John 6:16–21 Sermon

Sermon Text

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.

Introduction

Last week we read .

Jesus from John chapter five traveled from Jerusalem, North to the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias. Which is where He is in .

Mentioned 197 times in the Bible, the Sea of Galilee was located below the Jordan River and north from Jerusalem.

After Jesus clearly spoke of Himself as the Son sent from the Father, making Himself equal with God, He did another miracle where He fed more than 5000 with five barley loaves of bread and two fish.

We concluded that the miracle wasn’t mainly about the multiplication of the food but the revelation of Jesus as the God of the Old Testament.

It was meant to reveal Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God as spoken already in the previous chapters.

We read in where God had given bread from heaven in response to their grumbling.

We read this because it does seem parallel to John 6.

God responded to grumbling with provision. In verse 4 of ,

Exodus 16:4 ESV

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

God provided with the intent to test them whether they would walk in His law or not.

Not because He didn’t know what was in their hearts but rather for the people to examine for themselves.

Which if they had right they would have repented for their grumbling.

In , we saw Jesus doing the same thing. .

We saw Jesus doing the same thing in .

John 6:5–6 ESV

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.

John 6:6 ESV

6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

In both passages we saw grumbling.

And in both passages we also saw how merciful and gracious God was in bringing provision.

And in both passages we also saw how merciful and gracious God was in bringing provision.

First, God’s provision.

In Exodus He gave grumblers bread from heaven.

Second,

In , He revealed Himself as the bread of heaven to those who didn’t deserve it.

To those who grumbled and eventually leave.

The revelation of who He is, is in itself a gift.

This miracle in our text again echoes the ongoing cry of Holy Scripture.

The song which is the song of the redeemed.

The song being that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and by believing we have been given life in His name!

The Old Testament pointed to it, the Gospels revealed it and the Apostles looked back to it.

The event in our text today reveals that truth which has us with Jesus walking on the sea.

Our text today has us with Jesus walking on the sea.

This account is also recorded in and . Matthew being the most detailed of the three.

We will see that what is again the highlight of this passage is that Jesus revealed Himself and we also see a reaction.

And we will be cross referencing from the other accounts.

Outline

1. The Setting (v.16-17)

2. The Miracle (v.18-19)

3. The Revelation (v.20-21)

1. The Setting (v.16-17)

Verse 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea

Prior to this Jesus had left from where the crowds were.

In both Matthew and Mark’s account we see that on the fourth watch of the night, which was around 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m,

Prior Jesus had left from where the crowds were.

6:48 fourth watch. 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

He went to the mountain to pray.

He withdrew Himself from the crowds because after He had performed the miracle, where He multiplied the bread and fish, they were about to take Him by force and make Him their King.

So he left the crowds and was alone. He was by Himself where He was praying.

John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1473.

His disciples would then go down to the sea.

Verse 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

We see in verse 17, that they got into the boat and they started to cross the sea.

Matthew’s account has them a long way from the land.

It was dark. Meaning that it was pass the evening where the sun was setting and the disciples went to the boat because Jesus made them get into the boat to go before Him to the other side.

The disciples went to the boat because Jesus made them get into the boat to go before Him to the other side.

You would think that after seeing what they saw they would stay and be with Christ.

I believe this was again a set up to reveal again who He was. Which is the miracle of the gospel of John.

We also have to keep in mind that it was Jesus who told them to go to the boat.

In John’s account we see that his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.

17got 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 to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

So it was from Jesus that they were told to get into the boat.

Question: Why is this important to note?

It’s important due to what Jesus had already done.

The miracles He had done proved Jesus to be someone who provides yet they showed (as we will see later) that they were overwhelmed with fear and doubt.

Jesus dismissed the crowds. We see this in Matthew and in Mark’s account. But I don’t believe He dismissed His disciples.

Many speak of the greatest miracle. Namely, when one comes to saving faith. Which is true.

But the gospel of John is about how that miracle takes place.

The accounts of Jesus healing, having divine knowledge and multiplying are not so that people can be saved from fear and doubt.

Their purpose was so that people could believe in Christ which should produce a faith in God no matter the circumstance.

