Seeing Jesus in our Suffering

Our year began in a way that made January even more prolonged and difficult. A snowy, icy storm hit us. Now, you may remember that I love the cold stuff. But, the struggle happened as I tried to clear out my driveway or even the sidewalks north of the church building. This involved a layer of nearly impenetrable ice. I grabbed one of my shovels with the boys and went to work. It was plastic. And it shattered in two when I tried moving it along the concrete. Then, I moved to my dependable Craftsman shovel. It was stainless steel and even had metal supports to strengthen it. But, the lip along the bottom soon suffered a similar fate, shredding off. My next shovel didn’t work any better. I even have a little ice chopper tool that couldn’t thoroughly complete the job. I needed better tools and strength to get through this (or warmer temps). 

I relay this opening illustration to help remind us that we need this kind of help when we are suffering. We need someone BIG who we can lean on. If I start to slip, I don’t grab a puny tree limb to hold me up. I need a big, sure, secure thing. As we’ve journeyed with the disciples in the boat to start this year, we’ve seen Jesus come through in that story. Whether the point was to show that He cares, to help them follow Him more clearly, or to hear His voice amid suffering, Jesus was the point. Who is this? Even winds and waves obey Him. And He is Jesus Christ our Lord. He’s the One we can bank on. He’s the One who Isaiah calls the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He’s the Rock we run to when we’re overwhelmed. He’s the longing of our hearts. He’s the firm foundation we’re building on, the Chief Cornerstone.

Today, we’re going to John’s Gospel to get another story of the disciples in the boat. This familiar story gives us insight into who Jesus is so that we, like the disciples, trust Him. John says as much in chapter 20: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.” So, John fully expects that the end of a story like today’s is to trust Jesus Christ, the Son of God, more, so that our life experience is all Him. Can you say that with Paul, that to live is Christ? Or is living more about you, the circumstances of your life turning out how you’d like, the conveniences flowing, the steady waters, the cul-de-sac living of non-events? Or are you living like Jesus, that you are with Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings and repeatedly seeing the power of His resurrecting work? Today, as Jesus comes near us and the disciples in the boat, I hope we can walk away marveling at Him.

This leads to one point: what is your relationship to Jesus? Do you trust Him? Have you turned from sin to Him? I’m not asking if you go to church, if you’re a pretty good person, or whether or not you’ve been baptized. Has Jesus captured you? And, by that, I mean that He’s so compelling to you that your life has been re-ordered around Him? We call this conversion: you’ve turned from your way of life (repentance) to trusting Jesus with your life (faith). This is how you enter into a relationship with Jesus. And, as Jesus shows Himself to us today, the time is now to go all in with Him.

And going all in with Him doesn’t mean that life will necessarily be rosy, yummy, and calm. There is a security that comes in Him that no matter what comes your way, you have a Savior who has been there and done that and can walk with you, sustaining you in life. “To live is Christ” means that whether things go well or not, Christ is enough. Today, that’s where we’re heading, to see how big Jesus is, especially when we’re suffering. Join me, then, as we see 2 ways Jesus presses His “bigness” into our suffering…

Read John 6:16-21 (This is God’s Word; thanks be to God)

2 ways Jesus presses His “bigness” into our suffering…

First, Jesus’s bigness presses into our suffering as I. Jesus bursts expectations of what we think we need. (16-19) 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.

I love this section of Scripture because it provides a memorable picture of Jesus's care for deep needs. As we’ve jumped into these sections, we try to understand what’s been going on. Notice the scene in this chapter. This has been a rough day for Jesus' disciples. After all, Jesus has fed 5000 men. They had picked up the pieces, literally. They had also figuratively picked up the pieces as Jesus withdrew from the crowd and were left to sort out the mess of His absence for the crowd. Here’s how one writer captured the scene of the preceding narrative with Jesus withdrawing: “The people realize that something astonishing has happened (v. 14)—who could not? They “saw the sign,” and they make the right conclusion, though in the wrong way. Accurately, they realize that “surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus is the Prophet that Moses had predicted would come, though he is far more than merely another prophet. They are half right in their understanding of Jesus. However, they are also wrong in how they perceive this prophet should act and what that will mean for them. Like crowds worldwide, once you get them moving, they tend to keep moving in the same direction; subtlety, nuance, discretion, and balance are not easy for a massive crowd to display. Jesus realizes that they have gone from viewing him as an all-in-one free healthcare solution to an aggressive military ruler about to throw out the Romans and reestablish the Davidic kingdom—from one extreme to another (v. 15). Seeing they are about to “come and make him king by force,” he withdraws again to the mountain. Further up, and further in, away from the madding crowd.” (Josh Moody)

So, when evening came, these disciples, having likely had many exhausting questions, went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. It was dark, and Jesus hadn't yet come to them. We're told the sea became rough – because a strong wind blew. Another interesting detail is found in v.19: they had rowed 3 or 4 miles. How could Jesus be so reckless? So, those who have probably defended Jesus and are standing by Him not only have to deal with a rough sea, but Jesus let them row 3 or 4 miles. What do they need at this moment? Something more than easy seas or less work? 

We’re sometimes lulled into thinking we need certain things in a certain way. Even if we’re thinking we need Jesus here, look at how this passage bursts those expectations: “Suddenly, “they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened” (v 19). John Moody puts it this way: “What is most amazing about this description is that now their fears were beginning to be rightly placed. They were not frightened of the strong winds; they were frightened of Jesus. We can imagine the scene as calmly, without haste or worry, with commensurate ease and careful solemnity, with the grace of manner and deliberate pace, those unhurrying feet walk steadily—in the midst of strong winds, miles out from the shore—on the water. It would scare you half out of your mind if you saw it.” 

