John 6:15-21

Background for entire book. This how does your passage fit?

John 20:30–31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

This is the purpose statement of the entire book. Every sign and conversation John records is meant to help you see the truth of who Jesus is so that you will believe and be saved.

John is writing after the other Gospels has been written so He is free to include or exclude any detail that he know his audience has access to.

What doe you take Jesus to be. He is more than someone who can do amazing thing, He is the son of God, who came to seek and to save the lost and all of us qualify for that kind os saving and need that kind of saving.

Observations, Questions and Word & Phrase Study

The Over All Text

The disciples fear is turn into faith .

This walking on the water happens right after the feeding of the 5000 and before the bread of life discourse.

Jesus sends His disciples into the storm so it’s not just about JEsus claim the storm but a focus on the one who made the storm. THis is a narrative about Jesus. He is the center figure. The Jesus who controls it all.

Jesus is good enough to let His disciples to go through anything that will cause them to know Him better and love Him more.

Jesus know that His declaration of being King doesn’t come from a mountain top where He feeds His people. It comes from a cross where people feast on his sacrifices.

Not because he gave people bread and fish, but because he gave them his body and blood. This is not the right time for him to be declared king so Jesus leaves when they try to come and make him King.

Application: You need to commune with the Father more than Jesus did. He knew His purpose in life and exactly what the Father wanted from Him in a situations and still he needed to be with His father.

Track down a map for your PowerPoint to show where the feeding of the 5000 were, the disciples rowed from and where Jesus would have been praying.

Jesus is not trying to impress His disciples. He is displaying His absolute power over creation. In the OT, God alone rules over the seas Hebrews 1:3; 10 (Ps. 29:10–11; 89:9; 107:28–30). [Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2034.]

John 1:3 “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Paste Text here and break it down

The Claim Before the Storm - Scene 1

John 6:15–21 “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.

Make him king - the people recognize the uniqueness of Jesus. They even assumed He was the sent prophet mentioned in the OT by Moses. They just has a policital view of Jesus. He didn't come to be a conquering king yet, first He needed to be the suffering servant.

THey want Jesus for what He can do for them

He just provided bread in the wilderness like Moses, and just like the time of Moses, Israel is under the oppression of another super power and wants deliverance. And with Jesus miracles working power they figure that can use Him to get what they want.

Jesus doesn’t answer to people desires and if Jesus came and did what we wanted him to do, he would have never done what we needed him to do. We would never have our sins atoned for.

When the crowds start pressing and trying to make him king, Jesus needed to be alone with His Father.

The Chaos in the Storm

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.

Got into a boat - FSB has a good picture to add to power point. [not a Royal Caribbean ]

They went out when it was dark and a hurricane comes

The ocean decided to eat these men and the boat.

THe sea became strong - Explain the dynamics of this sea and how storm would have been created on the sea often, but that emphasis how great this storm was because these experience fisherman would have rowed many storms on this sea. Something about this one was particularly troubling.

The storm is not ramping up just because it decides to, but because the one that made the purposed for it to do so today. He orchestrated this so that He could teach His disciple about who he is.

Strange change of events for the disciples

From witnessing a mighty miracle, and helping it instrumentally, amidst an admiring crowd, to solitude, darkness, winds, waves, storm, anxiety, and danger, the change was very great! But Christ knew it, and Christ appointed it, and it was working for their good. [J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John (vol. 1; New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1879), 335–336.]

Confidence through the storm

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.”

Three or four miles - is halfway across the sea.

Jesus walking - this was more scary that the storm for them. But it make sense, Imagine its a hurricane and someone is walking in it like a stroll on the beach. It more than the fact that it was a storm. THe men were fisherman. The scariest them in the whole sea is that someone is walking on the walk in the storm like nothing is going on.

The one who commands the seas and made the sea walked on the sea like he was in control of the sea. Because He was.

Jesus said to them “20 ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ἐγώ εἰμι, μὴ φοβεῖσθε.

They can have confidence through the storm because the one who made the storm stepped into the boat with them

Why does John leave out the details that Mark and Matthew includes? Highlight the differences and connect them to their purpose of communicating

Matthew 14:22–33 “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.””

Mark 6:45–52 “Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”

Goal/Purpose

What are you trying to accomplish with this sermon. Should be linked to the inspired meaning of the text.

People to pray

Who are some people this sermon will benefit?

Who are some people that represent groups of people to keep in mind when thinking through Application.

Prayer

What should you be asking God for yourself and your people.

What are some hurdles or hindrances to understanding this text.

Opening Statement [HOOK]

Is there something that relates well to this topic that will draw your people into understanding why they need to open their bibles to this passages.

Background to Understand

Who ?

What?

Where?

Why?

How?

So what?

Near Context to Understand

Proposition Statement

Exegetical Outline

The Claim Before the Storm [vv6:1-7]

Present- What does the text say?

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

Point 2 [vv1-7]

Present- What does the text say?

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

Point 3 [vv1-7]

Present- What does the text say?

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

Point 4 [vv1-7]

Present- What does the text say?

Explain – What does the text mean?

Illustrate – Relate it to your people [Examples]

Apply – What are the implication in life [Sometimes the illustration can do this]

Prove – Usually a cross reference

Summarize and Transition

Conclusions

Discussion Questions and Hand out Material

This is an outline that could be used.

1. The setting: the disciples’ nighttime sea voyage to Capernaum (vv. 16–17)

2. The storm: violent wind and turbulent sea (v. 18)

3. The consternation: the disciples are terrified by an “apparition” (φάντασμα, Matt 14:26; Mark 6:49) approaching them on the water (v. 19)

4. The reassurance: Jesus identifies himself and the boat comes ashore (vv. 20–21)

[Murray J. Harris, John (Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament; B&H Academic, 2015), 128.]

Maps, Chart , Tables to Present with