John 6:16-21
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Observations for Living Today:
The crossing was a tremendous life lesson for the Twelve, most of which is not documented by John, but detailed by Matthew and Mark.
Jesus sent the disciples on to Bethsaida while He dismissed the crowd and retreated to the mountain alone to pray (Mk 6:45). There are no words from Jesus to explain the reasoning for immediately sending them on ahead after feeding the crowd (Mt 14:22-23), except to note, the people believing He was the messiah they were waiting for (Jn 6:15) were about to forcibly make Him king and Jesus did not allow it. Instead, He isolated both His disciples and Himself from the crowd for about a day (Jn 6:22).
God is patient with His creation. While the crowd understood Jesus was the Messiah and wanted Him as their King (Jn 6:15), they missed God’s context for His kingdom. His patience with the crowd is clearly evident in the timeout He gave them (Jn 6:22-25) before His next lesson (Jn 6:26-66), where He really challenges them with the truth. The disciples, however, did not get a timeout; their lesson continued on in the boat. They proceeded across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Jn 6:16-17), when late in the evening a strong wind came against them and the waves made rowing very hard (Mk 6:48); making for a long day and now this kind of night, alone in the dark in the middle of the lake between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning with no end in sight.
Fear overcomes faith when reality is not understood. Events we cannot control or explain frighten us and most often confuse what knowledge we do have. The disciples were not really sure what happened during the feeding of the crowd (Mk 6:52), when everything seemed to turn against them. They were supposed to be with their Lord getting some rest (Mk 6:31), but now they physically separated from their Lord, encountered a storm late at night, were not making any progress toward their destination, and were becoming increasingly tired and more confused. Then just when it seemed it could not get any worse, they encounter a ghost?
The lesson looking back is exceptionally clear, but to those stuck in the present without benefit of historical hindsight, not so much. Everything from the beginning of yesterday, when they tried to find a solitary place for some rest, but were instead, found by the crowd of 5,000 (Mk 6:32-34), fed into what was about to be said: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mk 6:50; Mt 14:27; Jn 6:20). Impetuous Peter not satisfied with a comforting word from his Lord asked to join Him, if indeed He was the Lord! And so he did, that is, until his intellect caught up with his emotions. Then, just as for most of us now, Jesus, because of little faith combined with doubting His words are true, Peter had to be caught and escorted back into the boat (Mt 14:25-32).
It is interesting today how many people know Jesus could walk on water, even those who clearly do not believe He is the Son of God know about it. They say “there’s only one man who could walk on water,” but they forget or don’t know Peter did too. What’s even more amazing is what Christians often overlook from that lesson where everyone in the boat knew with certainty Jesus was the Son of God: He could make next to nothing last forever, walk with a disciple over storm tossed waters (Mt 14:29), calm the wind in an instant (Mt 14:32; Mk 6:51) and immediately move a boat and its passengers about three miles from the middle of the lake to shore (Jn 6:21). He controls the universe, all without speaking a word; rather just wills it should be so.
Reality in Christ:
Kipling’s poem If-- (1895) highlights the characteristic of a mature man. I once heard a comedian use the first line of that poem to get a laugh saying, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, then you really do not know what’s going on!” While I really appreciate Kipling’s thoughts suggesting a mature man has a moral compass to help navigate the chaos and confusion of life, I also appreciate the truth the comedian puts forward: if you really understood what was happening you’d panic just like the rest of us!
Not understanding what is happening generates fear and confusion. It is best to combat fear and confusion by knowing the reality in Christ; every word spoken and every idea communicated by Jesus is absolute truth—have faith, do not doubt.
Doubt is not a question, it is a statement. Sarah doubted; she laughed to herself when the Lord told Abraham she would bear the son of God’s promise—she did not have a question how it could happen, she decided it was not possible (Gen 18:10-15). Zechariah doubted; he wanted proof the words of God’s messenger regarding the birth of John the Baptist were true—he was not curious about what the Angel Gabriel told him, he flat did not believe it was true (Lk 1:8-25). Mary did not doubt; when Gabriel spoke to her she believed what he said, but was curious as to how God would do such a thing. She never doubted God’s messenger was telling her the truth or God was able to whatever He said He would do (Lk 1:26-38). Wondering how or when God is going to do something He said He would do, is not doubting or believing He cannot do it.
Therefore, consider carefully every word spoken by God and how the Reality in Christ’s words might be fulfilled in your life—do not doubt they are true. Here are a few words relevant to His lesson during the crossing; there are many more.
Will never leave nor forsake those who love Him. Sent the disciples ahead in a boat, but watched their progress. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (Jn 14:18-21)
God and His Son will live with those who love Him. God does not just show Himself, He dwells within you. “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (Jn 14:23-24)
Recognizes need to grow faith incrementally. God is a master gardener. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (Jn 15:1-4)
Knows what we need and gives to our benefit. God answers your prayers every time, not always as you expect. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)
God always answers the prayer of His Son. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Jn 17:20-23)
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Observations for Living Today:
The crossing was a tremendous life lesson for the Twelve, most of which is not documented by John, but detailed by Matthew and Mark.
