By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read: John 6:16-25

“So when they had rowed about five and 20 or 30 furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid” (John 6:19).

The Rev. Ron Purkey

The other gospels tell us that Christ hurried the disciples down to the Sea of Galilee and put them on a boat to go across while he went up into the mountain to pray. Since those mountains are about 3,000 feet high, a storm from them will break suddenly upon the Sea of Galilee — and this was a real storm.

When they were 25 or 30 furlongs out on the sea, they were halfway across. It was in the middle of this inland sea when they saw Jesus walking on the water. They were afraid because they didn’t recognize him.

A college professor who explained away the feeding of the 5,000 tried to explain away this miracle, too. He said the ship was at the land, so Christ was actually walking on the shore — but the disciples thought that he was walking on the water. Remember that John had been a fisherman on this Sea of Galilee, and he knew it well. He specifically mentions their position on the Sea of Galilee so we would know they were not at the shore.

Jesus Christ came to them in the storm. And that is the time he comes to his own today. He makes himself more real to us in a time of trouble and sorrow. I do not know why he waits until midnight, until the waves are rolling, but perhaps that is the only time we will listen to him. When the storms of life are beating upon us, our hearts are ready for his presence.

”And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened” (Mark 6:51-52).

“Immediately the ship was at the land whither they went” (John 6:21). This may be another miracle, or John may mean that with no delay they reached the other side since the water was now calm. Or it may be the language of Christian love — with Jesus in the boat it didn’t seem far to the other side.

The presence of Christ delivers from fear. They willingly received him, and once they knew it wasn’t a ghost, but it was their Lord, they couldn’t wait for him to get into the boat with them. His presence not only removed their fears, but immediately they were at their destination. No more fear … no more struggle … no more storm … just sweet fellowship with the Lord.

The opposite of fear is not courage … it is faith! The Lord wants us to trust him at all times. When the sun is shining and when the storms of life may come. He is the answer to our fears.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.