Christ the Lord of Nature- Jesus Walks on Water

Introduction:

Share a story about paddling across the lake in the boundary waters duirng a storm- It was so hard to go against the wind.....

Dad and Josh could keep straight because the wind just turned them around and sent them back to shore.

Transition: Jesus and his disciples have just left the crowd of 5,000 people after serving them a miraculous meal that Jesus provided from a small boys lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

After this meal was over the people wanted to take jesus to Jerusalem and make him their political king - They wanted him to deliver them from the tyranny of the Roman empire.

and Jesus ,out of protection for his disciples, immediately sends them away in a boat to cross over the sea of Galilee to Capernaum . the opposite direction from Jerusalem

Understand that although to the discipels ,Jesus being crowned as king may have seemed like a great thing that was about to happen, it was not God’s Sovereign plan for Jesus’s life on this earth .

Remember, as we have been studying, God does all things for our Good for His glory.

For Israel who wanted to crown Jesus as their king to bring them political deliverance- was not what was best for them- they needed a spiritual deliver who could restore their broken relationship with God the Father.

For the disciples - who followed Jesus faithfully -God’s sovereign plan for their lives was not to be political leaders but to be the ones who would carry the message of the gospel to the world and establish Christ’s new testament church here on earth.

As we begin to unfold our story this morning we need to build upon the foundation that God’s Sovereign plan is always best for our lives.

Big Idea; God does all things for our good for his glory

Lets jump into our text this morning

John 6:16-21 “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.”

Our story this morning is recorded in 3 of the four gospels Matthew, Mark and John. and we will be pulling some truths from each of these accounts as we unfold our text together.

As we read through this account, there are multiple miracles taking place, and everyone points to Jesus as having sovereign control over all things.

We are going to see that

-Jesus Miraculously walks on Water

- The storm Miraculously stops the second Jesus steps into the boat

- and the boat immediately reaches shore after Jesus takes control.

Jesus wanted to teach his disciples what it means to trust him completely with your life.

Jesus was preparing them with this lesson of faith, A faith that they would need for the ministry they would lead after He was gone.

The first thing We can see from our story is that…

Jesus sends the disciples into the storm (NEEDS REWORKED)

Notice what Mathew Says in

Matthew 14: 22 -24 “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”

Jesus out of protection for his followers sends them in the opposite direction from the crowd.

He tells the disciples to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the sea of Galilee .

John tells us that they were headed to Capernaum, their home town.

Jesus was saying “guys our work here is done its time for us to go home to Capernaum and rest.

The Disciple heard the crowds of people wanting to Crown Jesus King-

They would have heard the people saying Jesus is the Messiah- He is the one who can save us from this oppression.

And I m sure having Jesus become the king it made a lot of sense in their minds as well.

But even in the midst of all of this excitement,

the discipels obeyed Jesus and got into the boat and left the crowds behind.

They followed Jesus and did what He asked even though it didn’t make any sense in their minds why Jesus wouldn’t want to be the king.

The point I see is this. When times where good they followed Jesus.

They trusted Jesus with their lives and their futures and immediately followed his command, even though it didn’t make sense to them at the time.

Faith in Jesus Requires Blind Obedience.

The disciples didn’t need to know why Jesus refused to be the king - they just needed to trust his sovereign plan for God’s glory.

The disciples didn’t need to know why Jesus sent them on ahead in the boat while he stayed behind- they just needed to trust that he does all things for their good

Jesus sent them in a direction that He knew a storm was coming that would test their faith.

When it comes to our lives how well do we truly trust in the sovereign plan that God has laid out for our lives?

too many times we think that we need to have a say in what God is doing in our lives.

I love what Ephesians 2:10 tells us about the purpose of our lives

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Understand this church, the reason we can trust in God’s direction for our lives is because he has created in Christ Jesus for good works.

But it is so much cooler than that....

Before the world was even created God orchestrated a plan for each of your lives. A plan that is for your good and for his glory.

Even though it made no human sense why Jesus wouldn’t want to be crowned as king they trusted in him

They didn’t try to convince Jesus why being king would be good for his ministry

they simply got in the boat and by faith trusted Jesus.

Transition: Our story goes on and we find .....

The disciples where engulfed by the power of storm

Listen to how Matthew describes the storm

Matthew 14:23-24 “...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.”

the apostle John says the sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing- He uses the greek word Diegeiro which means to “wake up” to describe the storm that came upon the disciples. The became rough - sea awoke around them....

