John 6:16-24, CEB
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 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. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
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. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 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.
So, before we get into this story, let’s rehearse a little history about how the gospels came to be written. Mark was written first, then Matthew, then Luke, then John. Mark, which is believed to be written around AD 70, is decades after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. John, the last to be written, could have been written as late as 110 AD. For this reason, John is the most unique of the four gospels in the New Testament. It has details and stories that are not in the other three and much from the other three that is missing in John. Rather than worry about that, it is better to focus on the gospel one is reading than to try and combine all the details of all of them into a homogenized account. Each writer is trying to highlight different aspects of the Jesus story and because of that, tell the story in a different way. Look for the purpose behind what is being shared.
Take the story above. I read this story and I can’t help but respond, “where’s the part where Jesus allows Peter to walk on the water too?” That “part” of the story is in Matthew’s account. (Matthew 14) But the story details here are different. Peter isn’t even mentioned. For this reason, I don’t think I have even once heard or preached a sermon on this passage. The account with Peter is so much more exciting. Not only does Jesus walk on water, but he empowers Peter to do the same, at least for a moment before he sinks and Jesus has to save him. So much more to talk about than the “boring” John version.
But for John, this is a transitional story in a much bigger narrative about who Jesus is. For the writer of John, the Peter walking on water part is not necessary and might even distract from what he is trying to say. There is also a miraculous detail here in John that I always missed until now. So let’s try to hear John.
Jesus has just miraculously fed a crowd of thousands. In response the crowd is ready to make Him their King, presumably a King to stand against the Romans. Jesus rejects that idea and escapes to a nearby mountain. The disciples are likely befuddled at their master’s disappearance and maybe even disappointed that Jesus doesn’t take the crowd up on their offer. They get into a boat with the intention of crossing the sea back to Capernaum. There is a strong wind and rough seas. Progress is slow; after a while, it is dark and they have only gotten abut 3-4 miles. By any measurement of the Sea of Galilee, this is no more than halfway across the water. Jesus approaches them walking on water. Even for disciples that are used to their Rabbi performing miracles, this is so surprising that they are frightened. Jesus calls out to them not to be afraid. When they recognize Him, they welcome Him into the boat. The last half of that same sentence is the miracle I never noticed before. Here’s the whole sentence again:
Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
In an instant, the journey that was only half done is completed. In modern sci-fi language, we would say Jesus teleported the boat halfway across the Sea of Galilee! Now that’s a pretty big detail that Matthew left out! But I digress.
As we have said, John 6 is about who Jesus is. The writer of John probably had no intention of slighting Peter and his big moment on the sea, but Peter is not the main focus. Jesus is the abundant Provider when there are only meager resources. He is the King of nature in that he can traverse water on foot. He is the One that can deliver his people to the intended destination when they have become too tired to row any more. He’s not the King that the crowd (and probably the disciples as well at this point) wanted, but He is nonetheless in control. The disciples (and the reader) are invited to trust who Jesus is, even when they don’t quite understand yet.
As we see above, the disappointed crowd is still looking for Jesus. Their fervor to force Him to become King has had a night to cool off a bit, but they pursue Him still. When they find Him, he will have a discussion with them about all they have heard and witnessed. That will be the discussion of the next few reflections.
For now, think of a time when everything has taken an unexpected turn and, from your point of view, not in a good way. Something you were sure would happen and the opposite happened instead – a time when it feels like all that you thought was true was unraveling. It might even have been a time when what you believed about Jesus was called into question. It is possible that you might even be in a time like that right now.
The good news of this story is that even when we feel like we have “lost” Jesus, Jesus has not lost us. He knows where we are. He knows our challenges and the winds of resistance we face. He will find us and He will deliver us where we need to go. We don’t have to understand in order to trust Jesus. We are invited to trust especially when we don’t understand.
Question: Are there things about Jesus that you don’t understand? Are you willing to trust Him anyway?
Prayer: Jesus, you often defy our expectations and allude us when we try to make You something that You are not. Help us to trust You and lean not on our own understanding. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters who are observing Passover this week.
Song: Even If – MercyMe
Weekday Word w/ Eric 
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