Lessons from the Last Watch

Context of the Passage Jesus fed the 5,000 with a small amount of fish and loaves, a miracle of great magnitude. The disciples were then instructed to get into a boat and go to the other side. Jesus constrained them, meaning he told them very clearly to go. Jesus dismissed the multitudes and went to the mountain to pray. Later in the night, Jesus walked on the water towards the disciples. It was the fourth watch, the darkest period before dawn. The Last Watch The last watch is the three-hour period in the last 12 hours of darkness, just before sunrise. It’s often the coldest and darkest time. The people of God are under attack, and the enemy is trying to hinder them. It is important to learn from the faithful men in the Bible who followed God’s instructions. Lesson 1: Trouble is Universal Everyone faces trouble, fights, and unexpected hardships. The disciples were doing what the Lord had told them to do, yet they faced a contrary wind. If you are in the will of God and your heart is right with Him, you can have peace even when the winds are blowing. There is a wind for the sinner, the unrepentant, and the rebellious, which should lead them to repentance. The wind isn’t always chastening; sometimes it’s meant to grow you. Being right with God allows you to discern the purpose of the wind. When the wind blows, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in sin. It’s important to search yourself and ask if there’s something in your life that shouldn’t be there. The wind can strengthen other people of God, like how it stretches a tree’s bark, allowing it to grow. There is value in living in the will of God, especially when the wind starts blowing. Being right with God allows you to remove sin from the equation and focus on staying the course. Just because God tells you to do something doesn’t mean there won’t be a wind or contrary forces. Lesson 2: Keep Rowing The ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed by waves, with a contrary wind. God uses different things to bring people to a place where they trust Him and grow. The disciples were toiling and rowing, doing their best to get to the other side. Even when you can’t see the light of day and the wind feels like it’s pushing you backwards, keep going. Don’t give up rowing; keep doing what you know to do. It’s darkest before the sun begins to shine, but if you’re faithful to God, He will send the light. Even when it feels like you’re spinning your wheels and not making progress, stay right with God. Give it all you’ve got and don’t give up. The devil wants you to quit, but you need God in your wheel. The disciples were in the will of God, doing what Jesus told them to do. When the wind blows and you don’t know what to do, just keep rowing. They had started out right with the Lord and were still in obedience to Him in a troublesome spot. When it gets tough, don’t stop rowing; keep going. Even if you don’t know if your steps are in vain, keep putting one foot in front of the other and trust Him. God has never failed or abandoned those who trust in Him. Lesson 3: Jesus is Close In the last watch, when it seems like you’re hindered by everything, Jesus is close. Even though they couldn’t see Him, they got a glimpse of Him walking on the water. When they saw Him, they didn’t recognize Him and thought He was a spirit, crying out in fear. Jesus called out to them, saying, “Be not afraid; it is I.” In the last darkest hour, when you feel like quitting, that’s when Jesus is closest. Even when it doesn’t feel like He’s near, He has never left nor forsaken you. Whether the wind is blowing or not, Jesus is near. When they needed Him the most, that’s when He was the nearest. They had done all they could do and were still trying when they saw the spirit coming across the water. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; it is I.” Additional Insights Jesus isn’t bothered by the wind like we are. He wasn’t hindered by the fact that He didn’t have a boat. Nothing can hinder the Lord from getting to your boat, not the storm, waves, wind, or absence of another boat. He will always be there when you need Him. Jesus can hear you in the wind; it doesn’t distract Him or keep Him from hearing your whisper. He said, “Be of good cheer; it is I.” When you’ve done all you can do and your strength is gone, His voice will speak to you. He’s fixing to say, “Be of good cheer; I’m fixing to calm this for you.” Whether you go to Him or He comes to you, the result is the same: He gets in your boat, and everything gets well. Be glad to be saved and thank God for a shepherd who will never leave or forsake you.