John 6:16-25 – Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He *said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. 23 Other small boats came from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
“But He *said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” In the storm the Apostles were struggling. In the rough sea they were doing all they could to make headway but they were in a struggle. It does not seem that they were greatly afraid. They became terrified not because the sea was contrary (Matthew 14:24) but because they saw a figure walking on top of the troubled waters. Now that would be at least alarming and even a terrifying sight to most of us. The Apostles did not recognize that it was Jesus walking on the water but thought they were seeing an apparition. (Matthew 14:25, Mark 6:49)
The rough sea did not hamper Jesus. Since He had started across the sea after they had, and now He had caught up to them, He was not being slowed by the rough seas as the Apostles were. Isn’t that something we should always remember, as the Apostles should have remembered? Let’s not be anthropomorphic when we consider who Jesus is and His almighty and divine power. We should remember as David did (1 Samuel 17:45-47) that what looks like situations too big for us are not a challenge to God. To Jesus, the rough sea was as easy to walk on as a well maintained road. The Apostles were struggling, Jesus was not. Let’s remember to bring our anxieties to He who cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) Our troubled seas are an easy stroll to the Lord.
When did the Apostles become terrified? It was when they saw someone walking on the sea and did not recognize that it was Jesus. It is easy to wonder why they were not thinking about if Jesus would show up to help them. In fact not wondering if He would, but wondering when He would. Morpheus (The Matrix) who while awaiting fulfillment of the “prophecy” said with certainty “I do not believe it to be a matter of hope, it is simply a matter of time.” Family they, and us, should not be thinking that God might be in control but rather that He is in control. It is not a matter of if God is always in control but rather we know Him enough to know, beyond the shadow of doubt, that He is in control. Jesus loved them, as He loves us, and knowing what He has done on our behalf, how He brought about a way of salvation, shouldn’t we know that He knows how to bring about His will for our lives. Shouldn’t we know that about Him? The Apostles should not have wondered if Jesus would show up to save them, they should only have wondered when He would. Trust God.
Why didn’t even one of the Apostles, upon seeing Him shout to the others “Look, it is Jesus coming to rescue us?” Seemingly their minds were not on Jesus, but on them dealing with the rough sea. Family and Friends, how often are we just like them? We get caught up trying to handle our trials ourselves and do not look for the Lord. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus asks us to take His yoke upon us. Now He is not asking us to continue carrying our burden and to also take up His. He is offering us to switch burdens with Him. We take His light burden and He takes our heavy burdens. He is offering us a substitutionary deal. Substitute His light for our heavy. Jesus is telling us to receive from Him what is ours already if we only receive what He has for us. Freedom in exchange for slavery. Light for heavy. This is all part of the substitutionary offer from Him we have already received. He takes on our death and gives us His life. How is it that we do not learn to give our heavy for His light? It is part of the freedom we who love Jesus receive. (John 8:36) It is one of the benefits of His marriage to us. It is part of the deal. Trust the Lord. With certain expectancy, based on who He is and on His promises, the Lord is watching over us. And the more we know Him the more we confidently set aside trusting ourselves and instead trust God and His will. Whether we understand what is happening or not, because we know Him. Understanding the why of the trial is far inferior to knowing Him. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.