He sees you
Notes
Transcript
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
I want to set the scene for our passage this morning. If you remember from last week, Jesus and the disciples just crossed the Sea of Galilee. And why did they cross?
31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
Mark 6:33–34 (ESV)
33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Why did the people follow them?
2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
Why should they have been following Jesus? What is the point of a prophet? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 18
Deuteronomy 18:15–18 (ESV)
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’
17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken.
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Why did it withdraw to the mountain?
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
There is a profound truth in this verse. The people recognize that Jesus is the Prophet to come and they know that the Messiah will come and overthrow the enemies of Israel and restore the kingdom. The people were called to listen to the prophets for they spoke from God but here we see that the people are interrupting the next step for Jesus is to be crowned King and let’s overthrow Rome and restore Israel to it’s former glory. So what is the problem?
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
You shall listen. So when the people were convinced that Jesus was the prophet to come they are called to listen to Jesus not carry out their preconceived notions of what reality will be when the prophet comes. Do we still do this? Do you tell God that if He cared, He would fulfill your desires in a situation? Or do you come listening? Waiting on Him to lead. Waiting for Him to guide you? If we look back to last week what did we see from the disciples?
5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,
9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Jesus was testing them. At this point Jesus had already sent them out in groups of two.
12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
But despite the power God had already displayed in and through them, they were still focused on themselves and logic and how can they feed so many people? I believe the test was like that of Abraham sacrificing Isaac.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
What hope do we have from this passage?
“It becomes all true Christians to store up facts like these in their minds, and to remember them in time of need. We live in the midst of an evil world, and see few with us, and many against us. We carry within us a weak heart, too ready at any moment to turn aside from the right way. We have near us, at every moment, a busy devil, watching continually for our halting, and seeking to lead us into temptation. Where shall we turn for comfort? What shall keep faith alive, and preserve us from sinking in despair? There is only one answer. We must look to Jesus. We must call to mind how He can create food for people out of nothing, and supply the wants of those who follow Him, even in the wilderness. And as we think these thoughts, we must remember that this Jesus still lives, never changes, and is on our side.”
~J.C. Ryle
And I would add that while the disciples may have felt alone as they strained at the oars in the dark of night crossing the sea of Galilee, may I remind you of this truth.
48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,
Jesus always sees you. No matter how dark the trial is, no matter how strong the winds are blowing against you. He sees you!