Devotion

Jesus Walks on Water: When Fear Meets Faith

Based on Mark 6:45-52

After feeding the five thousand, Jesus immediately made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the lake. As evening came, Jesus dismissed the crowds and went up on the mountainside to pray. Meanwhile, the disciples found themselves struggling against the wind and waves, straining at the oars in the darkness.

In the fourth watch of the night—between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m.—Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him, they were terrified, thinking he was a ghost. Their fear was so great that they cried out in panic.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

What strikes me most about this passage is the contrast between human fear and divine presence. The disciples were experienced fishermen, yet they were overwhelmed by the storm. In their moment of greatest distress, Jesus appeared in an unexpected way—walking on the very waters that threatened to overwhelm them.

Notice how Jesus responded to their fear: not with rebuke, but with reassurance. "It is I" echoes the divine name "I AM" from Exodus. In their darkness, Jesus revealed himself as the one with authority over creation itself.

Yet the story doesn't end with immediate understanding. Mark tells us "they were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." Despite witnessing Jesus feed thousands with five loaves and two fish just hours before, they still couldn't grasp who he truly was.

This mirrors our own spiritual journey. How often do we witness God's power in one situation, yet fail to trust him in the next? Like the disciples, sometimes we can be slow to recognise Jesus in the midst of our storms.

When life's waters rise and winds howl against us, remember that Jesus walks above what threatens to sink us. The same power that commands the elements seeks to calm our hearts with his presence.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we face storms that seem overwhelming to us, help us to recognise your presence. Soften our hearts to understand your power and love more fully. Give us courage to trust that you are with us, even when everything around us seems chaotic. Amen.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal