LEARNING TO KNOW JESUS (PART 2)

Shelia Loevenguth
Associate Pastor

John 6:16-21

Throughout the Bible there are stories of God the Creator, about the coming Messiah and the Holy Spirit, our promised Comforter. How many times must we read or experience HIS WORD....till we believe?

As many as needed, until we know the character, love and faithfulness of God. For me, I'm still learning, still believing and receiving His love love each day.

God is an awesome friend who when you mess up does not kick you to the curb as some people would do. When I am bombarded with problems and get off track, there are three (3) things I try to remember from John 6:

Secondly, Be ready for the examination of your heart. (John 6:16-21)

Jesus then withdraws to a mountain alone, and the disciples get into a boat and set out for Capernaum. It’s now time for an examination of the hearts to see if the disciples understood the lesson of feeding those 5,000.

As the disciples were in the boat, strong winds start to blow and toss the vessel around, causing the waves to break over into the boat. I have had that happen to me and it is no fun. But back to our lesson, they are in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, about seven miles across and about 15 miles long, north to south. In the middle of this terrible storm, the disciples see someone coming toward them walking on the water. This happened about the fourth watch of the night according to Mark 6:48, between four and six in the morning. So you know they are exhausted from toiling over this storm. Then they see someone (Jesus) walking on the water, thinking Jesus is a ghost. Jesus says to them, “It is I; be not afraid. They took Jesus into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading”. It is amazing when you trust Jesus to enter the boat of your life, there is PEACE.
Jesus can calm the storm in you and/or calm the storm around you. Either one, He can do.