Don’t Doubt the Presence of the Lord

Read

John 6:16–21 (ESV)

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 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. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Opening Prayer

The Sea of Galilee

Also, known as the Sea of Chinnereth in some OT books…

The Sea or Lake of Gennesaret from Luke’s gospel…

Or the Sea of Tiberias, which is what John explains in the beginning of John 6. The Jordan river flows into the Sea of Galilee on the North end of the Sea of Galilee…

And, out of the South end of the Sea and then the Jordan river flows south until it arrives at the Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee is 15 miles long from N to S…

And, 6 miles wide from E to W.

The Sea of Galilee is 600ft below sea level.

So, it sits 600 feet below the Mediterranean Sea to its West.

Surrounding the Sea of Galilee are mountains.

One mountain is Mt. Tabor, a volcanic mountain that peeks at the height of 2000 feet.

Also seen from the lake is the Golan Heights and Mount Arbel which peaks at 600 feet tall.

The two, Golan Heights and Mt. Arbel, are responsible for creating the heavy winds that can blow over the lake.

Because of steep cliffs and mountain sides around the Sea…

Winds can whip down from one side and ricochet of a cliff and bounce back and produce massive winds.

These winds produce ferocious storms.

Not to mention the winds that can come sweeping down the rift of the Jordan from the N & S.

Heavy winds swirling around, raising the waves to heights of 10ft and more.

This area was prophesied by Isaiah, that the Savior would come to this region.

And, as you read through the Gospels, you see that many aspects of Jesus’ ministry took place in this region around the Sea of Galilee.

Many signs were done by Jesus around the Sea of Galilee.

Mark & Matthew Tell Us

Right after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus commanded the disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee…

Meanwhile, Jesus dismisses the crowd and he departs up on the mountain to pray.

While Jesus is praying up on the mountain, the disciples are in the boat going to the other side.

Back to where they came from.

I want to point out something in Mark’s gospel…

That differs from John’s.

The Differing Locations

John tells us that the disciples got into a boat and started across the sea to Capernaum.

Mark tells us that the disciples got into the boat and before Jesus to the other side to Bethsaida.

Bethsaida being on the NE side of the Northern point of the Sea.

Capernaum being on the NW side of the Sea…

Both being approximately 3 miles apart by boat.

Well, was it Bethsaida or was it Capernaum?

Well, in Mark and Matthew, they both tell us…

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before Him.

The verb used for made is a verb that gives force.

This gives the picture of the disciples not wanting to leave Jesus.

Not wanting to go to the other side without Him.

I mean, there was always the fear of bandits when you traveled.

Most traveled in groups to avoid being robbed. (safety in numbers)

They could have been concerned about the exposure of being outside if the storm was brewing and was visible.

If Jesus made the trip by foot from where they were…

Southeast of Bethsaida all the way to Capernaum.

It could have easily taken him 4 or more hours to walk it.

Keep in mind, that darkness is coming, which would be even more precarious of a walk by one self.

But, Jesus, forced them to go ahead of Him.

Now, if Jesus walked on foot he would have had to cross the Jordan on the Northern point of the Sea to get to Bethsaida.

So, the disciples being distressed about leaving Jesus alone…

It is very likely that Jesus with great compassion for their concern for Him…

Agreed that they could sail along the shore to the Jordan river on the Northern point of the Sea...

And pick him up there so they can have less concern…

And, Jesus can be with them again sooner.

So, Mark tells us about the mid-point of the trip.

John just tells us about the end-point of the trip.

You can tell someone where you ended up on a trip without telling them every location that you stopped on the trip…

And, you can tell someone about a stop on the trip without telling them the end goal of the trip.

Either way, the details shared are still true.

Now, let’s look get back to Jesus sending them on their way before Him.

John 6:16–17 (ESV)

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.

Mark 6:45 (ESV)

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him…

Let’s think about this truth…

Man plans His steps but God directs them.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

The disciples were planning their trip.

They were heading in a direction…

And, God let them get so far, but He had bigger plans.

The disciples were concerned about helping Jesus.

They needed to be concerned about the help He can give them.

All the miracles that Jesus has given the disciples…

Right before their very eyes.

Jesus doesn’t need their protection.

They need His.

So they take off in the boat.

Jesus is praying on the mountain.

The disciples feel alone.

But, Jesus is looking out on the Sea and watching their every move.

Mark tells us that…

Evening came

Darkness had fallen

The wind was ferocious

The waves frightening

The disciples fearing

No matter how hard they paddled they weren’t getting where they wanted to go…

And they were being taken off course and being slowed by the wind and waves.

They’d been taken from the shoreline to the deeps of the Sea of Galilee.

They were way off course.

The disciples plans had been altered.

But, God’s plan had not.

Mark says…

Mark 6:48 (ESV)

48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.

