Jesus Walks on Water: John 6: 16-21

Sat, 5 Apr 2008 13:45:50 -0400

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

They were willing therefore to take him into the ship; and presently the ship was at the land to which they were going.” After feeding the multitude, Jesus confounded His apostles by seeking seclusion instead of glory.

With darkness descending, the perplexed apostles ventured out by themselves on 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. But their efforts to help themselves were not enough. Their boat was being swamped by the onrushing waves.

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.

The storms that put the fear of God in us can also make us take a closer look at the direction our lives are headed. At times, we may launch out into trackless waters, over-confident in our ability to weather life's storms and in our skill at navigating its treacherous shoals. It may take a tempest to make us realize we can’t do it by our selves. We need help from a higher power.

Their faith restored, the apostles pulled for shore with renewed vigor. So, too, it is with us. As long as we put forth our best effort, the Lord will do His part and the winds of change will point us in the right direction.

Self Help

Jesus Walks on Water: John 6: 16-21