Don't leave Him behind

"Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself.

16-21 In the evening his disciples went down to the sea, got in the boat, and headed back across the water to Capernaum. It had grown quite dark and Jesus had not yet returned. A huge wind blew up, churning the sea. They were maybe three or four miles out when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, quite near the boat. They were scared senseless, but he reassured them, “It’s me. It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.” So they took him on board. In no time they reached land—the exact spot they were headed to." John 6: 15-21 (msg)

Sometimes when I read the same bible story I have read a million times, I naturally start to skim over it. It seems so familiar that its easy not to take the time to notice details. Or think about it in a different way. But I am thankful for the times that it comes alive. That the Word jumps off the page and allows me to think about it in a new way. 

I have always read the story above and focused on the fact that Jesus walked on the water. I mean, no doubt about it…it's the most significant part of the story. But what I have often skimmed over is how the disciples got to where they were. The bible tells us that Jesus had gone off up the mountain to be by himself. Jesus often did that…He knew the importance of spending time alone with God. And then it talks about how the disciples later that evening headed back down to the sea, got in the boat and headed off. But…weren't they going to wait for Jesus? 

Have you ever been shopping with your friends, and maybe you are in a shop looking at some things…and next thing you know, you look around and your friends have wandered off! Maybe they got distracted but a sale nearby. Or saw someone they knew. But it's funny how easy that feeling comes of being left behind. The disciples just left Jesus behind. The verse talks about that Jesus slipped off, so I don't get the impression that they all made plans about what time they would meet and if they weren't there, how Jesus would get his own lift back. No….the disciples just got in the boat and left. What was it that made them do that?

I wonder if they had seen that the darkness was coming. It was getting late. Maybe they could sense a storm was close. Maybe they panicked a little and decided to take things into their own hands and just head off on their own. Kind  of what we do too, right? When things start to get a little crazy in life. Maybe a storm is brewing, so it's easy for us to panic and rush to take control of things. Run ahead and start to make plans without waiting for Jesus. 

But I love what happens. Right in the middle of the storm, when they were terrified and had probably realised that were WAY out of their depths, Jesus turns up and reassures them. He tells them that He is there. And that they shouldn't be afraid. He steps right into their circumstances…right into the boat…and helps them continue on their journey. And where do they end up? The exact spot that there were heading. I wonder what would have happened if they had waited for Jesus, whether they would have ended up at the same place anyways, perhaps having missed the storm. But either way…we are always going to end up in storms. Storms that force us to look out for Jesus. That force us to listen for His voice. Force us to invite him into our boat. And He too will guide us exactly where He wants us to be. So don't be afraid. He's here.