daily java

Daily Java:

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! (John 6:10-21)

It is so easy to forget great things when they are in the past. And it doesn’t even have to be that far in the past, either.

Jesus just got through feeding 5,000 men and their wives and families a few loaves of bread and a few dried fish. They were there, they were hungry and Jesus wanted to make a point to his disciples. The point he wanted to make was that he could take care of them.

He kept breaking the laves and fish into pieces until there was enough to go around for everyone.

Then he had them gather up the left-overs. There were twelve baskets filled with fish and bread.

His point? There were twelve of them and twelve baskets, one for each. He could feed a multitude of people and still have enough left over for his apostles. In other words, they didn’t have to worry about dinner as long as they were following him.

Jesus was trying to tell them that he was not going to desert them and let them starve. They had not backed the wrong horse. He was real and he would provide for those who made it their life work to teach about him.

But that evening, when they went across the water to go to the other side where Jesus was staying, there was a storm. They were afraid. We are going to die and Jesus would be mad and God would have to start all over with new apostles. It will set the kingdom of God back considerably.

Then to top it off, here comes Jesus walking on the water and it scared them further. His response? Don’t be afraid. I am here!

It was not that the apostles were stupid. It is easy to look at these miracles and the underlying lessons and understand them when you have 2000 years of theological filter.

They didn’t have this extra knowledge. This was the first time this had ever happened to anyone and they were afraid.

Jesus had just told them he would provide for them and now he had to tell them again. Not only would he feed them, he would keep them safe. Later trouble would start and one of these men would find himself dead in just a short time after the church was started.

But for now, they were fine. Things were as God wanted them and God was in control.

There is no reason to be afraid. Paul said, in 2 Timothy 1 that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but power. He wants us to know that even if we die, God is still in control.

Easy to preach, hard to put into practice, but it is absolutely true.