Wednesday, March 2
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 & John 6:2-13

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

REIMAGINING REALITY

In the chaos of the storm, Jesus was asleep in the stern. Isn’t it too often that God feels distant when we seemingly need him the most? When the 5000 gathered, Jesus tested his disciples by wondering aloud how the multitude would be fed. How come life seems like a series of spiritual trials that have no apparent answers?

The disciples were skilled on the sea, but the furious squall left them in panic. Compare the peace of Christ with the frantic fear of the disciples, especially as depicted by De Chirico. But notice what happens after Jesus calmed the seas. We might expect the disciples to celebrate in gratitude, but instead, they were even more terrified. They could only mutter in bewilderment: Who is this?

When it was time to feed the multitude, two disciples answered Jesus’ test. Philip replied directly and logically: six months’ salary is not enough to satisfy each stomach. Andrew’s response came out of left field: here’s a boy with some food. And yet, Jesus chose the latter. Lanfranco portrays Jesus pointing to the breadbasket with a reassuring nod as if to say: I’ve got this. But notice again that after the miracle is when the disciples experience the fullness of Jesus’ power. Twelve baskets were filled with leftovers, one for each disciple to collect in astonishment.

Too many times in life, we expect the familiar. We prefer routine, self-packaged ways to approach God, life, and others. Our default worldview conditions us to live out what we see instead of what He sees. So when the storms and trials come, we pray for miracles as if God wants to keep our familiar lives intact. Instead, He invites us into a new reality – one where His strength is the norm and where our confidence in Him outpaces our faith of Him.

Take a few minutes today to prayerfully consider Chris Tomlin’s Our God. It might be all-too-familiar for some, but allow the lyrics to help you reimagine reality today. Allow it to guide your conversation with God as you notice the places in your life that lack confidence in this new reality. Allow the song to open your horizons to unforeseen instances of God’s power and greatness. Lean into the strength of God that is already at work in your life.

PRAYER
Among the gods there is none like you, LORD;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
    will come and worship before you, LORD;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
    you alone are God.
Teach me your way, LORD,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name. Amen.
(Psalm 86:8-11)

Mike Ahn, Director of Worship and Formation