Scripture: John 6:19 (ESV) – “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.”
After hours of struggling in darkness, the disciples are physically exhausted and emotionally strained. Then, in the midst of their fear, they see something that unsettles them even more: Jesus, walking on the sea, drawing near. Instead of immediate comfort, they are terrified.
Your sermon powerfully highlights the emotional realism of this moment. Jesus came to them—but not in a way they expected or immediately understood. His approach didn’t soothe at first—it startled. Sometimes God’s help frightens us because it arrives in ways we didn’t ask for or imagine.
Martin Bucer notes that this event reveals Christ’s sovereignty over nature and the limits of human perception. “Fides discit non per visum iudicare, sed per verbum”—“Faith learns not to judge by sight, but by the Word.” The disciples see something extraordinary, and their fear reminds us that raw sight is not always clarity. True understanding comes when faith interprets what the eyes behold.
This verse comforts us in seasons where Jesus seems distant—and then approaches in ways that challenge our expectations. We might not recognize Him at first, but He is there. He comes not only to still the sea, but to transform our fear into faith.
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think the disciples were frightened when they saw Jesus coming?
- Have you ever experienced Jesus showing up in an unexpected or unsettling way? What did you learn?
- How can you grow in trusting Christ’s presence—even when He comes in unfamiliar form?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me not to fear when You come in ways I don’t expect. Teach me to trust that You are always near, even when I don’t recognize You at first. Strengthen my heart to believe not just in what I see, but in what You’ve promised. Amen.
This devotional is based on John 6:19, drawing from Pastor Chris Cousine’s sermon and supported by Martin Bucer’s reflections on faith in the face of fear.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 