Thursday after Misericordias Domini

Scripture: St. John 6:16-29 (NKJV)

6:16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Devotion

Everyone experiences the darkness of this world through various tensions and trials of life, all because of sin. Christ’s disciples experienced this while out on the water. Yet, Jesus comes to them and everything changes. immediately they were safe.

Some say of such a section of God’s Word (among other sections where Jesus has compassion and helps those in need), “Well, how nice of Jesus to go out and help His disciples who are in tumultuous times. It sure would be nice if He showed up in my life to calm things down and bring peace to me.” Compassion has a location. Rescue has a location. Peace has a location. Jesus is that location, and in this text He is beginning to use language about a food which remains unto eternal life that cannot be separated from the Bread from heaven, which Jesus will ultimately identify as Himself. Jesus is actually beginning to reveal how the giver of the food is also the very food that is given. Again, compassion, rescue, and peace have a location.

So, right in the very midst of the darkness of life—in the fray and tensions—how overjoyed we believers can be that God draws us to the proper location and object of faith, Jesus. He’s right where He promised He would be: in His Word and Sacraments.

Prayer: O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.