16 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. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 And the sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When therefore they had rowed about three or four miles, they [beheld] Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 They were willing therefore to receive Him into the boat; and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
What the Lord is Saying: So in the previous verse Jesus had retired to the mountain after the people were thinking that he was their prophet, their long awaited one who will change the tide of everything politically, but Jesus instead retreats, back to where he and the disciples were at, in the mountains.
Message: Walking on the Sea of Galilee
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: So in the previous verse Jesus had retired to the mountain after the people were thinking that he was their prophet, their long awaited one who will change the tide of everything politically, but Jesus instead retreats, back to where he and the disciples were at, in the mountains.
But here now, evening comes and the disciples go down to the sea, get into a boat in order to cross the sea. They were in the boat, but Jesus was not yet with them, though it was dark. A strong wind started blowing and headed 3 or 4 miles and then here comes Jesus, walking on the sea and coming to the boat. They are frightened, but He tells them to not be afraid. He got into the boat and then at that point the boat was at land.
Hmm. Interesting interlude of Jesus walking on water. This event is referenced also in Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52. Interesting at how relatively high level is this version in John. There is definitely more detail in Matthew and Mark. Matthew mentions Peter and getting out to attempt to walk as well. Mark mentions more of the disciples response, being terrified at what had occurred, but John doesn't have either Peter or any mention of disciples feelings of faith. Rather it is a straight forward - they were traveling and Jesus showed up. Now John does mention disciples being frightened and so the story mirrors fairly closely what is in Mark. John also mentions strong winds blowing, maybe to express that despite the strong winds and that possibly having an impact on the disciples, what instead they were impacted by was Jesus walking on the water.
One thing to notice, maybe the only thing is Jesus telling the disciples to not be afraid. Why? Because it is Him. Did they think that it wasn't Jesus and maybe it was a ghost as Matthew mentions. Jesus confirms it is Him. He confirms what He can do and that is a miracle different from what He has done previously - healing someone or making something out of little, but walking on the water is different, for no one can do this on their own accord. This is the 5th miracle in the Gospel of John.
Joseph MacLaren comments that "the emblem of the sea as the symbol of trouble, unrest, rebellious power, is very familiar to the writers of the Old Testament." 71 percent of the world is water. I can't swim so water has always bugged me a little from that perspective, but it is also captivating in another way. And yet in our day, our weather or storms spring often from water. Hurricane season has somewhat ended but every year it seems to cause issues. This year it was strong winds off the coast of Maui that impacted fires on that land. And then also hurricane's around Florida that caused a lot of damages. So water effects us and in life, we are often affected by what we can't really control.
We want to know that there is someone there in our life, to comfort us. Yesterday, I started speaking to an atheist. Well, I replied to the person after it was reassigned to me. I read the previous conversation and at first, saw that because of the pain of religion and what it said, how people acted, she left it. And now is happier doing life without it. And yet there is still the reality that so many believe in it.
In this parable or lesson or miracle, we have a tension - the storms of the sea and the absence of Jesus. Storms are happening. Where is he? He shows up finally. When, at the end as we hit land. So we go through all of this time of storms without him. But he says, "It is me. Do not fear." He lets us know that He won't always be right by us physically, but that doesn't matter, we don't need to fear, "It is I." And yet it doesn't matter, we will walk through difficult times. The storms will happen. Difficult times will occur. We may not like it and we may try to protect ourselves from those things happening. And in a way, we have. But they will happen. God is there but sometimes he doesn't show up till the very end. In this story, he shows up. When? Right as they are getting to the land.
And so this parable seems to be the constant tension - Absent Lord. Toiling Church. But He is not absent. He is interceding for us. "The Bible shows us that Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. Romans 8:34 says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In 1 John 2:1 we read that Jesus is our “advocate with the Father,” and from Hebrews 7:25 we learn that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us." Though we may think He is absent and feel like it at times, He isn't. He is there.
And yet as we are fighting against the storm, struggling with the toil, the challenges, at times feeling like we can't take any more broken appliances, unhappy supervisors, bodily aches - we might see Jesus and not immediately have the comfort of Him but instead fear. I mean, this is often what people are thinking about trials that come our way, that God is angry with us. We think of Him only because we think we are being punished or have done something wrong. Not to say that sometimes there are consequences, but He maybe simply wants us to behold Him and be comforted to know that He is near.
Earlier I said Jesus showed up at the end, and yet maybe he didn't show up at the very end, but maybe He showed up and with Him on board, the trek went by fast. When we have God near, and can rest with Him - time doesn't move so slowly. We can trust that everything will work out.
Summary: The disciples go out onto the sea, get hit by a storm and Jesus shows up, walking on the water saying, "Fear not."
Promise: Amidst trials, He is not silent. He is there. He is interceding for us.
Prayer: Lord, you amaze me. I started off with this passage, not really thinking there was much to it, but as I studied further and broke it down, I saw a lot of richness in the passage and you have encouraged me with it. You are there. I am not too fear. Even with trails come and they will, you are near. I do not need to fear. The key is to stay close to You and continue to trust that You are there. Help me to do this Lord. Trials are coming, I know. I pray and ask that You will be my trust throughout those trials and I can rest in You.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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