Monday 20th February
Read John 6:16-25
“When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where 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. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.” (NIVUK)
After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand Jesus goes alone into the hills whilst the disciples leave for Capernaum, across the lake, without Him. In a chapter that mostly focuses on lessons around bread, why has John interrupted the narrative with this second miracle? This miracle almost seems like the equivalent of the parables in the other gospels, incredibly difficult to grasp without help from Jesus!
Jesus has left everyone, including them, and they decide to head home across the lake. They are fishermen. They are confident they can do a routine lake crossing on their own. Halfway home they find themselves alone, in a stormy sea, in the middle of the lake, in the dark. Perhaps the lesson of this second miracle, as Jesus finds them in the dark seas, and declares ‘I am’, is that He remains entirely other and greater than them. They need Jesus to save them just as much as the crowds needed Him to feed them. As do we.