The signs He did are only what they are called. Signs are not meant to be in themselves what causes salvation.

Signs never made someone a born again believer.

Signs are exactly what they are called. They are signs pointing to the Savior that if believed in, will give eternal life.

This miracle is again a sign. A sign pointing to the Christ, the Son of God who is Himself God.

So here the disciples got into the boat and they started to cross the sea.

It was now dark meaning that it was past the evening and Jesus had not yet come to them.

Then in verse 18 we see that a strong wind was blowing.

2. The Miracle (v.18-19)

Verse 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing

In Mark and Matthew’s account it says, that Jesus saw that they were making headway painfully, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

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

So this was not a light storm.

A. T. Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), .

Read Verse 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.

In both Matthew and Mark’s account we see that on the fourth watch of the night, which was around 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m, Jesus came to the boat.

The disciples were frightened.

Both Matthew and Mark’s account has the disciples as terrified and thinking that it was a ghost.

They cried out in fear. They were terrified and frightened.

Which is a normal and natural response.

They saw Jesus but thought that He was a ghost.

Then in verse 20 we see His response.

As in all of what we have covered already it will show us who Jesus is.

walking on water does not happen

this happened while a storm took place

Second, it revealed

And by His response He begins to reveal again who He is!

We often forget how holy God is and how, when He is revealed for who He is according to Scripture, sin is exposed.

This is the result of the revelation of Jesus Christ as who He said He was.

The gospel when rightfully preached does the same.

When faithfully preached, sin is exposed and Christ is exalted.

That is why the gospel is an offense. Because it reveals a holy God and a evil heart.

Jesus being the gospel Himself when revealed, will expose what is wrong with us.

It is easy to ascribe the disciples response here as normal and excusable.

But going further we will see that it is much deeper than that.

They had not learned the lesson that was to be learned from what Jesus had already done before.

They saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.

3. The Revelation (v.20-21)

After they thought it was a ghost and they cried out in fear, Jesus immediately spoke to them.

In all three accounts Jesus said to them:

Read Verse 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Before getting into the boat, Matthew’s account has the interaction Jesus had with Peter.

Let’s read .

Matthew 14:28–31 ESV

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Again, we see the exposure of His Deity and the result being the heart also exposed for what it is.

Jesus had to tell them that it was Him because of how astounded they were.

They were overwhelmed.

But let’s remember what Jesus had already done. Jesus,

Jesus had already performed miracles.

Changed water into wine at Cana in - "the first of the signs"

Healed the royal official's son in Capernaum in

Healed the paralytic at Bethesda in

Fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish in

You’d think that after doing what He did they would agree that Jesus is who He said He was.

But Peter doubted.

Which actually points to an inherent problem, a universal problem with everyone one of us.

It shows the hardness of heart.

In fact the miracle prior to this, which we saw as parallel to , was meant to show them exactly who Jesus was.

That He was the God who brought provision to the people of Israel.

You would think that they wouldn’t be surprised after:

Changing water into wine, healing the royal official's son, healing the paralytic and Feeding 5000.

Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in

Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in

Question: Why is the human heart so hardened to believe in what was clearly revealed?

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Feeding the 5000 in

, speaks of their hearts growing dull

, says that “from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery.”

, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened”

The heart without saving faith, is in desperate need, not of change, but of being replaced!

This is the problem here.

Mark’s account attributes their being astounded to:

Mark 6:51–52 ESV

51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Mark

Not only did Peter doubt, but they did not understand the miracle of the loaves.

But remained with a hardened heart.

They remained with a hardened heart.

May that not be us who are quick to forget the glories and provision of Christ as the people of Israel did, as the disciples did and I would include us.

We can easily take what God has done and forget.

I would even attribute that to how we treat others.

Forgetting God’s patience towards us is at the core of our mistreatment and impatience towards others.

It is sad when I see this in the body of Christ where there is a lack of bearing with one another.

Our forgetting can be a result of forgetting the sovereignty of God.

