10th September 2026

Following the incredible feeding of over 5000 souls with the meagre contents of a boy’s lunch (Matthew 14:13-21), we come to the second of Jesus’ miracles that the disciples witnessed that same day (Matthew 14:22-33).

The key event which, in Matthew’s account, links these two watershed miracles, and forms a powerful lesson, is the moment when as the ‘sea walking’ Saviour, having rescued the faltering Peter, climbs into the wave-battered boat stilling the storm that had threatened even the sea-seasoned lives of such hardy sailors; they fell down like the abating wind, and worshipped Jesus: ‘saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ’ (v.33). They had not done so earlier, even after Jesus had miraculously fed over 5000 souls.

Only now, on the calmed sea, is the lesson brought home: in Jesus is all power, and all resourcefulness. Later, Jesus would remind his disciples that despite how perilous life and life’s situations may appear, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”,  therefore, they, and also we, may rest assured that Jesus is with us always: “…to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18, 20). It is John and Mark who add the necessary details, by which the lesson can be fully absorbed and understood. When Jesus, earlier in the day, faced the tired, hungry multitude, he instructed his disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37). But Philip argued that to buy sufficient food for this to be possible would take half a  year’s wages which they clearly didn’t have (John 6:7). In short, Philip questioned whether they had any resources at all, in order to meet the needs of the moment.

Likewise, Peter’s brother, Andrew, upon learning that a boy had been discovered with a lunchbox containing five small loaves and two small fish, shrugged his shoulders at the meagre quantity, asking: “…how far will they go among so many?” (v.9). In short, Andrew questioned whether there were sufficient resources. However, what the disciples had not yet apprehended was the fact that, in Jesus, they had all resources and all sufficiency. It is only when Jesus, that same night, calmly climbed aboard the weather-beaten vessel, after walking more easily over the sea than their embattled boat could sail, that they were totally amazed, ‘for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened’ (Mark 6:52).

In each case, Jesus resolved a perilous scenario which appeared physically impossible. Have you ever found yourself in such a situation, or are you currently in a precarious situation, where it seems there is nothing physically that can be done?  Did you know that regardless of how things may appear or what may happen, Jesus is with you and continues to be with you, not only in the present distress, but ‘to the very end of the age’.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion Peterborough
Farcet Village Hall
Main Street
Farcet
Peterborough
PE7 3AN

Meeting time:
Sunday 11.00 am

Local congregational contact:
Richard Dempsey
Email:  richard.dempsey@btinternet.com
Local church website: GRACE COMMUNION CHURCH PETERBOROUGH – Landing Page

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church