When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. Matthew 14:23-24
Jesus fed 5,000 people, multiplying five loaves and two fish in His hands. And when the crowd saw what He could do, they wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king (John 6:15).
Some of the disciples probably liked this idea, so to keep them from this temptation, Jesus “immediately… made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds” (Matt. 14:22). Then Jesus went up on the mountain—alone—to pray (14:23).
Most likely, the disciples did not expect a storm. Notice, Jesus made them get into the boat. They did not want to go, but they went in obedience to Him.
The Gospels contain two stories about storms. In the first, Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. He had fallen asleep, and the disciples had to wake Him: “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” (Matt. 8:25). Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, saying, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). When Jesus spoke, the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
The second story is different, because Jesus was not in the boat with the disciples. In the first story, Jesus is near to the disciples; but in the second, Jesus is far away.
Jesus promised that He is with us always (Matt. 28:20). He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). But sometimes Jesus feels far away. Every believer knows what this is like. Faith is tested when you are surrounded by a storm and you feel the absence of Jesus.
Does Jesus feel far away from you right now?
Written by Colin Smith
Read by Sue McLeish
www.openthebible.org.uk