A Miracle and Hard Lessons

Today we focus on the understanding of Jesus as the essential source of sustaining a life grounded on Faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Allowing Him to transform our lives and lead us to Eternal Fulfillment and Life.

John 6:16–21 (ESV)

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.

Summary: Jesus walks on water to reach his disciples who are struggling in a boat amidst a storm, demonstrating His authority over nature and His presence during times of trouble.

THE MIRACLE:

Once again we see Jesus fulfilling His role as part of the Triune Godhead.

Jesus is feeding, protecting, rescuing, and leading His Disciples despite the chaos of natural events surrounding them.

Jesus has sent the Disciples to the far shore of the lake, in a boat.

How do we reconcile the notion of Jesus sending the disciples into potential danger with His promise of being present in our struggles?

What does this say about the nature of divine testing or preparation?

Most of the Disciples were fisherman by trade, so being on the water should not have bothered them.

What did bother them, as it does Sailors even today, Was the tempest of storm.

Because they knew that the danger of storms on the lake, that could come, seemingly out of no where.

Mariners have always been a superstitious group.

Anything not seen as normal was something to be afraid of.

Seeing an Aberration or ghost walking on the water was not anything near normal.

The Disciples reaction would have been typical for the time. They had already seen many wonderful things that Jesus had accomplished.

Controlling Nature itself, was going to be leveling up on a massive scale.

Walking on Water- Nobody does that.

Jesus identifies Himself by telling the Disciples, “It is I” In the original Greek, “ego eimi”

It is the same Self- identifier God used with Moses on Mt Sinai, “I AM who I AM”, tell the people, “I AM” sent you.”

The Disciples even mirror Moses’ reaction by being afraid at the sight of Jesus defying the Laws of Nature, while Moses hid his face for fear of looking at God.

Jesus reassures the Disciples, “It is I, do not be afraid.”

God identifies Himself through the Burning Bush, to Moses, “ I AM, the God of your forefathers...”

Jesus uses the same verbiage with the Samaritan Woman, “I who speak to you, am HE.”

Jesus, in every action that He takes, reaffirms His Divine Nature.

It is also key to remember that Jesus sent the Disciples out in the boat.

It makes perfect sense that if Jesus could walk on the water, He could certainly see and anticipate the storm coming in- Yet He sent the Disciples out into a dangerous situation.

It is imperative that we do not lose sight of the fact that Jesus, in our darkest moments, is aware of our situation and is standing right beside us to guide us through the storm- If we will only let Him.

Application: This passage serves as a reminder that when we face life's storms, Jesus is always there, ready to guide us and calm our fears.

Just like the disciples, we can feel overwhelmed by life’s storms. But remember, we're not alone in those moments.

The pivotal teaching here is the importance of Christ's presence in overcoming fear, reflecting His comfort and guidance amid chaos.

We can be encouraged to trust in His presence and power, even when circumstances seem overwhelming.

THE HARD LESSON:

John 6:22–34 (ESV)

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.

Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

The crowd that had witnessed and been a part of the miracle feeding the day before, now follows Jesus to the other side of the Lake.

The immediately question Jesus how He got to the other shore, as they had seen the Disciples leave in the boat without Him.

And this is where the rubber meets the road,

Jesus tells them they follow Him, not for the signs and miracles, but because they got their fill of the loaves and fishes.

What we need to keep in sharp focus here, is the sad fact that too many people, Christians included, Only call on Jesus, or truly seek Him, during times of extreme crisis or personal turmoil.

Let’s ask ourselves, what are we truly hungry for?

Is it fleeting, or is it the eternal nourishment that only faith and connection to Jesus can provide?

Building our faith in God during the good times, is just as important as relying on Him during the storms.

Consistent, steady growing in faith will prepare us for those times when life gets hard

A couple of side notes that help bring this moment into true perspective-

It is Passover, This example of Jesus feeding the crowd is a perfect segue to the teaching of Moses delivering “Manna from Heaven”

John 6.59.

Shows that Jesus said all these things while teaching in the Synagogue in Capernaum.

During the Passover.

The question the people ask of Jesus, “Where did you come from?”

Has a two-pronged answer to it.

By boat- And also from Heaven.

Since this was during Passover, the people would have been hearing of the Miracle “Manna from Heaven” in the OT Scriptures.

Judaism teaching of the time held that there were “Storehouses” in Heaven that had been opened by God to feed the Israelites in the Desert.

It was also understood, in non-Biblical literature that a sign of the Messiah would be a re-opening of these storehouse and a second out-pouring of Bread from Heaven would be seen.

Jesus attempts to get the crowds focus off the physical “Daily Bread”, to think beyond just the Loaves and fishes.

To get them to see beyond the gift and grab hold of the “Giver”

Jesus points to God as the giver of the Manna in the desert, NOT Moses.

There is also the Spiritual metaphor of God feeding us His Word (The Bread of Life)

The essence of Jesus’ teaching is that the true source of heavenly bread is God.

And if Jesus has been sent by God, then v-33 “ should not be a surprising conclusion.

“He who comes down from Heaven...” Is Jesus explaining that He Is the Bread of Life

The peoples response here is the same as the Samaritan Woman:

She asked Jesus to Give her water that she would never thirst again.

This crowd in Capernaum now ask Jesus, “Sir, from now on, give us this Living Bread”

Two of the most powerful symbols of God’s divine Authority, Wisdom and Blessing to the Jewish people- Bread and Water...

Are now attributed to, and distributed by, Jesus- Who was and is the Living Gift from God.

This section can be broken down into three parts

1- Presence in Power (John 6:16-21)

Jesus walking on water shows His Divine Authority over all circumstances

“Fear not, It is I” Should remind us, as it did the Disciples, that it is His Presence in our lives that calms the storms.

2- Spiritual Nourishment is better than Physical Sustenance (John 6:22-27)

We should examine our motives for seeking out Jesus.

Although we are not called to a life of poverty or starvation, it is vital that we keep our priorities in perspective.

Spiritual nourishment outweighs any physical gratification we might receive.

3- Participation by Faith (John 6:28-34)

Faith is the one essential that God requires of us.

That faith includes believing in Jesus as the Son of God, sent by God into the world for the Salvation of the world.

"Just as bread and water sustain our bodies, Jesus sustains our spirits and souls."

May we continue to seek after God, through Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Bread of Life.

Closing Prayer: End the session by thanking God for Jesus, the bread of life, and ask for His help in applying the lessons learned to your daily lives.