Stormy weather

But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”                                          John 6.20

The disciples had set off on their own in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. They had encountered stormy weather. Then Jesus moved towards them, walking on the surface of the water. They freaked. Although we are told that they saw Jesus walking on the sea, we cannot be sure that they recognised Him, because His first words to them were a reminder of who He was. After this, the writer continues, Then they wanted to take him into the boat. (v21) Once they recognised Him, they wanted to draw Him to them, they sought the security and strength that they knew was in Him.

Jesus has assured me of His constant presence:

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Heb. 13.5)

“I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt.28.20)

Like the disciples, I also encounter stormy weather. Some days I set out on the calmest of seas only to find the weather turn foul. I could be tempted to panic, to freak and to give up. Instead I need to remember His abiding presence with me, and hear Him say these words to me: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

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In truth I have nothing to fear. He is with me. He will comfort and protect me. He will strengthen and guide me.

On recognising that He was with them, the disciples wanted to draw close. This must be my intent. I want to get so close to Him that there will never be any question or doubt in my mind. I will live in Him, and He will live in me.

My Wonderful Lord,

You came to the disciples in the midst of the storm. You brought them calmness, and safely took them to land.

I remind myself that You are always with me. You support and strengthen me. I go through no storm where You are not at my side. I rejoice in this reminder. Thank You for Your love and faithfulness.

I commit to the ongoing journey with You. The knowledge of Your presence is a source of comfort and joy. Thank You.                Amen.

…as much as they wanted.

Then Jesus 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.         John 6.11

The story of the miracle is well known. Jesus feeds a multitude of people, at least five thousand, with the meagre packed lunch of one small boy.

As so often happens when I read God’s Word these days, I’m looking for more insight, or perhaps for something further or special that He wants me to see and know.

Earlier in the narrative, Philip notes, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” (v7) Yet, when Jesus acts, the people get not simply a little, but as much food and nourishment as they want.

I am reminded of the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. According to John the volume of wine produced was between 120 and 180 gallons. That is a mighty lot of wine.

The two stories convey a principle to me that I see as part of God’s character. His provision is abundant, indeed sometimes overwhelming. In Jesus we will find all that we need, and as much as we want.

Another insight I get from the story is not to look to what I have. If God can feed an immense crowd with two small loaves of bread and five tiddlers, then He can satisfy all of my needs, irrespective of my resources. Let me take hold of this, truly. I pray it will sink into my being and become fundamental to my understanding of God. All that I need, I will find in Him – in abundance.

Mighty God,

I thank You for this present miracle of discovery that all I need will be found in You. I’m slowly learning to look to You in all things. This is how I want to live. I acknowledge You as the source, as my only source. I thank You for each and every provision, for all that You have given and will yet give.                              Amen.

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I need You

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”                            John 5.30

Jesus affirms the absolute unity He experiences with the Father, and the wonderful partnership they enjoy together. His words, “I can do nothing on my own”, imply that everything He does, every single thing in the whole of His life, is done in the fullest cooperation with, and obedience to, the Father.

Now I know this. I know that He lived the whole of His life to the Father’s will. I know this, of course I do! But today I am moved to really take it into my being and to reflect upon it.

This seems to happen, more and more, as I read the Scriptures. What I have known for most of my life suddenly begs me to stop, ponder it afresh, and take its reality into my understanding and into my life.

I am awakening afresh to the fact that Jesus spent every single second of His life in tune with the Father. How glorious is this! And how inspiring!! Jesus said, “Come, follow me.” I take these words seriously. And I truly want to follow Him. I’m not yet aware of the Father in everything I do, in every single moment of my living. So I have something to aim for, something to live to, and something to pray about.

Gracious God,

I thrill at this reminder of how the Son lived in the fullest communion and harmony with You. I seek to follow His example. I open myself to Your holy leading. I express the desire of my heart to do nothing on my own, but to live every single moment of my life in company and in concert with You. I need You, and so I ask You to be with me. I seek You out, for all time and for each and every time. Hear my cry. Receive my plea, and answer my prayer, in Jesus’ name I ask.                   Amen. 

Father and son

“The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.”                   John 5.20

Jesus healed the sick man at the pool of Bethesda. But He had done so on a Sabbath, thereby incurring the wrath of the Jews. They started persecuting Him. In response, Jesus spoke of His intimate relationship with the Father. He and the Father are as one. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.

Whilst the law banned any activity that could possibly be seen, by the religious authorities that is, as work on the Sabbath, people still were born and people died on this day. This was God’s work. Similarly, as the Son is so one with the Father, the Son also is able to give life and healing on the Sabbath.

I note from this verse that the Father shows the Son all that He is doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son sees. Furthermore, the Son is enabled to do what the Father does.

I do not for a moment seek to present myself as equal to Jesus. No, indeed not! But I do take hold of my status, through Him, with the Father. Jesus has restored me to the relationship with the Father that I was created for. I have heard, in intimate moments, the Father tell me that He loves me just as He loves Jesus. This takes my breath away, yet there is no doubt in me that this is true.

I also have Jesus’ assurance from His own words: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14.12)

No, I am not Jesus, but He has placed me in a favoured position. By His own words I am ordained to do works like He did. As I follow Him, my desire is that the Father will show me all that He Himself is doing, and will lead me into all manner of works that give life, and give it abundantly.

Most Holy God,

I come humbly before You. I do not presume, but I take hold of the words of my Saviour and Lord that I would do the works that He does and, indeed, greater works.

I pray, and earnestly ask, that You would show me all that You are doing. May I see You in the lives of those I meet? May I understand where they are at and what Your will and wish is for them? And may I be led by You to act in their lives as Jesus would if He were physically present on earth today?

Lord Jesus, I have undertaken to follow You. I give my life to this. I claim Your word to me that I will do the works that You do. You have promised, and I claim the promise. I want to be Your hands and feet in the world today.

I seek a deeper, and deepening, intimacy with You, with Father, Son and Spirit. Dear Holy Trinity, draw me close, reveal to me some of the secrets and mysteries of heaven. May I see people as You see them, and may I minister to them as You would.

I ask these things with a believing heart for I know that nothing, truly nothing is impossible for You.                                  Amen.