Jesus walking on water and calming the storm is most likely what has grabbed your attention. It should. However, I want to there is more going on here. To get at it, let’s look at Jesus, and the disciples.
Jesus is concerned for the disciples. He sends them away while he dismisses the crowd. Dismissing a crowd is not easy. Remember, Jesus was taking the disciples to get some rest, but those shepherdess sheep arrived.
Now the crowd has been fed. Jesus basically tells his team, “You guys get in that boat and go. You need a break; I’ll take care of the crowd and catch up with you.” Here is a practical example: When Jesus’ leads, he serves.
Jesus then spends time with the Father in prayer. No commentary on what this time looked like. We don’t need any. The point? The Son requires communion with the Father. Another practical example: Jesus does not do things apart from the Father.
Next Jesus sees the disciples are struggling in the boat. Their early escape from the crowds has backfired. Jesus now goes to them. Here yet again is another practical example: Jesus puts himself near to those in need.
The next bit of text at first glance is confusing. It reads, “He was about to pass by.” You and I might think he would walk right up to the boat, calming the sea and helping them.
Consider, does Jesus barge into places he is not invited? No. Instead, he puts himself near us and waits until we ask. In this scene they are so frightened they cannot ask. He engages them and brings the situation under control. Here perhaps the observation is less about Jesus, and more about the disciples.
The text says their hearts are hard. Maybe you are shaking your head at the disciples. It is easy to pick on them. Yet what if we think about it another way. Might the disciples, with all their eye-witness amazement of Jesus wonder “If he can, or will, keep it up?”.
Now that is a question, and it’s not just for them.
Let’s finish the last bit of text and then circle back.
They get to their destination. The crowd is there. We do not read of Jesus teaching. The text turns into a sort of summary, “…wherever he came, in villages, cities, or the countryside, they laid the sick…” Which is to say, Jesus kept going to villages, cities, and the countryside. He kept putting himself near those in need.
It would be easy to get preachy and ask if we are demonstrating servant leadership, and if we are spending time with the Father, and if we are putting ourselves in the midst of those in need.
Yet what I am wondering about is that question.
Am I living my life in way where I know he can, or instead, I am wondering if he can, and will, keep it up.
It is not whether I know the right answer to that question. Of course I do. It is more, do I live that way?
How are you doing living confidently that Jesus is with you? Consider asking if there are areas of your life where you need to intentionally give the concern or issue to Jesus.