven, interceding for us. He comes to us in our hour of need. And one day, He will return and guide us safely to the heavenly shore.
That is a brief look at the picture. But this morning we will spend more time on the posture.
Mark records two postures of the Lord:
These were not accidental or spontaneous actions. They were divinely designed so that the disciples would recognise Jesus — and recognise Him as God.
The Problem: No Insight from the Loaves
Look again at verse 52:
“For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
The feeding of the five thousand men — besides women and children — is recorded in all four Gospels. Yet remarkably, nothing is recorded about the disciples’ response to that miracle. Mark explains why: they did not understand the significance of the miracle.
The New Living Translation puts it this way:
“They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.”
This hardness was not due to sin or opposition, but slowness to learn. They were still growing. Their hearts needed time to soften. They had not yet fully grasped that Jesus Christ is both man and God.
If they had learned nothing from the loaves, the Lord would have to teach them again — and demonstrate His omnipotence. Every miracle, every teaching, pointed toward that goal.
So this episode becomes a training session:
III. Walking on the Water — A Claim to Deity
Every Jewish boy would have known Job 9:8:
“He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.”
Only God walks on water.
When Jesus walked on the sea, He was demonstrating divine omnipotence. This was not merely a narrative detail — it was a deliberate revelation of who He is.
The phrase “would have passed by them” is intentionally recorded.
In the Old Testament:
Passing by always brought revelation.
But here, in Mark 6, the disciples experienced the consummate revelation.
They did not merely see God’s back or hear His voice — they saw the face of God.
God had taken on a human face in the incarnation. The disciples saw Him daily — yet they did not fully recognise the God behind the face.
Verses 50–52 show us a turning point.
They were terrified. Not recognising the Lord led to wrong recognition. They thought He was a ghost — phantasma. Superstition replaced faith.
Jesus entered the boat and spoke three phrases:
The first and third are opposites. What determines which way we lean is what lies in the middle: “It is I.”
When we recognise the Lord’s presence, fear gives way to courage.
The question for us today is simple but searching:
Do we recognise the Lord in our daily lives?
When decisions come — marriage, work, direction — and the Lord speaks through His Word, through circumstances, through people — do we recognise Him? Or do we let Him pass by?
The story is told of a man named Christian who refused every means of rescue during a flood, insisting the Lord would save him. In the end, he drowned. In heaven he asked why the Lord had not saved him. The Lord replied:
“Did I not send the patrol car, the patrol boat, and the helicopter?
Did you not recognise Me?”
VII. How Do We Recognise the Lord?
Just two simple points:
It is no different from any relationship — the more time you spend, the better you know.
Closing Prayer
Father, we thank You for this time of worship and for Your Word to our hearts this morning.
We live in difficult and changing times. We ask that You would lead us day by day and help us to recognise You when You speak — through Your Word, through circumstances, and through the people You place in our lives.
Keep us from failing to recognise You, or from recognising You wrongly.
We commit all things into Your gracious hands, that Your name may be glorified, Your people edified, and souls added to Your kingdom.
We ask this in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Messages: 6
