Meaningful Life
Date: June 9, 2025
John 6:16-24
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 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. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Meaningful Life – June 9, 2025
TEXT: John 6:16-24
Theme: There Is No Shipwreck With Jesus
Take-Away-Point: Jesus Takes Us to Our Destinations
As we meditate through our text this, we will see Jesus once again demonstrating his sovereign powers as God by taking control and authority over nature as he walks on water. As we must have noticed, there is no task too much for God to achieve. Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding over five thousand people and had retreated into a quiet place in the mountains to pray and commune with God. He had asked his disciples to go to the other side of the river across the lake for Capernaum.
In obedience to Jesus’ instructions, the disciples boarded a boat and set sail towards Capernaum. Unfortunately for the disciples, the weather suddenly became windy and rough, and the disciples labored for about three to four hours trying to steer the boat to their destination in the dark. Perhaps under normal weather conditions, this journey may only have lasted for about an hour or so, but due to the harsh weather conditions it was rough for sailing.
I believe as seasoned and experienced as the disciples were (most of them being fishermen), fear must have already set in wondering if this might just be the end of their lives and the fear of their small boat collapsing. Think about it for a moment.
This was the present danger those disciples were battling with when the unexpected happened. They saw what appeared like a ghost (our Savior Jesus Christ) walking on water towards them.
Would you not be terrified of seeing a ghost? I will not blame the disciples, this was in the thick of the night, in stormy weather and angry winds, visibility was poor and suddenly an image was walking on water towards you. Never in human history has anyone walked on water before then and after. But then Jesus' comforting words echoed in the air in the silence of the night “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
We can all find encouragement from this passage as we go through our daily activities this week in the following ways:
1. Jesus Watches Over Us: Through this passage, we can all confidently go through our daily activities this week with boldness and peace knowing that our Savior Jesus is always watching us. I want us to know that when we come up against life situations that appear overwhelming that our Lord Jesus is looking out for us. He never takes his eyes off us for a moment. That is why David wrote in Psalm 121:4-7: “4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” (KJV).
The prophet Isaiah re-echoed this promise of Jesus watching over us when the Lord made him write in Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (NIV).
2. Jesus Calms Our Fears (vs. 20): When fear overtook Jesus' disciples, his presence and spoken words calmed and soothed their fraying nerves. Our text stated that “But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Is anyone living in any form of fear today, are you afraid of the situation at home, your workplace, your marriage, or the safety of your children?
I have good news for you this morning, Jesus is telling you right now “don’t be afraid” I am in control of your life, I am in control of that delicate situation “don’t be afraid.” When Jesus gets involved in any situation, there is always calmness.
God’s words in Psalm 23:4 and 2 Thessalonians 3:3 should encourage this week to live your life free of all forms of fear:
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
3. Jesus Takes Us to Our Destinations (vs 21): There is no shipwreck, or failed journey when Jesus comes and takes charge of our journey. Verse 21 of our text reads “21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” This verse contains two important facts we must not overlook in our walk with Jesus:
- Our willingness to welcome Jesus into our journey: “Then they were willing to take him into the boat.” (21a). This is the foundation for a smooth sail in the journey of life. When we reject Jesus, or fail to welcome him into our lives, that is a complete recipe for a failed destiny. We can never reach our goal of spending eternity with God.
- The disciples were able to overcome the stormy weather and got to their destination when Jesus came on board their boat “and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.”
Our final destination in life is to spend eternity with the Savior Jesus and the only way not to be left out is to have a personal relationship with Jesus. We need to make Jesus the manager of our lives (see John 14:6).
I wish you a meaningful week, as you ponder and live your life with Jesus on board your boat.
David Kachi Jite