45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
It felt like we could not catch a break. I was leading a crew of people through the seed corn fields of the Midwest and we had to get this done today. Detasseling seed corn needs to be done in a very short window of time or the pollen will ruin an entire field. It is hot, dirty, and occasionally frantic work. This corn was extraordinarily tall. We were late getting there, then we had an issue with one of the workers. But the real holdup was the fact that the company had brought the wrong machines for my people to ride while we removed the tassels. Because the corn was so tall, most of my workers could not really reach the top of the plant on foot. They needed the machine to ride upon to do this job. Seed corn is planted in a particular pattern of alternating varieties, but the pattern can vary. The company had brought the machines set for the wrong pattern. My crew was gamely trying to work through the field on foot, but it was obvious we would not get done. Every half-hour or so another grizzled and cap-wearing representative of the seed company would arrive, take stock of the situation, and announce that they had the right machines down by Trier, a town some miles away. We would all look at each other and say, “Yep.” Nothing would get done. 30 minutes later this would repeat.
Finally, he got there. The guy who could make a difference. I do not know what authority he had that the other fellows did not, but within moments, he had the right machines on the way and before quitting time, we got the field done. There was no more useless “yepping” on the end of the rows.
The disciples, having done what Jesus said last week and having distributed the five loaves and two fish to the multitudes, obey him again in this reading, setting out for a late-afternoon, cross-lake journey. But the wind is against them. The text says they are making headway painfully. I have rowed a boat before until I got a blister. I think I know a little of their pain. But Jesus is not initially heading into the boat with them. He is walking across the sea and seems intent on passing them by. Their fear draws him, and, as he steps over the gunwale, the wind ceases.
I have spent a great deal of my life doing things that do not seem productive. I have labored against heavy headwinds, feeling as if, for all my efforts, I am going backwards. But on more than one occasion, when I was about to give up and tend the blisters which were developing, He got in the boat, the wind stopped, and suddenly what seemed impossible was possible. Thanks to the Spirit, I understand about the loaves. The Jesus who feeds multitudes with a scant lunch is right here, right now. Trust Him