Jesus sent the disciples on to Bethsaida while He dismissed the crowd and retreated to the mountain alone to pray (Mk 6:45). There are no words from Jesus to explain the reasoning for immediately sending them on ahead after feeding the crowd (Mt 14:22-23), except to note, the people believing He was the messiah they were waiting for (Jn 6:15) were about to forcibly make Him king and Jesus did not allow it. Instead, He isolated both His disciples and Himself from the crowd for about a day (Jn 6:22).
God is patient with His creation. While the crowd understood Jesus was the Messiah and wanted Him as their King (Jn 6:15), they missed God’s context for His kingdom. His patience with the crowd is clearly evident in the timeout He gave them (Jn 6:22-25) before His next lesson (Jn 6:26-66), where He really challenges them with the truth. The disciples, however, did not get a timeout; their lesson continued on in the boat. They proceeded across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Jn 6:16-17), when late in the evening a strong wind came against them and the waves made rowing very hard (Mk 6:48); making for a long day and now this kind of night, alone in the dark in the middle of the lake between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning with no end in sight.
Fear overcomes faith when reality is not understood. Events we cannot control or explain frighten us and most often confuse what knowledge we do have. The disciples were not really sure what happened during the feeding of the crowd (Mk 6:52), when everything seemed to turn against them. They were supposed to be with their Lord getting some rest (Mk 6:31), but now they physically separated from their Lord, encountered a storm late at night, were not making any progress toward their destination, and were becoming increasingly tired and more confused. Then just when it seemed it could not get any worse, they encounter a ghost?
The lesson looking back is exceptionally clear, but to those stuck in the present without benefit of historical hindsight, not so much. Everything from the beginning of yesterday, when they tried to find a solitary place for some rest, but were instead, found by the crowd of 5,000 (Mk 6:32-34), fed into what was about to be said: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mk 6:50; Mt 14:27; Jn 6:20). Impetuous Peter not satisfied with a comforting word from his Lord asked to join Him, if indeed He was the Lord! And so he did, that is, until his intellect caught up with his emotions. Then, just as for most of us now, Jesus, because of little faith combined with doubting His words are true, Peter had to be caught and escorted back into the boat (Mt 14:25-32).
It is interesting today how many people know Jesus could walk on water, even those who clearly do not believe He is the Son of God know about it. They say “there’s only one man who could walk on water,” but they forget or don’t know Peter did too. What’s even more amazing is what Christians often overlook from that lesson where everyone in the boat knew with certainty Jesus was the Son of God: He could make next to nothing last forever, walk with a disciple over storm tossed waters (Mt 14:29), calm the wind in an instant (Mt 14:32; Mk 6:51) and immediately move a boat and its passengers about three miles from the middle of the lake to shore (Jn 6:21). He controls the universe, all without speaking a word; rather just wills it should be so.
Reality in Christ:
Kipling’s poem If-- (1895) highlights the characteristic of a mature man. I once heard a comedian use the first line of that poem to get a laugh saying, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, then you really do not know what’s going on!” While I really appreciate Kipling’s thoughts suggesting a mature man has a moral compass to help navigate the chaos and confusion of life, I also appreciate the truth the comedian puts forward: if you really understood what was happening you’d panic just like the rest of us!
Not understanding what is happening generates fear and confusion. It is best to combat fear and confusion by knowing the reality in Christ; every word spoken and every idea communicated by Jesus is absolute truth—have faith, do not doubt.
Doubt is not a question, it is a statement. Sarah doubted; she laughed to herself when the Lord told Abraham she would bear the son of God’s promise—she did not have a question how it could happen, she decided it was not possible (Gen 18:10-15). Zechariah doubted; he wanted proof the words of God’s messenger regarding the birth of John the Baptist were true—he was not curious about what the Angel Gabriel told him, he flat did not believe it was true (Lk 1:8-25). Mary did not doubt; when Gabriel spoke to her she believed what he said, but was curious as to how God would do such a thing. She never doubted God’s messenger was telling her the truth or God was able to whatever He said He would do (Lk 1:26-38). Wondering how or when God is going to do something He said He would do, is not doubting or believing He cannot do it.
Therefore, consider carefully every word spoken by God and how the Reality in Christ’s words might be fulfilled in your life—do not doubt they are true. Here are a few words relevant to His lesson during the crossing; there are many more.
Will never leave nor forsake those who love Him. Sent the disciples ahead in a boat, but watched their progress. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (Jn 14:18-21)
God and His Son will live with those who love Him. God does not just show Himself, He dwells within you. “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (Jn 14:23-24)
Recognizes need to grow faith incrementally. God is a master gardener. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (Jn 15:1-4)
Knows what we need and gives to our benefit. God answers your prayers every time, not always as you expect. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)
God always answers the prayer of His Son. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Jn 17:20-23)
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