Another writer put it this way: “This scene is terrifying. People don’t walk on water. Contrast the preceding less obvious (and so more easily credible) miracles: wine came out of the water invisibly, unobserved till the drinking (John 2A); Jesus’ temple clearing could be explained (2B); Samaritan conversions can happen (4A); the healing of the royal official’s son at a distance was uncanny but not absolutely incredible (4B); the healing of the man at the pool was remarkable (5A), we must admit, and the just now Feeding of the Five Thousand with only five loaves (though apparently the miracle was not noticed till over) seems even more uncanny—or impressively messianic. But walking on water? Unlike the preceding miracles, what deep good does this miracle do? (Allay fear? But from the text, it seems that the miracle itself caused the greatest fear.) What is the point?

“The point seems to be to teach the Church (since this event happens exclusively for disciples) that Jesus is Lord of all, including nature, and that he comes to his Church amidst her varied storms. What, then, is the perhaps intended meaning of this fixed connection between the Feeding and Walking stories in the tradition? Perhaps that Jesus is both socially sensitive (the social-justice concern in the Church) and divine Lord (the conservative-evangelical concern in the Church)? Is Jesus as earthy as hungry people and as heavenly as endangered disciples? 

I love this description so much. Jesus is all we need. In our suffering, our greatest need isn’t to be healed, released, or shown mercy, as impactful as those might be. We need Jesus. This chapter shows His coming near as fully human and fully God. He’s coming near and up to help us however we may need it. His arrival bursts all our expectations of what we think is best. 

Secondly and finally, this morning, Jesus’s bigness presses into our suffering as II. Jesus shows He’s God. (20-21) 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately, the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Jesus’s coming near has frightened them like we suggested it would have. But He speaks words of comfort: “It is I; don’t be afraid.” “It is I” could be translated as "I Am." So, "I Am. Don't be afraid." In other words, Jesus is assuring them that He's with them. Then, they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately, the boat was at the land to which they were going (another miracle). They had rowed a long time, were desperate, and Jesus had come near, showing them again who He is. Immediately, they're at their destination. Notice that Jesus was out for their good. He came near and was with them. This is contrasted with the crowds and their desire to make Him king, which caused Jesus to withdraw. Jesus has met the most desperate need of His followers by giving them Himself—by coming near them. 

Do you see the connection in v.21? Being glad to take Jesus into the boat triggered the next miracle when the boat was at its destination. In the 1000s, a theologian named Theophylact summarized this in this way: “When either men or devils try to terrify us, let us hear Christ saying, “It is I, be not afraid,” that is, I am ever near you, God unchangeable, immoveable; let not any false fears destroy your faith in Me. Observe, too, that our Lord did not come when the danger was beginning but when it was ending. He suffers us to remain in the midst of dangers and tribulations, that we may be proved thereby, and flee for help to Him Who is able to give us deliverance when we least expect it. When man’s understanding can no longer help him, then the Divine deliverance comes. If we are willing also to receive Christ into the ship, to live in our hearts, we shall find ourselves immediately in the place, where we wish to be, heaven.”

Bruce Milne connects seeing Jesus to an impact on the lives of these disciples: “So Christ’s presence brings renewed hope and power to his dispirited church, and, where needed, to individual lives. The last word does not lie with the world, no matter how threatening its manifestations. Jesus still comes walking upon the waves, and in a recovered experience of his presence, the church, for all its internal failings, may yet sweep upon its way, and at the last be carried by its triumphant Lord on to that ‘eternal shore’ for which we are destined.

In conclusion, today we’ve seen 2 ways Jesus presses His “bigness” into our suffering…

I. Jesus bursts expectations of what we think we need. (16-19)

II. Jesus shows He’s God. (20-21)

Is Jesus your desired haven? Think of these sinners and sufferers: your end goal is Him. And, if you have Him, you have enough. I don’t mean this as some “pie-in-the-sky, bye-and-bye” thing. Deep down, I really want you to know that to live is Christ. If you have Him, you have enough. He will sustain you. Today, maybe you need to turn from life without Him and trust Him for your life.

And, if you have a relationship with Him, I get how weary you may be. The rowing has been challenging, and you’re wondering what our Good Shepherd intends for you. Today, I want to encourage you with a few pictures as we close. First of all, Jesus comes near. I’ve said this before, but He’s not playing hide and seek with you. Draw near to Him, and we have His promise that He’ll draw near us. Ask Him to sustain you. As in a dry and thirsty land without water, long for Him. With confidence that Jesus will come near, lean into others wisely. Don’t feel like you must be Jesus in a moment and drop some spiritual mumbo-jumbo on people. Hear them. Pray for more of Jesus. Trust His bigness. Sufferers can trust His bigness, and those of us coming alongside others can trust it. I’m trying to word this differently because we churchify the reality of His greatness. We trust Him and His bigness not by being able to quote some Scripture or act like we’re ok when we’re falling apart. Lean into Him: He's big enough to support you. We don’t help others by losing our place, either. Be human. Say, “That stinks.” Remind those hurting of love and care. But don’t wrap it up in a bow. Jesus is big enough to do it. In all of our weaknesses, He is strong. Let’s allow His bigness to shine in our weaknesses. So, I guess you could say that the upshot of Jesus coming near sufferers is that we get to know Him and make Him known to others. Let’s be captivated by Him as we glorify and enjoy Him forever.