Have You Ever....

Have you ever read something what seems like a million times and end up being surprised by something you think you've never read in it before?

Happens to me all the time it seems when I read God's word. This morning it happened when I was reading from John 6:1-21.

1After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii[a] would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" 10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost." 13So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"

15Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

So what surprised me you might ask.

1. Verse 15 where Jesus "perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself."

2. Verese 21 where immediately after Jesus got into the boat "the boat was at the land to which they were going."

It's like it all brand new to me! Both show the power of God. One in knowing what was going in the hearts and minds of the people around him and the second in bringing the boat immediately to land in the midst of a terrible storm.

What must have his disciples thought? The first may have confused them...why is Jesus taking himself away like this? Isn't Jesus going to be our king?

The second must have filled them with amazement. As fishermen (some of them) they knew how dangerous rough seas could be and how long it takes to travel in them. First Jesus walks on water and then suddenly they are on the shore. It's like... WOW! It would be frightening too.

For me I read this and I just see God's power at work. Makes me feel a bit insignificant actually. But as I think about this, I'm sure that's how the disciples felt....They see Jesus walking towards them on water, the winds are high, the sea rough, and JESUS IS WALKING ON WATER! Scary! Then he tells them, "It is I. Do not be afraid". Then as they thought about it, and the miracle of the food, I would think that they felt insignificant in comparison to Christ and amazed at the power of God.

But Jesus offered them peace. "It is I. Do not be afraid". THAT is what I must cling to. God, through Christ Jesus, offers me peace in the midst of everything. He is my hope and my salvation, and I must cling to what he offers me. And he will take care of me! He took care of the people, he took care of his disciples, and he will take care of me too.