Daily Devotions
This story always makes me laugh. Why in the world would Jesus walk past the boat? It sounds like Jesus is out for a casual stroll across the lake, and maybe He’ll just wave at the disciples as He passes them up on the way to the other side!
Compare that attitude with the poor disciples. They’re terrified! They’re having trouble with the boat, it’s three or four o’clock in the morning, and now they think they’re seeing a ghost. Of course they freak out.
Mark says, “They didn’t understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” I think He means they didn’t recognize who they were dealing with. The same God who took a few loaves of bread and fed thousands of people with them—well, He can certainly go for a stroll on the lake if He wants!
But they’d been living with Jesus for months by now. They’d seen Him eat; they’d seen Him sleep; they’d talked and prayed and lived entirely human lives with Him. And they forgot who He was.
But maybe there’s more to it than that—because the miracle of the bread was more than just a chance for God to show off. It shows us God’s heart. Jesus did it to help hungry people with a long walk home ahead of them.
So what about this miracle—this walking-on-water thing? What does that mean?
This time Jesus is making it clear that there is nowhere His people can go that He won’t find them. If we are in trouble, absolutely He will come to us—and it doesn’t matter if He has to walk on water to get to us. He knows our needs and our worries and our fears, and He comes to us every time—because He loves us.
What should we expect? After all, He came to us when we were in such deep trouble before—broken people under the power of death and evil. Of course He became our Savior! That’s the kind of God He is—one who even lays down His life to save His people, and then rise again. Why? So that we who trust Him will also live with Him forever. That’s Jesus for you.
WE PRAY: Lord, when I’m in trouble, come to me and help me! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever tried to walk on water?
2. Name another miracle Jesus did. What does that miracle tell you about His heart?
3. When have you been in trouble and Jesus came to you?