Jesus Walks On Water: John 6: 16-21

Sat, 5 Apr 2008 07:23:58 -0500

“But he saith to them: It is I; be not afraid.”

After feeding the multitude, Jesus went off by Himself to pray. With darkness descending, his apostles decided to cross the Sea of Tiberius, a six-mile expanse of open water that stood between them and their hometown of Capernaum.

They had only covered a few miles when storm winds blew down on the lake, churning and boiling their way through the Golan Heights and the Galilean hill country. Roaring across the water, the ferocious winds and storm-tossed waves threatened to capsize the small fishing craft.

Every man summoned his last ounce of strength, put his back to the oars and pulled for the shore in what must have seemed like an eternity.

Physically spent and emotionally drained, they spied something terrifying, a ghostly image suddenly emerging from the gloom, coming right for them. Could it be the Leviathan, the sea dragon of the Old Testament? Could it be one of the great beasts of the sea that David had written about?

Before they could react, the ghostly figure called out to them in a voice they recognized:

"It is I. Do not be afraid."

It was Jesus, miraculously walking on the water, coming to their rescue - - just as He comes to our rescue in the midst of life's storms. On recognizing Jesus, the apostles’ faith was restored and they pulled for shore with renewed vigor.

So, too, it us with all of us at times. The storms of life that put the fear of the unknown in us can also reveal depths of courage that defy any explanation other than faith. Faith in a God that is always there when we need Him.

At times, we may launch out into trackless waters only to encounter strong winds and treacherous shoals. It may take a tempest to alter the course of our lives. But with Jesus onboard, the winds of change can point us in the right direction.

Courage to Succeed

Jesus Walks On Water: John 6: 16-21