Thursday, September 10 — The Voice in the Storm

The disciples had just watched Jesus feed five thousand people. A few hours later they were rowing through the dark, soaked and scared, wondering where He'd gone.

John 6:15-21 — KJV

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 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. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

John 6:15-21 — WEB

15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. 17 They entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. 19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid." 21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Explanation

The timing matters. This storm comes on the heels of the greatest afternoon of these men's lives. Bread multiplied in their own hands. Thousands fed. A crowd so worked up they were ready to crown Jesus king by force — which is exactly why He slips away up the mountain alone. And then the men who had just seen it all end up in the dark on rough water with the wind against them and no sign of Him anywhere.

John is unhurried about how bad it was. It was already dark. Jesus had not come. The sea was being tossed by a great wind. Anyone who has ever gone from a mountaintop straight into a hard week recognizes this boat. Faith does not inoculate you against the storm; sometimes it drops you right into one.

Then they see Him — walking on the very water that is beating their boat half to death — and John says they were afraid. Not comforted. Afraid. Sometimes God shows up in a form we don't recognize and the first thing we feel is terror. So Jesus speaks. In the Greek His words are simply ego eimi, "I am" — the name God gave Moses at the burning bush, spoken out on the waves. It is I. Don't be afraid. And the moment they were willing to take Him in, the boat was where it had been trying all night to go.

Look at what our week is quietly building. The God who forced the Red Sea back on Tuesday now strolls across a lake in the dark. The God whose ark went ahead on Wednesday now walks out to a boat that is behind schedule and taking on water. Sunday's stones at the Jordan exist to keep this exact truth in front of the next generation: our God handles deep water.

So for whatever tonight holds — the 3 a.m. worry, the child who won't call back, the bill you keep moving to the bottom of the stack — hear the voice before you look at the wind. He is not fazed by the thing that is drowning you. He is walking on top of it. And His first word is never a lecture. It's His own name and a hand out of the dark: It is I. Don't be afraid.

Thought for the Day

The storm is loud. His voice is louder.

Reflection Question

What fear has been the loudest voice in your life lately — and what would change if you let His voice answer it?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I know what it is to row in the dark. Some nights the wind is against me and I can't see You anywhere. Thank You that You come walking on the very thing I'm afraid of. Quiet the noise long enough for me to hear You say it is You. Get in the boat with me, and bring me to shore. Amen.

This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: Remember God's Actions.