Our panic over what happens in our families and churches most likely comes from forgetting:

the God who changed water into wine

the God who healed the royal official's son

the God who healed the paralytic

the God who Fed the people of Israel with bread from heaven and who fed will over 5000 people

the God who walked on the sea

the God who took our hardened hearts and replaced it with a covenant heart

Question: Why should we be astounded when God had already did what He did here? And in fact what He has done in our salvation?

I think it is good to note that believing also demands remembering. Which doesn’t happen when we see things that seem to be out of control. As with the disciples here.

The changing of water into wine, the healing of the royal official's son, the healing of the paralytic, the feeding of the 5000 and the walking on the sea, are revealing a sovereign God!

And I would argue that forgetting this is a result of a lack of faith or no faith at all.

I would argue that it is sin to be casual and forgetful about the gospel.

The gospel is not about powerful signs and wonders.

But it is about the power and wonder of Christ Jesus. That if believed will bring eternal life and who has everything under His Lordship and rule!

Them being astounded, meaning overwhelmed, was a result of not seeing what they should have seen.

Instead of being overwhelmed with fear and doubt they should have responded with awe and worship.

Which actually would happen last.

After being overwhelmed with fear and doubt, afterwards we see that they were then glad to take Him into the boat.

From their reaction to this they were then glad to take Him into the boat,

From seeing Christ walking on the sea to Him getting into the boat, we see a change.

Read Verse 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Maybe the gladness came because the wind ceased when He got into the boat. We see this in Matthew and Mark’s account.

The wind ceased according to Matthew and Mark’s account. But something else happened.

Or maybe they actually came to the understanding and faith that this was the Son of God.

Which we actually see them confess in Matthew 14:32-33.

But something else happened.

Which is what the revelation of Jesus Christ does to all who see Him for who He is.

Matthew 14:32–33 ESV

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

That is the result we pray for every week we preach the gospel here at Christ Alone Fellowship.

This is the truth we cannot ignore or abandon.

Many have taken this text to speak of the storms of your life.

But this is not about the storm or the storms of your life.

This is about Jesus Christ revealing Himself as the Christ, the Son of God.

And my question to you today is: Do you believe?

And for the Christian: Have you forgotten this truth about your Lord and Savior?

Oh how sinful the human heart is.

We often forget how holy God is and how, when He is revealed for who He is according to Scripture, sin is exposed.

This is the result of the revelation of Jesus Christ as who He said He was.

The gospel when rightfully preached does the same.

When faithfully preached, sin is exposed and Christ is exalted.

That is why the gospel is an offense. Because it reveals a holy God and an evil heart.

Jesus being the gospel Himself when revealed, will expose what is wrong with us.

It is easy to ascribe the disciples response here as excusable.

But going further we will see that it is much deeper than that.

But it shows that they had not learned the lesson that was to be learned from what Jesus had already done before.

They saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.

They responded with fear and they held to their doubts but Jesus as the storm calmed got into the boat and when they saw Him they worshipped Him.

Our faith in Christ and His finished work is a gift from God! And it is given when One sees Christ through the proclamation of the gospel!

We must steward that gift in our continual trust in who He has revealed Himself to be in Scripture.

We cannot lose our salvation. But we can be poor stewards in that we live worried and troubled to the point of portraying a poor example of our faith.

For those who have not come to saving faith, you may have a knowledge of God but you do not have life in His name.

You may call yourself Christian but you have not found life in His name!

My call to you is to believe and trust in His death, burial and resurrection!

Trust in Him who is sovereign, in control and all that you need!

This miracle reveals to us a God who can walk on water because even the seas obey Him. To the point that the water must hold up its Creator.

Notes:

This is about Jesus and how He has revealed Himself so that we could believe and have life in His name!

We often forget how holy God is and how, when He is revealed for who He is according to Scripture, sin is exposed.

This is the result of the revelation of Jesus Christ as who He said He was.

The gospel when rightfully preached does the same.

When faithfully preached, sin is exposed and Christ is exalted.

That is why the gospel is an offense. Because it reveals a holy God and a evil heart.

Jesus being the gospel Himself when revealed, will expose what is wrong with us.

It is easy to ascribe the disciples response here as normal and excusable.

But going further we will see that it is much deeper than that.

They had not learned the lesson that was to be learned from what Jesus had already done before.

They saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.