Belonging (S2) : WK 2 - MON
(John 6:16-21 NLT) That evening Jesus' disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. [17] But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. [18] Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. [19] They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, [20] but he called out to them, "Don't be afraid. I am here!" [21] Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
This week, we are going to spend some time looking at two passages from the gospels of John and Mark. Both of these passages tell the story of Jesus miraculously calming storms that seemed to stir up incredible amounts of fear for His disciples.
Today’s passage from John’s gospel stirs up memories and feelings from my childhood of times when I felt scared. They’re not what I would call good or fun feelings and memories. As I reflect on what is common among these experiences, I realize that they were instances when I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t recognize anyone around me as being someone or people I belonged to. For example, I can remember a time when I got separated from my family while we were shopping. While I could see many people around me, I couldn't see my family. I panicked and began to cry. I don’t remember the details of that moment, but I definitely remember the feeling of being terrified that I didn’t know anyone around me, and the people I belonged to were not in sight or near me as far as I could tell. After many tears and the fear of thinking I might not see my family again, I experienced great happiness and peace when I was back with the ones I belonged to.
As we begin another week of pondering our belonging to God through some of the miracles found in the Gospels, we will see, through both John and Mark’s accounts of Jesus calming the storms, that in Jesus performing these miracles for His disciples, He is reminding them that they belong to Him. That He loves them, cares deeply for them, and is concerned for their well-being. Miracles are one of the ways God, who is not limited by human or earthly limitations, reveals how much He loves us and how profoundly we belong to Him, as they are all miracles related to His presence with us, despite what we might experience in the moment as frightening or dire. This is when Jesus calls out to us and says, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”
This week, we are going to spend some time looking at two passages from the gospels of John and Mark. Both of these passages tell the story of Jesus miraculously calming storms that seemed to stir up incredible amounts of fear for His disciples.
Today’s passage from John’s gospel stirs up memories and feelings from my childhood of times when I felt scared. They’re not what I would call good or fun feelings and memories. As I reflect on what is common among these experiences, I realize that they were instances when I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t recognize anyone around me as being someone or people I belonged to. For example, I can remember a time when I got separated from my family while we were shopping. While I could see many people around me, I couldn't see my family. I panicked and began to cry. I don’t remember the details of that moment, but I definitely remember the feeling of being terrified that I didn’t know anyone around me, and the people I belonged to were not in sight or near me as far as I could tell. After many tears and the fear of thinking I might not see my family again, I experienced great happiness and peace when I was back with the ones I belonged to.
As we begin another week of pondering our belonging to God through some of the miracles found in the Gospels, we will see, through both John and Mark’s accounts of Jesus calming the storms, that in Jesus performing these miracles for His disciples, He is reminding them that they belong to Him. That He loves them, cares deeply for them, and is concerned for their well-being. Miracles are one of the ways God, who is not limited by human or earthly limitations, reveals how much He loves us and how profoundly we belong to Him, as they are all miracles related to His presence with us, despite what we might experience in the moment as frightening or dire. This is when Jesus calls out to us and says, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”
- When you think about times when you have felt scared or afraid, are they connected to a sense of feeling alone and/or maybe sensing the situation makes you question your sense of belonging?
- Take a moment to think about a time or two when you sensed God breaking through to remind you that you belong to Him.
- Take a minute right now to pause and listen to Jesus say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here.”
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