The Lord calms the storm

5 April 2020

St John 6:16-21 – The Lord calms the storm

This week, we will study the 5th sign. In the previous weeks, we have covered the following signs which prove the Lordship of our Lord Jesus:

1)      The turning of water into wine (John 2:1)

2)      The healing of the nobleman’s son (John 4:50)

3)      The healing of the paralysed man (John 5:8)

4)      The feeding of the 5000 (John 6:11)

In the later chapters of John’s gospel, the apostle noted the remaining two signs, making up a total of seven:

1)      The healing of the man who was blind at birth (John 9: 1 – 7)

2)      The raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1)

The 5th sign further illustrates the divinity of the Lord Jesus who defied the law of gravity when he walked on the waters of the raging sea. This sign bears significant meanings to people from all walks of life. Scientists would be in awe by the Lord’s ability to defy gravity. Sailors should likewise be astonished by the ability of the ship to reach its destination immediately. Even today, Tesla with all their robotic technologies cannot achieve this feat.

As for Christians, we are indebted to His words “It is I; be not afraid” (John 6:20). On a lighter note, I would say Christians today are more advance than scientists and engineers at Tesla. Christians are not preoccupied with how the Lord can walk on water but are more concerned about how they can benefit from the Lord’s words, “Be not afraid”.  

We are afraid today.

Covid-19 is indeed a horrifying pandemic. I’m seldom afraid of such alarming events but I too am starting to feel uneasy. I have begun to wonder if my family is at risk of getting infected, or if there will be a rampant rise in robberies when people run out of jobs and how this pandemic might have a devastating implication on the overall economy.

In verse 17, the Holy Spirit mentions that ‘…it was now dark’ which denotes the imagery of fear. Why is darkness so frightening? Indeed, it has a captivating fear because the dangers lurking around us are out of sight. The coronavirus is akin to darkness as it is invisible to the naked eye and fighting an unseen enemy causes much panic and uncertainty. If we can see it naturally, we’ll know what to do. As we cannot see the invisible enemy, we are reminded to wash our hands as often as possible. However, the occasion when the virus is present could be just once or none at all. I am not advocating that Christians should not take the necessary precautions during this pandemic but to remind ourselves that in addition to these measures, we need the Lord to be with us. 

The causes for this deep-seated fear are darkness and the other is the absence of a deliverer. Using the virus as an example, a lot of people use the mask as a form of a ‘deliverer’ from viruses. Humanly, that is a good practice as any type of “deliverer” is better than none.  In the case of the disciples in the ship, adding to the darkness, they do not have the Lord with them as mentioned in verse 17. It is therefore no wonder that with the woe of a great wind, the disciples were afraid when the Lord Jesus appeared walking on the water. Someone may ask why the disciples were afraid when they saw the Lord.  The answer is quite clear—a stormy night. With darkness, they cannot see clearly at all. Anyone who has been out to sea during such extreme weather conditions would understand. I believe they can only dimly see the shape of a man walking on water and it is of no surprise that the disciples were afraid. 

Amidst the anxieties, we have our Lord drawing near towards the disciples, reassuring them by saying, “It is I. Be not afraid”. When the disciples brought the Lord on board, the power of the storm was immediately nullified as the ship reached its destination immediately. This is a great proof of the great blessings that await all Christians who have the Deliverer with them. There is no more fear whether the enemies are seen or unseen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Do not be clouded by fear of seen or unseen enemies as the God we serve — the Lord Jesus Christ — is the divine Creator of Heaven and Earth (Colossians 1:16). He has sent the Holy Spirit to be sealed within the believers (Eph 1:13; 1 Cor 3:16). Just as how all fears and worries of the disciples were removed when they received Him into the ship,  and how they were able to reach their destination immediately, let us be reminded to put our trust in the almighty God.

Before I end my message, I would like to draw your attention to the word ‘willingly’ in verse 21. This is an essential component of our faith. The word means acting on one’s free will. The act of ‘giving’ must be done willingly as exemplified by Barnabas. The reception of salvation must be accepted willingly when we confess our sins with our heart. Similarly, we should exercise willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us. If we are unwilling to submit to the Holy Spirit, God’s spirit cannot work in our lives and would eventually be quenched (1 Thes 5:19). 

Willingness is within your heart. I hope we can all serve Him with your own volition. 

With God’s blessings,

CL