John 6:16-21

¹⁶When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,¹⁷where 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.¹⁸A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.¹⁹When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.²⁰But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” ²¹Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

“It is I, don’t be afraid…”

 I pray that as we continue studying Christ’s life journey, our eyes may be opened, and our hearts touched as God’s word speaks to us.

In the book of John, we are told of the different miracles Jesus performed during his life. Yesterday, we read about how Jesus and his disciples were able to feed over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Our passage today builds on this account.

In the evening, after everyone has been fed, Jesus sends his disciples on their way and tells them to climb into a boat to cross the lake to the other side to Capernaum. Meanwhile, Jesus retreats to a quieter place on the mountainside to spend time alone with God in prayer. After such an eventful day, one might think that they all would spend the evening together celebrating and discussing what an incredible thing had just happened. But Jesus knew that the disciples still had a lot to learn on their faith journey. Though they had witnessed firsthand how Jesus had turned water into wine, healed the sick and provided food for the people, it says in Mark 6:52 that their hearts were hardened and that they had not yet fully grasped who Jesus really was. The miracle Jesus would perform in today’s story was meant for the disciples personally.

The disciples had obeyed Jesus’ instructions and were making their way across the Sea of Galilee, where a storm with strong winds was forming, making it a rough and unpleasant crossing. We read that they had already rowed about three or four miles out, which is quite far and judging by a map of the area, pretty much in the middle of the lake. Why is this relevant? This means that there was not much point in turning back anymore, but that they had to move forward, because they were not close to any shoreline.

Sometimes, we too may find ourselves in storms of life, even though we have obeyed God’s will and have tried to listen to his guidance. Similar to the disciples, we might feel alone and helpless out in the open sea, thinking that God is far away. With our focus on the waves that threaten to crash down on us, we might not realize that Jesus is always directly by our side. When Jesus walked on the water towards the disciples, they were terrified because he was performing a supernatural act they could not comprehend, humanly speaking. They thought he was a ghost or perhaps some kind of bad spirit in the storm. We might not be able to recognize him because we are captivated by our fear. Nevertheless, he is so loving and gracious and calls out to us not to be afraid.

He reminds us of his identity: “It is I.” In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes several statements beginning with the words “I am,” which are each a proclamation of his identity. He is helping us to better grasp who he is, and often linking back to verses in the Old Testament on revelations of God’s own identity. With every statement Jesus is therefore revealing his holy attributes, marking his identity as God: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35); “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12); “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11); “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

So, when Jesus said to the disciples “It is I,” all these statements of truth are implied. We might be limited in our vision at that moment, unable to fully comprehend who the one by our side truly is. Isn’t it so wonderful that we are able to lean on such an incredible God? He promises to be our portion and strength, the light in the darkness and to watch over us. He died and rose for us and is the one true Savior we can always depend on. Indeed, as Jesus himself adds, “Let us not be afraid!” We have this amazing Father and friend we can put our trust in, who will sustain us through every storm of life!

Prayer

Lord, help me to learn to trust you even when life’s challenges seem insurmountable. Soften my heart to fully grasp what an amazing God you are, who will guide me through any storm to safe shores, as long as I keep my eyes on you. Amen.