When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Jesus came toward them “walking on the sea.” The image that comes out at me is popular. When we think of Jesus, we often associate him with the miracles that he performed; healing the sick, changing water into wine, casting out demons, walking on water, feeding the multitudes, and raising from the dead (just to name a few). He amazed many (and continues to amaze) people with the wonder and power of miracles that shows the power of the one true living and loving God.
From yesterday’s reading, Jesus catches up with the disciples. He comes to them across sea of Galilee, walking on the water. The wind was up and the sea was rough. The disciples were terrified. They didn’t expect Jesus to be coming toward them like that. Once Jesus got into the boat, the wind stopped. They were flabbergasted. The disciples were still trying to understand the miracle that they had just witnessed, the feeding of the 5000, and Jesus comes at them with another display of power over the elements.
After they came to Gennesaret, they were immediately noticed by people. They brought their sick to him to be cured. Jesus was recognized everywhere, and there was a crowd everywhere he went. Even people that touched the fringe of his cloak were healed.
It is hard not to concentrate on the awesome power God in this passage that is shown by Jesus. His presence and actions are godly and of godly proportions. To me, the call that is present in this reading is in the phrase that Jesus says to the disciples, “take heart, and don’t be afraid.” The power of God is a scary thing; the closer we get to experiencing it, the more afraid we can become. If we take our experiences of the living God to heart, and are not afraid, then we can let God get close and use us as vessels to spread the good news about Jesus to the world.
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