Jesus comes into the storm

Jesus walks on the water. - John 6:16-21

When Jesus sees the disciples struggling on the water, he does something remarkable.

He walks toward them.

That might sound obvious when we first read the story, but it is worth pausing to consider. Jesus could have done any number of things in that moment. He could have waited on the shore for the disciples to arrive. He could have calmed the storm from a distance. He could have simply appeared on the other side of the lake once the journey was finished.

Instead, Jesus walks across the water - miles of it - to meet them where they are.

The miracle itself is astonishing, of course. Walking on water bends the laws of nature in ways that remind us of Jesus’ divine authority. But the deeper meaning of the story lies not only in the miracle itself, but in what motivates it. Jesus does not remain distant from the disciples’ struggle. He moves toward it.

This tells us something important about the way God works in our lives.

God does not wait for the storm to end before drawing near to us. God does not remain safely on the shore while we struggle through the wind and waves. Instead, Christ enters the storm and comes toward us in the middle of it.

When life becomes chaotic, it is easy to imagine that God must be somewhere beyond the trouble - waiting for us on the other side of the difficulty. But the Gospel tells a different story. The presence of Christ meets us right where the waves are highest.

The disciples were still surrounded by wind and darkness when Jesus arrived. The storm had not ended, but they were no longer alone.

Sometimes that is the miracle we need most.

Jesus, when the storms of life feel overwhelming, remind me that you are not distant. Help me recognize your presence walking toward me, even when the night is dark and the wind is strong. Amen. 

^{This piece is offered by Sterling United Methodist Church and was written in collaboration between Rev. Bert Cloud and Sharon Rosenfeld. It is inspired by the book Seven Miracles: Signs of Life in the Gospel of John by Gina Anderson-Cloud, Megan Dietrick, Bill Gray, Daniel Park, Isaiah Park & Lauren Todd}