A dozen guys. A fishing boat. A lot of wind. Oars. More wind. Tired arms.

Jesus’ guys were heading across the lake after the long preach, after the big feast, after the “send on a mission.” They were trying to get to the other side, mostly because that’s what Jesus told them to do.

But they couldn’t get there. The wind was so strong that they made little progress. They were straining at the oars. They got three and a half miles and they rowed all night. It was a tough night.

It wasn’t a dangerous night, most likely, not like their storm nights. In fact, as my friend Bill pointed out, this wasn’t a storm. There was just a lot of wind.

It’s an interesting thought. To get to where they were told to go from here they were sent was going to be a safe but impossible trip. They would push as hard as they could but they wouldn’t be able to get to the end.

And Jesus knew. He knew when he sent them. He knew when he stood on the shore and watched them. He knew as he went walking on the water.  He knew that they wouldn’t get across without him.  He sent them to try anyway.

And then they watched him walk on the water. Then they watched Peter walk on the water. Then they, according to John anyway, suddenly found themselves at shore.

As disciples, I’m pretty sure that nothing has changed. There are days, there are years, when we know that we were told to go to the other side. And we can’t get there. And we are doing everything we can. And we are making no progress.

We’ve got to keep rowing. The command isn’t gone.

But watch for a wave-walkers.