This reminds me of when Jesus told Peter…

Satan has asked to sift you like wheat Peter, but I’ve prayed for you that your faith may not fail.

They may have felt alone.

They may have felt afraid.

They may have felt like the Lord was not aware.

But, His eyes were fixed upon them during their distressing circumstances.

And, He was interceding on their behalf.

John says…

John 6:19 (ESV)

19 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.

Imagine the Scene on the Lake

Their boat would have been pointing west…

They would have been facing East rowing with their backs to the wind.

While they were facing East the direction that they left Jesus…

They see this human-like figure approaching them with a pace that was unaffected by the gale winds that were holding them back from making much if any progress at all.

Knowing how far out they were in the Sea…

And wondering what they are seeing and how is what they see catching up with them.

Matthew and Mark tell us the disciples thought it must be a ghost…

And they even cried out and they were terrified.

And Matthew, Mark and John combined tell us…

Upon their expression of terror and fear…

Jesus immediately calmed their fears by speaking to them His words of comfort…

Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.

Now, upon the Word of the Lord upon their ears…

They knew it was Him.

And, we’re told by John…

John 6:21 (ESV)

21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat

Immediately, dear Christian, when the friendly presence of the Lord enters the scene…

—> Fear and terror are exchanged for gladness.

Matthew and Mark include…

As soon as Jesus got into the boat the wind ceased.

And, the boat immediately arrived at their destination.

Oh, the gracious comfort of our Lord.

Seeing from His mountainside prayer the distress of His disciples.

Seeing their plodding to make their way.

Seeing fear fill their hearts.

Jesus swept in to:

comfort them

still their hearts

guide them in the way of the Lord

Let’s think about this…

Jesus didn’t need to come to them to accomplish the storm ceasing.

Jesus didn’t need to come to them for the boat to immediately land on the shore.

He could have easily accomplished that from the mountain He was praying on.

But, He knew the disciples needed to know He could do it…

And, they needed the felt presence of God.

But, dear friends, whether Jesus is physically present or not He is present nonetheless.

He will never leave us nor forsake us.

And, I believe it is a show of God’s abundant graciousness…

And an expression of His infinite love for us…

That not only is He always present with us in Spirit…

But, at times, He allows us to feel and experience His presence in extra doses.

And, when He does the terror that we feel flees…

Like the wind and waves of the Sea of Galilee.

Now, let me close by asking and answering a question.

Are the Disciples Perfectly, Unshakably Convinced of Christ’s Personhood?

The answer is a resounding, “No.”

The disciples keep needing to be reminded of the personhood of Christ.

They keep needing to be reminded that He is God incarnate.

He shows them over and over who He is.

And, they receive that truth with joy and it encourages them.

But, what we see in the disciples is what we see in our self is it not.

As Christians, we have moments and times where we utterly forget about the personhood of Christ.

And, I know this because the Bible teaches it.

And, in addition, we experience it all too often, as well.

Doubt, too often, creeps into our minds, does it not?

Does God really know what is best for me?

Can God really deliver to me what is best for me?

Can God’s grace really carry me through this difficulty?

Can God really keep me safe in this situation?

Will God fill my heart with gladness?

And, then too often our behavior expresses itself as if the answer to those questions were, “No.”

Listen, dear friends, this is why the gospel is good news.

Your justification before God is not based on the amount or the quality of your faith.

Your justification before God is based on the object of your faith.

And, the object of your faith is not your faith.

The object of your faith is Jesus Christ.

His work, His personhood.

And, though our faith fluctuates, and wanes…

It never fails because Christ keeps us.

He is always interceding on our behalf.

Just like He was watching over and praying for the disciples as they floundered around in the boat on the Sea.

He intercedes on behalf of all His sheep.

And, He is the good Shepherd who does not lose one single, little lamb.

The Gospel Teaches Us Explicitly

That our justification is Christ.

We receive Christ by faith.

And, this is important to differentiate.

We need to understand what the Bible teaches about the difference between:

the Instrumental Cause of our Justification

the Meritorious Cause of our Justification

The instrumental cause is faith created by our new heart given to us in regeneration.

This is a one-sided transaction from God to us.

The new birth, a gift of the New Covenant.

It is empty hands receiving a gift.

The empty hands are not the gift.

The empty hands add no value to the gift.

The empty hands have no reason to be granted the gift, all by grace.

The meritorious cause of our justification is not faith.

The meritorious cause of our justification is Christ.

Christ alone is our Justification.

And, justification is found in Christ alone.

Yes, in this life our faith flounders.

We plan our steps and God has to redirect them.

We find our selves in raging seas.

We feel our hearts tighten with anxiety.

We open the flood gates of doubts of God’s goodness…

And, we doubt His presence.

But, oh dear friend, we have a Savior that is watching it all.

Praying for us all.

And, He sweeps in to rescue us from failure.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Closing Prayer (Lord’s Supper)