RECAP John 6:14-15 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
These people began to see Jesus as the Prophet Moses spoke about. (1500years) He was. (they’re understanding of this prophet was all wrong) They want to make Jesus King by force to deliver them from the oppression from Rome. But Jesus came to deliver them from the penalty of sin and hell, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Jesus withdrew to a mountain by Himself to pray. Jesus wasn’t seduced by the crowd that wanted to make Him king. Jesus was more interested in being with His Father than in hearing the applause of the crowd.
To Jesus the prospect of an earthly kingdom was nothing more than a temptation of the devil, and He decisively rejected it. (Matthew 4)
Because Jesus was already King, a King who had come to open His Kingdom to mankind. But in their blindness these men try to force Jesus to be the kind of king they want; and not only do they fail to get the king they want; they also lose out on the Kingdom He offered. PIC
John 6:16-24 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (John give us the least details about this story. Why?)(NOT SUBJECT TO)
Mark 6:45-52 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Matthew 14:22-27 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus tells His disciples get into the boat and set off across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus sent His disciples into the storm. Even though it’s dark remember several of His disciples were fishermen, all accustomed to fishing on this very lake for years. So, the thought of rowing across the lake at night didn’t really concern them.
So, it’s dark, a strong wind was now blowing, the waters had become rough and the waves buffeted against the boat. They had rowed out 3-4 miles. The bible tells us: Mark 6:48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. (JESUS always has His eyes on you, no matter how dark you think it is.)
The disciples, caught in a storm, been rowing for hours and Jesus comes to them walking on the water. They are initially terrified by the sight of Jesus because what they see (from a human perspective) defies all logic and reason, they think He’s a ghost!!
Yet, Jesus, unmoved by the storm, walks towards them, with the storm under His feet, His voice cuts through the howling wind, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” They seen the Water into Wine-Noblemans-Invalid-5000
Mark 6:52 ..for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
So when we ask ourselves, why didn’t they recognize Jesus? The answer is simple (in the mist of the storm) they weren’t looking/expecting for Him. Had they been operating in faith; they would have known Him instantly.
Instead, (operating in fear, operating from a hardened heart). The point is this: fear and faith cannot operate in the same heart; fear actually blinds our spiritual eyes to the presence of the Lord.
In the midst of life’s storms, human nature tells us to feel fear. We see the waves crashing around us, the wind howling, and we wonder how we’ll ever make it through. But if we look to this story of Jesus walking on water, and understand it from a spiritual standpoint, we learn a different approach to handling these crises.
Because Jesus is trying to teach them (and us) that even in the midst of the storm, there was no need for fear.
Jesus didn’t just tell the disciples not to be afraid. He showed them why they didn’t need to be afraid.
He demonstrated His power, His authority over the storm, His ability to walk on water, to be unphased by the wind and the waves. This
This story is such a powerful reminder of the strength we have in Christ.
There’s another part of this story only recorded in Matthew:
Matthew 14:28-32 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Peter, for a moment experiences the calming presence of Christ. Despite the raging sea, howling wind Peter steps out of the boat, his eyes fixed on Jesus. He walks on the water, an impossible feat made possible by the power of Christ.
However, the moment Peter takes his eyes off Jesus, and looks at the storm around him he begins to sink.
Peter cries out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him.
This is a powerful reminder that our focus should always be on Jesus, but when we take our eyes off Him, that’s when we begin to falter and fall, that’s when we begin to sink, but His hand is always there to save us.
Hebrews 12:2 “..fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”
When we look at this portion of the story, we see a man who was willing to step out of the safety of the boat (step out of his comfort zone and into the storm).
Peter was willing at Jesus’ word, to defy the laws of nature and walk on water, to do something there’s no way he could accomplish on his own, because he trusted in Jesus. (When God calls and you agree stand fast in your faith)
After Jesus caught Peter, He said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” This was not a rebuke, but a teaching moment.
Jesus was teaching Peter, and us, that we need to trust in Him completely, without fear and without doubt.
Let’s remember that the storms in our lives are not meant to break us, but to bring us closer to our Savior. They’re not meant to drown us, but to cleanse us. They’re not meant to scare us, but to strengthen us.
And in the midst of it all, we have a Savior who walks with us, who calms our fears, who reaches out His hand to us and says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (intended outcome)
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