May 17 - On Water

Read: Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. (John 6:19 ESV)

Jesus' disciples saw and experienced things on a regular basis that were incredibly unique. They witnessed miracles, partook in the miraculous, and saw supernatural things happen frequently. So why were they frightened when he was walking on the water?

Think about the guys that followed Jesus. Many of them were fishermen. They were living in a time when travel by boat was extremely commonplace. They lived in a region near a large body of water. Not one of them had ever seen someone walk upon on the water before.

We see airplanes a lot. Sometimes we fly in them to get somewhere. They have become a large part of our logistical infrastructure. But, it would be almost unbelievable to personally see someone who was able to fly through the air under their own power. We are not mentally prepared for that.

In the same way Jesus' followers constantly struggled to come to terms with his frequent ability to bend, break, or supersede the normally static laws of nature. The supernatural can be alarming and jarring when you are so highly conditioned to ignore it as a possibility. Jesus lives, rules, and operates within both the natural and supernatural. He can and did work beyond physics and natural order because his authority is founded and collaborative with the same power and authority that wrought the incredible systematic truths of things like physics and biochemistry. Jesus' power would be terrifying if possessed by anyone other than the loving son of God.

May 16 - You Feed Them

Read: Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14

But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." (Luke 9:13 ESV)

Jesus was withdrawing to a secluded area to speak with his disciples following their return from being sent out to preach. But the crowds always learned where Jesus was, they always followed him, he always welcomed them, he always taught them, and he always healed them.

Jesus taught the people all day long. But the disciples were not as compassionate toward the crowds as Christ was. They wanted Jesus to send the people away. Jesus replied by commanding his followers to feed the crowds. Why did Jesus tell the apostles to feed the gathering? I think it was to force them to acknowledge their own inability, which they did.

When we position ourselves to acknowledge our inability, God will position us to be a conduit or agent for His immeasurable ability. When they recognized their weakness Jesus showed his power. When the apostles decided to obey is when the miraculous happened. Jesus satisfies those who realize their need for him. Jesus is always more than enough.

March 31 - Another Tomb

Read: Mark 6:21-29 & Matthew 14:1-12

When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:29 ESV)

Herod married his sister in law. That's pretty weird. But he did. And John the Baptizer called him out about it. Which promptly landed John in prison. It eventually cost him his life. Herod had John beheaded in the prison at the behest of his niece-turned-stepdaughter.

When John's disciples found out they collected the body (minus the head) and buried him in a tomb. John was the greatest man to ever live, but he was just a man. He would stay dead. He would stay in his tomb.

Jesus was understandably sad about the death of his cousin, friend, and colleage. Ultimately he would face a similar fate for his continued stance against the Pharisees and their damnable corruption. However, Jesus' tomb was only borrowed, and that for just a few days. Because as the sun came up that first Easter Sunday morning the Son of Man came out of the tomb.

It's rare in America for believers to face the threat of death for taking a hard stand for the truth. However, a day may come when we do. If whether, at home, or abroad we sometime find ourselves facing death for the truth of the Gospel, we may wind up in another tomb. But Jesus holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave. He holds the keys to our future and our foundation. We can rest well and easy in him.