John 6:16-21

John 6:16-21 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This part of the story always fascinates me.  After the miraculous feeding, the crowds try to make Jesus king by force (can you imagine trying to force Jesus to do anything?), and he leaves to go up the mountain by himself.  Rather than follow him, the disciples get into their boats and start rowing to Capernaum.  Other Gospels tell us that Jesus compelled them to get into the boat.  Either way, they are rowing away from him, while he is up on the mountain.
  Raise your hand if you've ever felt that way -- that you're in the midst of turbulence but somehow still rowing away from God, while God feels distant, far removed from the chaos.
  As Alexander Maclaren puts it, “He is on the mountain while we are on the sea. The stable eternity of the Heavens holds Him; we are tossed on the restless mutability of time, over which we toil at His command.”
  This is the Gospel story -- we are in chaos and storms, and yet God leaves behind the security of the mountain to enter into our lives.  God isn't afraid to enter into our lives -- there is no storm too great that will prevent God from drawing near.  We are frightened, and God comes and identifies as the Savior, and in the midst of the storm we are glad to take someone stronger than ourselves into the boat.
  If you are in the midst of the storm, remember that Jesus is praying for you.  Isn't that remarkable -- the King and Savior of the world cares enough to pray for you.  Your trials are not forgotten, and they are not too small for God's attention.  Not only does God hear, but God comes to us, Emmanuel, God with Us, and brings us safely home.  I don't understand how the disciples boat reached the shore immediately, and I don't understand how Jesus will ferry me safely home, through the threats and danger and death, but I trust that Jesus will shield me from the worst the devil can throw at me, and bring me into the Kingdom of God where light and life shall dwell forever.