*Monday 11.12.12 *
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One of the miracles everyone seems to know about is the feeding of the 5000. It is late and this crowd has been with Jesus all day. The disciples want Jesus to send them away but He says … no let’s feed them. They go to the food pantry and the only thing left is a boy’s lunch of 5 pita’s and 2 sardines. Jesus starts handing out food to the disciples to distribute to the people and then gets a doggie bag to handle the 12 baskets of pieces of bread and fish that were leftovers. We are told there were 5000 men at the picnic. I am guessing there were a few wives and kids … so probably it was more like 10,000 satisfied bellies.
However, what I love is what happens next. Jesus tells the 12 to get in the boat and head to Bethsaida another town on the Sea of Galilee. So they get in the boat and head out while Jesus dismisses the crowd and heads up on a hill to pray. The sun sets and the boys are in the middle of the Lake and going nowhere fast. It is now the fourth watch … somewhere between 3:00 am and 6:00 am. They have been rowing for at least 9 hours and I imagine are having some interesting conversation.
Remember 4 of these 12 were fisherman on their own lake. Sailors have a reputation of having a salty vocabulary. The other 8 – not fishermen – might have been getting a little nervous as well as angry. Here is what I find interesting … these guys were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. They got in the boat and headed for Bethsaida. They have been straining against the oars trying to go into the wind and now it is almost morning of the next day and they are only halfway there. They are right in the middle of obedience … doing what Jesus told them to do and find themselves in the middle of a storm.
While they were still straining they look out on the water and see someone walking along on top of the whitecaps. They are not really thinking straight at this point and think he is a ghost. Now they are really scared and think they are all going to die. Suddenly, Jesus speaks up and says … “Relax guys it’s me.” He gets in the boat, sits down and tells the wind to stop. It becomes calm and the guys are “amazed”. I don’t know if it was the walking on the water or the stopping of the wind but everyone is astounded by Jesus.
Have you ever been there? You are doing what God has told you to do. You are straining to be obedient and yet there are storms battering your life instead of smooth sailing. Maybe it is health issues or relationship issues. Remember today that these things are true. Jesus is watching you and praying for you. Don’t cry out for the storm to stop … cry out for Jesus to show up and take you through it.
At the very end of the story it says that the disciples had not gained insight from the feeding of the 5000 because their hearts were hardened. Maybe something is hardening your heart. Maybe you need to spend more time thanking God for what He has done for you and that He has never let you out of His sight.
