I was looking on Facebook last night and I came across the above picture from my friend Philip Brooks. He had captioned it waiting on the storm to end. It reminded me of the text from John 6 that is our gospel lesson for the day.
The gospel lesson is a combination of 2 miracle stories, the feeding of the 5000 (the only story of Jesus found in all four gospels) and Jesus walking on water. In particular the photo reminded me of the last part of the text, but all of it since it is one pericope.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (John 6:16-21 ESV)
This is John’s version of the above story. Jesus says to the disciples “I am.” They are on a rough and rocky sea and the wind is blowing, it is dark and they see someone walking on the sea and they are scared! They wonder what is going on and even though at least 4 of them are fishermen, they are worried to be out in the storm. Or maybe it is the ghost, but whatever they are scared. But Jesus simply says, “I am here, do not be afraid.” It is like when you were a young child and you woke up from a nightmare sweating and wondering where you were and not sure of anything, then you hear your fathers voice, “I’m here, it’s ok, do not be afraid.”
You see the reason the photo struck me was that in John’s version of Jesus walking on the water, it never says that the storm is calmed. We might assume that it is because the other versions (or at least one of them) has the storm being stilled. But not in John. Go ahead read it again. It says Jesus got into the boat and the reached the other side. The storm was calmed. Sometimes in life we have to wait out the storm, but we are not alone…
You see that is the just of this whole gospel passage, Jesus gives us what we need. Food to satisfy hunger. Not a wonderful grand banquet, but fish and bread, sustenance for the journey. And when the disciples and we are scared, He says take heart, it is I, do not be afraid. The storm may still be raging, but Jesus is there with us.
So wait out the storm and enjoy the show, knowing He is always with you.
aSacredRebel 