The stories covered today were some of the 'major miracles' that Jesus performed. The feeding of the 5,000 (really 5,000 men, plus women and children) from the five loaves and two fish and Jesus walking on the water. Even though He didn't always spell it out, the underlying theme is again 'faith'.
Matthew's account is the one that tells us about Peter walking on the water with Jesus. Instead of just the 'faith' part, I've put in more verses for context:
Matthew 14:24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Besides faith, the thing that struck me with today's reading is the fact that God is not limited by physical limitations. And not only is God not limited, I guess we aren't as well. How else could Peter have walked on the water? But he was only able to overcome by the direct word of Jesus.
One of the accounts of Jesus walking on the water says that as soon as Jesus got in the boat, they immediately arrived at their destination. He was not bound by the physical properties of 'walking on the water' and he was not bound by 'time travel' laws. He also defied physical laws by stretching the loaves and the fish to feed thousands. As I think of our lives and the stresses that I feel coming because of the economy, He is not bound by them. He wants us to trust Him. That reminds me of when one of his disciples needed money to pay the tax and Jesus told him to catch a fish, and in the fish's mouth was a gold coin. God is able to provide in ways we cannot even imagine if we will just trust in Him.
And now to John, and Jesus' teaching right after the miracles of the food and walking on water:
John 6:26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
What is the only work God wants us to do? Believe! Faith!
30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
When I read that, I thought of Jesus' patience. Instead of saying "What do you mean, "Show us a sign. I've just shown you two!" and then leaving them, He continues to speak to them about who He is.
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
What security is in those verses! God's will is that not one of us who is a Christian shall be 'lost', but that we will have eternal life and be raised up with Him at the last day.
And then some more words of Jesus, again telling us of the importance of our relationship with Him.
57 I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me.
63 It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Faith is a daily struggle. I fight to remember every day that God is supreme. Satan doesn't want me to have faith, for when I have it, he loses power over me. That is why faith and the bible are so hard to live by.
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