Illustration: When i was just out of high school I decided it would be a good life decision for me to buy a boat. So I bought a 1980 tri hull 21 ft.Bonanza speed boat with 305 merc cruiser motor. It was a cool boat but it needed a lot of work.

So I took it to a boat mechanic and asked them to get the engine all tuned up and ready to go.

I was excited about my new boat and I couldn’t wait to get it in the water and try it out.

Finally the mechanic called and said “your boat is done come pick it up”. so my dad and I drove down to Des Moines, got my boat and headed straight for Saylorville lake so we could take her out on its maiden voyage.

As we backed the boat into the water- I remember telling my dad that this was the perfect day to test out a boat. I mean the water was calm as calm could be. it was like glass across the lake.

We put the boat in the water and decided to open her up and cruise across the lake all way to the other side. It was awesome she ran like a top.

We were cruising in style in my 20 year old boat.

But as we got to the other side of the lake and turned the boat around to head back we both looked up into the sky and realized that a very dark storm cloud was moving into our area very quickly.

and I remember my dad looking at me and saying “we might be in trouble.”

and let me tell he was not wrong- I have never been more scared of drowning than in that boat on that day.

The storm came up out of nowhere and the wind was blowing so strong that we couldn’t even keep the boat going straight but that wasn’t the worst of it - the waves were so big that they were crashing over the top of the boat filling it up with water.

We were in the middle of the lake in the middle of a storm and there was no where for us to turn to escape.

all we could do was to bail water out hoping it was faster than the water coming in.

So here we have the discipels who left Jesus at dusk to travel by a boat the 6-7 mile journey across the sea of Galilee to Capernaum.

For a bunch of fisherman this would not have been that hard of a trip for them to make. They had navigated this body of water most of their lives.

and after serving the crowds of people all day I’m sure that the calmness of the water brought a sense of peace and quietness to these fisherman’s hearts. Away from the crowds, with the stars beginning to emerge from the darkness, they set sale for home across the sea of Galilee

But sometime in the middle of the night John says “the sea awake “ The calmness was gone and the sea became alive.

The winds began to blow and the waves got bigger and bigger as the night went on.

Our story tells us that the discipels had been rowing all night trying to get across the sea but because the wind and waves were so strong-they had only made it 3.5 miles out on their 6 mile journey.

to put this into perspective - Macintosh woods on the west end of our lake is 4 miles from Clear Lake state Park on the east end.

The disciples would have paddled from macintosh all the way across the lake to state park and this left them stuck in the middle of the sea. Capernaum was still 4 miles away and where they left Jesus was 3 miles back the way they had just come.

They were in the middle of the sea - in the middle of the storm and had no where to go to escape.

Sometimes we find ourself in this type of predicament in ours life.

Life is going well, things seem good all around us. We have no worries ,we have no concerns. we are happy , we have peace, but out of nowhere a storm comes into our peaceful lives and turns everything up side down, and we cannot seem to find a way to escape no matter where we look.

If you are like me you have been through many of these storms in your life.

As we continue on in our story this morning look with me at what Mark says happens to the dsicples in the midst of the storm.

Mark 6:47 -48 “And [Jesus] 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. ”

I love how Mark puts this - Jesus saw their struggles and came to their rescue.

Jesus doesn’t abandon his disciples, he doesn’t leave them alone to fight the waves of the storm by themselves.

Jesus Came (to rescue the disciples) in the midst of the storm.

Our story tells us that when The Disciples Saw Jesus they were terrified.

Think about what they were going through.

They were exhausted physically and mentally for serving the crowds , and now They had been rowing and rowing for hours and getting no where stuck in the middle of the sea in the middle of the storm. Fear and anxiety where all ready set in. and the sense of hopeless was already upon them.

and as they are rowing trying to gain any momentum - one of them looks back out across the water and see a figure of man walking towards them on top of the waves and even as hard as they are rowing in the opposite direction the man is getting closer and closer to them.

As a man who would have been in the boat Matthew describes their reaction seeing Jesus in Matthew 14:26-27 “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”

Can you image the guy who saw Jesus walking towards them first? “ Uhh guys- I know i’m tired but i’m pretty sure there is someone follow us on the water!

just think about the conversations of fear they were having in that boat at that time,.

