The Water Walking Jesus.

THE WATER WALKING JESUS.

John 6:15-21.

JOHN 6:15. Jesus knows what is in the heart of man, and literally “knowing” that they “are about to come” and seize Him, that they may make Him a king, He “withdrew Himself again to the mountain Himself alone.”

The picture seems to be of an enthusiastic crowd trying to pre-empt the revelation of who Jesus is and, forcibly if necessary, getting Him to lead them into Jerusalem to vanquish the Romans. But Jesus did not come to do that kind of thing.

We have to admire Jesus’ humility. He did not court popularity, and would not allow the popularity that He did have to go to His head. Instead, He withdrew Himself back to the mountain (in order to pray, we are told in Matthew 14:23 and Mark 6:46).

JOHN 6:16-17a. “And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into the ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.”

Matthew 14:22 and Mark 6:45 both mention that Jesus had instructed the disciples to do this, while He dismissed the crowd.

JOHN 6:17b. “And it was now dark, and Jesus was not (yet) come to them.”

How dark the darkness feels when we find ourselves adrift in a hostile world without the felt presence of Jesus!

JOHN 6:18. “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.”

The church at times seems like a boat tossing about on the waves of uncertainty and doubt, fearing that she may yet be irrelevant to those whom she has left on the shore, oftentimes seeming to lack the Lord’s presence.

JOHN 6:19. “So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.”

Individually, when we are tossed about on the storms of life, and we sense a darkness which suggests that the Lord is not with us, even then He draws near.

At first, we might not recognise Him. But rest assured: He is with us in all our troubles.

A figure appearing in the darkness, walking on the water in the middle of a stormy inland sea. This would alarm even experienced fishermen like Andrew and Peter, James and John, who were familiar with those waters.

At first, they did not know that it was Jesus, and they were afraid.

JOHN 6:20. “But He saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.”

The Lord knows our fears, and it is with a gentle, “fear not” that He reveals Himself to us. The disciples no doubt recognised His voice, which would have had a calming effect.

JOHN 6:21. “Then they willingly received Him into the ship; and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.”

This was another miracle. As soon as they welcomed Jesus into their ship, they were conveyed from the midst of the sea to their destination. The key is, “they willingly received Him.”

When we receive the Lord back into our fellowship we are conveyed immediately onto the shores of spiritual success.

Individually, each time we take Him up into the ship we reach our desired haven (cf. Psalm 107:29-30), culminating at last in the moment when we are received into heaven.