The Power & Sufficiency of Jesus - Pt.2

Read Scripture:

14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I.,q Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I.,q Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

14 When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 (4) Walking on the Sea (6:16–21)

The story of Jesus walking on the water appears in Mark (6:45–52) and Matthew (14:22–32) as well as here in John

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.

19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I.,q Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

Introduction:

Verse 14 indicates that the already frenzied crowd has now been ratcheted up even another notch as they seek to make Jesus king. Within this mixed crowd there no doubt would have bee n political zealots who were seeking not redemption but revolution. Jesus, knowing the political ambitions of the crowd, withdrew from them and sent the disciples by boat to the other side of the sea of Galilee toward Capernaum. This story of Jesus walking on the water appears in Mark (6:45–52) and Matthew (14:22–32) as well as here in John. We know from the other accounts

This event in the life of the disciples reminds us of the purpose of adversity and the power available to those who follow Christ even in the midst of adversity. The miracle of walking on the water proves that Jesus is God.

I. A Divine Purpose

When we read we see the setting…Jesus dismisses the crowds, goes to the mountain alone to pray. furthermore tells us that Jesus made the disciples get into the boat.

The Lord’s Purpose for His Children - Obedience

The word used for made or compelled in the Greek implies that there was resistance from the disciples to leave Jesus. They did not want to go. Jesus was removing them from the situation, protecting them from the raucous crowd that was seeking to start a revolution. He would also be proving them, as we will see.

Sometimes it is like this for us. The Lord tells us what to do and we have to be “compelled” or dragged kicking and screaming into obedience. The Lord knows how to protect and grow his children. My calling into Pastoral ministry was like this. I did not want to go.

The Lord’s Purpose for HIs Children - Adversity & Testing

The Sea of Tiberias or Galilee is a deep gouge in the Jordan rift surrounded by hills so that winds frequently sweep down and stir the waters into a frenzy. Even today the situation is similar. Power boats periodically are warned to remain docked as the winds whip the water into foamy white caps. Imagine then what it would be like to be in wooden boats propelled by sails and oars. . Contemporary measurements would put the maximum size of this sea or lake at about 6.9 miles by 12.6 miles.

The bible says that a high wind arose…Matthew relates that the wind was against the. The wind came from the west, as they would have been headed east…churning the water therefore the trip was difficult, they were straining with the oars as relates. The disciples had rowed 3 or 4 miles which would have placed them in roughly the middle of the lake.

Sudden storms were a regular occurrence on the Sea of Galilee, as they are in life. We simply do not know what we will face. But we need to ask the question. Why were the disciples in trouble here? Answer: because they had obeyed the Lord and went in the direction he told them to go. Obedience = adversity. When we are obeying the Lord we must not make the mistake of expecting smooth sailing.

We can encounter storms in 2 different ways. One is by disobeying the Lord - Jonah found out about this. The other is by obeying the Lord. Think of how much trouble Paul would have avoided if he had just said no to the Lord. What about Moses or Daniel? How much trouble would they have stayed out of if they simply had not obeyed the Lord? No lions den, no complaining Israelite people to deal with. We make a big mistake if we feel that kingdom ministry should be devoid of contrary winds in the form of contrary people or situations.

We should note that according to the account in Mark’s gospel, Jesus saw them straining and struggling (). Also, Matthew relates to us in that he went alone up to the mountain to pray. While the disciples are struggling in contrary winds, the Lord is watching them and praying for them. It may seem that in the struggle that Jesus has forgotten you, but remember this, he is always watching, fully aware of your struggle and your pain, and he is interceding for you.

II. The Presence & Power of Jesus

Then, late in the night, most likely 3-4 am in the morning, Jesus comes walking out to them on the sea..literally walking on water. Do not listen to the liberal theologians who would claim otherwise, my Lord walked on water, this is what the Bible says. I found a painting that illustrates this:

Faith Grows In the Midst of Struggles

It is in the darkest of nights and the stormiest of seas that Jesus Christ provides the peace of his presence. Job knew his share of storms and struggle, yet he said this in , “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.”

“Christianity teaches that, contra fatalism, suffering is overwhelming; contra Buddhism, suffering is real; contra karma, suffering is often unfair; but contra secularism, suffering is meaningful. There is a purpose to it, and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.” - Tim Keller

You see, suffering is unbearable and will crush you if you are not confident that God is with you and for you.

Fear Vanishes at the Voice of Jesus

I can only imagine how the disciples must have felt seeing this image walking towards them on the water. Not only do you have darkness and rough seas, now you have what they think is a ghost walking toward them. Fear is the opposite of faith. The danger is that when we live in fear instead of faith we may reject the very assistance the Lord is providing for us.

the disciples initial fear is calmed by the words of Jesus. “It is I, don’t be afraid.”

The disciples initial fear is calmed by the words of Jesus. “It is I, don’t be afraid.” In Greek it reads, “Ego eimi.” It is literally translated, “I am.” When Moses was speaking to God at the burning bush, he said, “God, who can I tell them has sent me? What’s your name?” And God said, “Tell them I AM has sent you.” And Jesus constantly identified Himself as “I AM.”

CSB God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”

The disciples become so bold now that Peter we read in Matthew’s account asks to walk on the water to Jesus. Boldness and courage have misplaced fear. Of course, when Peter’s eyes were removed from Jesus, he began to sink.

Application:

Are you facing contrary winds right now in your life? Remember, the Lord sees and knows. Help is on the way. God’s delays are not God’s demonstration of disappointment in us - they are a part of his purpose for us.

Is your life filled with darkness and there seems to be no escape? Fix your eyes on Jesus again. Take your eyes off of the struggles and place them on the savior.

How about uncertainty? Insecurity? Personal conflict with another believer? Is the boat of your life filled with these things? Notice v.21, “Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.” We have to admit our need, respond with faith and not fear, take Jesus at his word and invite him into the boat. Jesus has not promised you and I smooth sailing, but he has promised a safe and secure destination.

“Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart feel lonely, and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free! His eye is on the sparrow. And I know He watches me!”

, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 16

33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”