Immediately the Boat Was at the Land

Then they were glad to take Him into the boat,

and immediately the boat was at the land

to which they were going. John 6:21

The account of Jesus walking on the water is found here in John 6 but also in Matthew 14 and Mark 6. Only John includes the content of this verse.

Two things that I find striking. First, the obvious nature of the statement "they were glad to take Him into the boat". Why wouldn't they be glad! He had come to them in their hour of great need. Their faith had been tested--but in obedience to His will they had endured the storm. And now, He comes to the ship--and they were thrilled to have Him!

Secondly, I'm struck by "immediately the boat was at the land". Was it a miracle? Did He set aside space and time and simply "translate" or "beam" the ship with the disciples in it to the otherside of the sea? He had just walked the 3-4 miles from the shore to where they were. Certainly, it was within His power to do so. But perhaps there is something richer here.

G. Campbell Morgan writes:

In our eagerness to retain all the miracles we need not be eager to read miracles into things that are not miracles. John the mystic, John the lover, John the man who talks mos tabout fellowship says, When He came on board we were there directly. Did not John go as far as the rest? "Straightway!" Every youth and maiden who is in love understands that. A longer journey may be covered in what seems but a few moments.

The storms are about us yet, and He is trying our faith by being absent from us, or so it seems. We are never far from Him nor He from us. He is coming over the waters and through the wind. Presently in the company of the King, we shall be home, and we shall hear His voice more clearly and see His face perfectly. O that God may help us to be so true to Him that He may be able to correct all our faltering and failing! May we be in His Kingdom, and He our King.