I don’t know about you but I guarantee I would have had the same response as the disciples. I would have been terrified out of my mind- at seeing a man walking towards me in the middle of a storm across the lake.

I would have cried out in fear!!!!

But out text tells us that as Jesus heard their cry of fear he Immediately spoke peace to them.

look at what he says in Matthew 14:26-27 “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.””

Jesus told these fearful men in the midst of their storm to “have courage- Be strong do not be afraid because I am here in the midst of the storm with you.

This reminds me of the promise God gave Joshua right before he went into the promise land to claim it for the Lord People.

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

As we go through storms in our life the storm may look different than the disciples and Joshua’s but the promise from Jesus is the same.

He promises to be with us wherever we go

He promises to do all things for our good for his glory.

God never leaves us in the middle of a storm to endure it on our own. He is right there with us offering us His peace. if we will put our faith in Him.

Did Jesus know the storm was coming? Yes

Did Jesus know that the disciples would be unable to row to the other side of the sea ? of course!

Did Jesus know that they would be fearful for their lives? For sure.

So why would Jesus send his followers into a storm that he knew they could never escape from on their own?

I believe Matthew’s account gives us the clearest reason as to why jesus sent them into the storm.

Listen to what Matthew wrote in

Matt. 14:26-32 “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.”

Jesus had a sovereign plan to teach his disciples about what it means to fully trust in him alone for deliverance.

I love Peter- I can relate to him in so many ways.

He takes no time in responding with a question :

“Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

Peter wanted in on this miracle

and so he jumped out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus, but when his focus turned from jesus and to the the storm around him his fear set in and he began to sink. and He cries Lord save me!!!

and Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him.

and said oh you of little faith, why did you doubt me ?

Think about what has just happened.

When the disciples were in the middle of the storm and all they could see around them was the waves crashing up against their boat, their hearts were fearful because they couldn’t see any hope.

But when Jesus came to them the fear turned into peace, because they looked to Jesus instead of the storm.

And Peter as He got out of the boat looking at Jesus He had no fear. But the second he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on the storm around him He became engulfed with and cried out for help!.

How often are we just like the disciples when we go through trials in our lives?

Most trials don’t come in gradually they“wake up” around us like a great storm on the lake’

and when all we can see is the storm around us we let fear and anxiety overtake our peace.

Church - understand this- truth - if you think you can navigate the storm without looking to Jesus it will always result in fear and anxiety in your life.

Hebrews 12:2“keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”NET

During the storms of life we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus because he is not only the object of our faith but he is the origin of our faith and He is the one who is growing our faith through the storm.

Trans: Our story goes on to tell us that when they brought Jesus into the boat with them the storm Immediately STOPPED

Jesus Had Power over the Storm and He delivered the discipels from the stormThat storm did not last 1 second longer than Jesus wanted it to last.

The moment he was done teaching his followers and growing their faith the storm immediately stopped.

I love what 1 Cor. 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Trials are what God uses to grow our faith.

and its in the midst of these trials that we are tempted to look away from jesus and out at the storm.

But instead of letting fear and anxiety creep in— cling to the truth that God will not let the storm last 1 more second then he has planned for you.

Finally We read about the response of the disciples after Jesus Rescues them from the storm.

Look with me at Matthew 14:32-33

Matt 14:32-33 “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.””

The disciples worshipped Jesus

When Jesus stepped into the boat the storm immediately stopped and the disciples only response was to worship jesus because only God had the power to do what jesus Just did. and they sang out TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD!!!

When Jesus Brings us through the storms in our life our response should be to worship him.

Give him the glory that he deserves from your life.

Remember God does all things for our good- for his glory.

The trials in our lives come for our Good.

How do we know this?

James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

God gives us trials for our good- to grow our faith and decency on Him alone, so that we can bring him glory with our lives.

Bring it Home

Graduates- as you embark on the next chapter of your life remember this one truth.

When trials come into your life- and they will - look to jesus keep your eyes on him. Don’t let the storm tempt you to look away .

and if you remember that the storms in your life are for your good and for his glory - Your faith i Christ will grow deeper and deeper and your love for Jesus will increase abundantly more than you can ever imagine and your dependency on Christ will become central to every decision you will ever have to make.

God does all things for our good for his glory - Lets Pray!

Trusting Jesus with everything.