“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 realized 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 realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.”  John 6:16-24

If turning water into wine is not dramatic enough, then Jesus walking on the water is the miracle of all miracles – up to this point in the Gospel that is. In the miracle that happens at the wedding in Cana, Jesus acts not because anyone is fearful, but because the wedding  family was in need.  Through the miracle, Jesus gives the disciples, and you and me, a glimpse of his glory.  Now, as they struggle against a fierce wind on the sea, they are terrified when they see Jesus – and Jesus immediately acts to calm their fears. The presence of Jesus brings an end to their fear and a quick end to their journey – for they immediately reach the other side of the sea. And although they get something surprising, just like the wedding family, they also see a glimpse of Jesus’ glory.

This is a story that resonates with all of us – for we all have been engulfed by fear, we all have cried out for the presence of Jesus, and we all have encountered surprises at the works of Jesus. When we consider all that Jesus offers to us, we should get that sense of peace and fulfillment in his presence because his ministry is to those in need. Thanks be to G-d for the power and the Glory of Jesus Christ, that continues to surprise us throughout our lives.

Pastor Dave

Pastor Dave

“Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival was near. ⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. ⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” ⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. ¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:1-13

Here we have the feeding of the 5000. It is a simple story, yet so complex in our world that demands explanations and scientific understandings. C. S. Lewis wrote this about Christianity, “It is no good asking for a simple religion. They look simple, but they are not.  The table I am sitting at looks simple; but ask a scientist to tell you what it is really made of –  all about the atoms and how the light waves rebound from them and hit my eye and what they do to the optic nerve and what it does to my brain – and, of course, you find that what we call ‘seeing a table’ lands you in mysteries and complications which you can hardly get to the end of. Besides being complicated, reality, in my experience, is usually odd. It is not neat, not obvious, not what you expect. For instance, when you have grasped that the earth and the other planets all go round the sun, you would naturally expect that all the planets were made to match – all at equal distances from each other, say, or distances that regularly increased, or all the same size, or else getting bigger or smaller as you go further from the sun.  In fact, you find no rhyme or reason (that we can see) about either the sizes or the distances.  Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have guessed.  That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity.  It is a religion you could not have guessed.”  

The feeding of the 5000 leaves us with more questions that answers – yet a simple reality – Jesus feeds us abundantly, when we least deserve it or expect it. But thank goodness that Christianity often leaves us gasping for air and searching for understanding. If we understood it all, we would soon be searching for something else.

Pastor Dave