1 Samuel 8:1-22; John 6:16-21; Psalms 106:24-31; Proverbs 23:15-16
NT: “When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.” (John 6:16-21 CSB)
According to John 6:15, after Jesus fed the 5,000, the people in the crowd were ready to forcibly take Jesus and make Him their king… but Jesus put a stop to that. He send His disciples to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and He left to go pray in the wilderness. Did Jesus know that a storm was coming and that He was sending His disciples into danger? Most likely… but the greater danger was allowing His disciples to get swept up in the mob and pulled away from The Father’s Kingdom purposes – so He sent them away. Though Jesus was not physically with them in the boat, they were not left alone. Jesus had just demonstrated to them through the feeding of the 5,000, that help comes from the ever-present Father. Would they remember that when the storm hit? Based on the other Gospel accounts, the disciples didn’t call out to God. Instead they tried to push through the storm in their own strength and weren’t getting anywhere. Jesus caught up with them and would have passed them by if they hadn’t cried out to Him. Once Jesus entered the boat, the storm immediately stopped and they were transported to their destination. The disciples witnessed 3 mind-blowing miracles in that moment: 1) Jesus transcended the law of gravity and physics to walk on storm-tossed waters, 2) Jesus demonstrated His power and authority over the power of nature by causing the storm to cease, and 3) Jesus transcended the laws of space and time by immediately transporting the boat and its passengers to the shore. One commentator noted that at the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus had the people sit down in green pastures… and when He stepped into the boat, He brought still waters. Jesus was the Lord, the Good Shepherd – and His walking on the water was the 5th sign that proved that He was (and is) the Son of God, and that we can have life in His name. What a great story for our times: We need to stay away from power and influence of the mob… and by doing so, it may put us in a tumultuous situation and impossible predicament… but don’t be afraid. If Jesus is with us and we are with Him, following Him; He transcends all, overpowers all, and accomplishes His will in us despite the challenges we face.
Jamie Hicks 