As we continued looking at the miracles (signs) in John’s Gospel, this morning we looked at when Jesus walked on water to the disciples in a storm on Lake Galilee (John 6:16-24). This was a sign which followed on from the feeding of the five thousand and reminds us that the miracles Jesus did demonstrated who He was and His authority and power over any situation. Often, we have compartmentalised faith, believing God can work in some situations (e.g. in healing or provision) but not in others (e.g. in rescuing us from stormy situations.) John is at pains to show us Jesus working in every situation life can throw at us to remind us there is nothing beyond His capability.
This miracle features in other gospels (Matt 14:22-34 and Mark 6:45-52), where different aspects are predominant (the stretching of Peter’s faith as he too walks on water or the power of Jesus over the elements, for example.) In John’s Gospel, what we see most plainly is how the presence of Jesus dispels fear and allows the disciples to reach shore safely. The presence of Jesus with us is what will bring us through all situations and what will dispel fear. This message ‘do not be afraid’ is repeated throughout the Bible. It’s what the angel said to Mary when he brought her news of God’s intentions to make her the mother of the Son of God. (Luke 1:30) It’s what the angels said to the shepherds when announcing the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:10) and to the women after Jesus’s resurrection. (Matt 28:5) It’s what Jesus Himself said to those women when He first met them on Easter Sunday: “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matt 28:10) God’s word to us is so often ‘don’t be afraid’; all the more so when we meet Him in His splendour and glory, as John discovered later in that great revelation: ‘When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’ (Rev 1:17-18) Jesus may be all-powerful, but He does not want His people to live in fear and terror. He comes to us with reassurance and comfort, even as we are awed by His presence. Fear is not part of the Christian’s clothing. God does not want us to be fearful, terrified people. Perfect love casts our fear. (1 John 4:18)
It is the presence of Jesus with us which transforms our situations. We do not necessarily sail through life on a smooth sea. The disciples, it seems, frequently ran into problems when crossing the Sea of Galilee; on another occasion, Jesus speaks peace to the wind and storms and stuns the disciples by His authority over the weather. (Mark 4:35-41) But every situation these disciples – many of whom were experienced fishermen – faced on the water was overcome by the presence of Jesus with them. On that occasion, He was in the boat with them asleep throughout the raging storm and they woke Him up, feeling that He did not care about them. He then spoke peace to the winds and storm and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.We often feel that Jesus is not with us during our times of trial or that He is (like then) asleep on the job. But the truth is that we overcome through His presence with us (see Romans 8:35-39, 1 John 5:4-5, Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; Rev 3:5, 12, 21). If we will accept the presence of Jesus into every area of our lives – not trying to live compartmentalised lives – then we will find we too can overcome through His love and His presence.