Encountering JesusSample

DISCOVER

Storms and strong winds were expected at night on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples often fished in this lake and were aware of how dangerous these storms could be. What should have taken a couple of hours turned into hours and hours of rowing. They must have been exhausted and frightened. Mark6:48 gives this additional detail, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them.” This considerable distance was about three to three and a half miles (approximately the middle of the lake), yet per John 6:19, “Jesus saw them struggling from land.”

The faithful mercy of Jesus, in the midst of a surrounding storm, caused Him to approach His disciples. Peter initially looked to Jesus, calling out to Him saying, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water (Matt. 14:28).” Peter’s initial response is inspiring, as the text indicates that other disciples did not respond likePeter.This means that the other eleven disciples crouched in fear and dismay inside the boat, perhaps still believed it was a ghost upon the waters. The challenge came to Peter when the overwhelming, violent elements of the storm attacked his senses, forcing him to take his initial gaze off Jesus. How easy is it for us to trust in the temporary over the eternal or believe in what we can see?

LEARN

The principle is clear: in the good and not-so-good times of this life, in the tumultuous storm: look for Jesus. He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. The world tells us to hope in money, luck, determination, relationships, skills, and abilities, but God tells us to look to HIM. We were not created to save ourselves. We must humble ourselves and yield to our Creator; we must be willing to be rescued.

APPLY

We must ask ourselves the candid question: what does looking to and being with Jesus mean to me? Start with the daily determination to come to the place of utter reliance on the One who is the lover of your soul, and unapologetically submit to His authority through your words and deeds. Those “deeds” include fellowshipping in His Word, communing in His Word, and intentionally being in a Christian community. He must remain our goal and finish line. To look to Him means to love Him so much that we yearn to be with Him, see Him as He is, and live in fellowship with Him forever.