John 6:16-21

John 6:16-21 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 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. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 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. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

While Jesus was on the shore, the disciples struggled for a long time without his help against the storm. In the midst of an unexpectedly difficult journey, the disciples were not making much headway when their master was absent from the boat, a excellent life skill analogy if ever there was one: without Jesus in the boat we find ourselves struggling with the vicissitudes of life. Furthermore, even when we conquer one difficult wave, another and yet another seems to take its place and to impede our progress or another burst of wind comes to push our shaky crafts off course. The storms and trials of living dissipate our strength, distract us from the truth of God's Word, and lead us into frustration, mental anguish, pain, despair, and even unbelief.

But the wonderful resolution in this story is that Jesus approached the boat: He knew and understood their peril; He represented or embodied the total answer to their need. He knew they were without strength, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Even Jesus' approach terrified them. They probably thought this was an apparition, a precursor to their death, for how could Jesus be walking on the water, only a ghost or an evil spirit could do that. Yet in the midst of a harsh physical storm and with accompanying inner turmoil, when they realized the possibility of Jesus performing one of his miracles, they let him in the boat. As they took this small step of faith and were willing to take him into the boat, immediately the boat reached the shore. In other words, with Jesus in the boat the struggle was over; they reached the other side. The battle was over; victory was won. Peace and safety was theirs through faith in Christ all the time; now it was a reality.

Many of us struggle because we see Jesus afar off on a mountain, praying for us, for that is where He was when the disciples set out to cross the lake. We assume Jesus is far from us, and we have a distant or disconnected God who cannot readily hear our cries or come to our aid. We wish He were personal and walked by our side, but He does not--He is off somewhere praying. That is a nice image but not particularly comforting in times of great distress and need. When Jesus sent out the 70, He did not tell them so say that your Savior will be at a distance and you can holler out to him when you need him. No, He said to heal the sick and tell people, "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." (Luke 10:9 KJV) The NIV says, "near you," but "nigh" sounds so upfront and personal, and that's how Jesus is, right with you, in you, beside you, there all the time. As a dear friend at our church says, "We are all in the boat, and Jesus is in the boat."

Jesus is nigh, looking on us with favor, salvation in his hands, our hope, our all in all: our everything. Moses spoke to the rock, and water came forth, for God was in his speech. We might understand the Bible backwards and forwards. We might have memorized a hundred scriptures. We might sing the songs of Zion all of the time, but until we realize that Jesus is in the boat with us, none of these spiritual exercises will bring joy to our hearts. The joy of Christ is our strength, our song, our light and our life. He was with the martyrs when they walked to their deaths. He was with Paul when he was stoned and when he was left for dead and rose to preach again. He could say, "GOD IS GOOD; HE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME." If Christ is not with us RIGHT NOW, in the boat of life, we are of all people most miserable for the Light has not shined in the darkness, and Christ did not rise from the dead and win the victory over death and the grave. But Paul knew the truth that we know. Jesus is alive and because He lives, we live also in newness of life. Arise today, Christian brothers and sisters, arise and live. Look up and live. Stop looking at the waves, stop fearing the lightening and the darkness. See the light--the safe shore is just ahead. Jesus is in the boat and He says, "Peace be still. I am with you to the end. You are safe. I will never leave you or forsake you child of mine." Amen!