A Scene Change
Notes
Transcript
A Scene Change
A Scene Change
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
key verses
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
Christ is God
He is omni-present
He is omniscience
He is omnipotent
So guess what Christ Knew it was time to move on ...
They could not stay
God moved them ....
Jesus went to pray alone
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
The disciples were directed to go to the other side of the lake to in mark 6:45 he constrained them .... the Greek word here ana K zo - it means to force or put pressure
45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
God knew what was going to happen if they did not leave..
They needed a scene change
God sometimes pulls all of us in a different direction knowing we need to move on ....
We may not like it
We may want to hang around longer
As in the disciple case they need to force or put pressure
Illustration -
Sometimes its becase there is no alternative..
Sometimes its because of finances
Sometimes its because of health
Sometimes its a relationship
The disciples did not want to leave … they had to be forced
I. Its Time to Transfer
I. Its Time to Transfer
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
It did not take the people long to decide that this was the kind of king they wanted: one who would supply their material needs.
The key word here is constrain ....
In all reality Jesus had to force them into the boat while he went and prayed ...
“This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world,” they said (6:14). Luke adds an extra detail. He tells us that the Lord had spoken to the people that day “concerning the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:11).
They were ready then and there to make him a king. Here was a ready-made force of five thousand men, the nucleus of an army, ready to rise up and follow him to Jerusalem, to Rome, to the uttermost parts of the earth.
But their vision was not his. Their concept of the kingdom was secular and material. His was spiritual. “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone” (6:15).
Christ’s power had been seen publicly, in the breaking of the bread.
Meanwhile the disciples were no doubt talking among themselves and thinking that things were getting somewhere at last. And about time too, some of them might have felt. Going around preaching and healing sick people was all well and good but it was time for the real action to begin. [Now that the master had seen the enthusiasm of the Galileans, he would be able to make his plans accordingly and lead a triumphant entry into Jerusalem, head a popular national uprising, put forth his mighty power, overthrow Rome, and bring in the kingdom].
What had God done in your life to force you to leave?
What in you life need a change of scenery?
II. Its Time to Toil
II. Its Time to Toil
17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
It was not a good trip
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
Jesus sent them right into the middle of a storm! They were tired earlier and wanted jesus to send the multitude away .
Now they had distributed food for 5,000
They had been up all night rowing against the wind
its between 3-6 AM
It was time for them to toil and let Jesus rescue them
As Jesus was praying they were toiling
Jesus came at the right time to rescue them
In their self-confidence they had no thought of disaster. If there was one thing Peter could do, it was sail a boat. His fishing partners were with him. This would be a swift and easy passage to the other side. But they were about to have a sudden awakening.
vs 18 This storm came w/o warning ....
It over took them
All their confidence was now up in the air ,,,,
The storm that descended without warning on the lake of Galilee was symbolic of the storms of life that overtake us on our journeys across time’s uncertain seas. Those storms come upon us, often before we are aware.
They do great damage, leaving ruins and wreckage behind: broken homes and broken hearts, disease and despair, death and loss. And, with so many, Christ is not on board the frail vessel.
A couple of points here :
The toiling that we go to helps us recognize our shortcomings
Toiling brings us trust in Christ
Toiling help us call unto the Lord
Toiling lets us go along with God plan
Dont ever forget that toiling has a purpose.
Illustration - this virus has put many of us in different positions:
Maybe we need to think where is Christ in all of this ....
Toiling brings us to our knees
“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.” – Charles Spurgeon
“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”
“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”
Trials help our perseverance.
Trials help our perseverance.
James 1:12 “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE DISCIPLES NEED TO TIL FOR A WHILE!
III. Its Time To Trust
III. Its Time To Trust
19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
They rowed about 3 miles against the wind - between 3-6 AM after being up exhausted all night ....
We note the terror that overwhelmed them (6:19). Strange to say, it was not so much the terror of howling wind and heaving waves, but of the Lord’s supernatural appearance. They were about halfway across the lake, having gone “about five and twenty or thirty furlongs,”
John says. He had grown up on that lake, knew its dimensions by heart, and he was on board that night. From the vicinity of Bethsaida, the distance across the lake to their destination at Capernaum was about five miles. They had rowed about three.
We can imagine their terror when they saw a figure walking on the water toward them—Jesus?—his hair and garments streaming in the wind, spray blowing all about, now hidden for a moment in a valley, now striding atop a mighty billow, and all the time coming nearer and nearer.
key is vs 21 - they willingly received him into his boat.
6:20–21. The clause It is I is literally “I Am,” and was used by Jesus (in 8:58) with strong theological meaning. In this setting it seems to mean only that Jesus was identifying Himself. When the disciples recognized Him, they welcomed Him into the boat. By the words and immediately the boat reached the shore another miracle is probably intended.
The problem we have is we have the:
toiling
trials
Jesus is right out side the boat
Will we recognize HIm?
Will we let Him in the boat?