Jesus Went To Them

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (John 6:15-21)

When you don’t know what to do next, just do the next thing. Jesus, when He’s ready, will show up in the way you (probably) least expect, but in the way you most need Him.

Think about it. After Jesus fed the 5,000 (more like 10-12,000), the crowd wanted to make Him King. John tells us He withdrew by Himself to a mountain. It wasn’t time for Him to be King. His disciples probably were wondering what in the world?

You can imagine the questions:

• “Should we wait for Him?”
• “Did He say when He would be back?”
• “Does anyone know where He went?”
• “Why did He go away? He had His chance!”
• “Did anyone hear what the plan was after this?”
• “Does anyone have any of their bread left?”

We can’t be sure about the conversation. But we do know they didn’t just sit and stay. They got in a boat and went. They weren’t sure where Jesus was. They weren’t sure what was next. But they did the next thing. What’s fascinating is that Jesus didn’t go back to where they left and wait for them to come back. He went to them. That’s right. Jesus, in the most unexpected way, went to where they were. He met them in a storm (literally).

The disciples were scared before He came. The disciples were scared when He appeared. But the disciples quickly realized who He was and that He was precisely what they needed.

Again, think about it. So often, we aren’t sure what to do next. We wonder where Jesus is and what He’s doing. We can either sit and pout about it, or get up and do the next thing. When we least expect it is (usually) when He shows up. He usually comes in the midst of a storm. He usually comes in the midst of fear or frustration. He usually meets us – in the most bizarre, yet beautiful way – at the height of our need. No one – NO ONE – would have imagined Jesus showing up, in the middle of a lake, walking on water.

But Jesus did.

I am not sure what’s going on in your world today, but if you’re wondering what to do next, just do the next thing. Don’t fret. Don’t panic. Don’t overthink it. You might be heading to the middle of a lake, where there will be a storm, and perhaps the appearance of a ghost. Look closer. Listen for His voice. Jesus is coming after you. And when you let Him in, you find He (not a place) is your destination.