Getting Jesus Into Our Boat

John 6:15-21 (NASB95)
15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. 16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Background: In Matthew and Mark, as in John, Jesus’ feeding of five thousand men is followed immediately by a tale of his coming to his disciples, walking across the water. But John has the disciples going from Transjordan back toward Capernaum. In all of the accounts, the disciples’ boat encounters strong winds, the sudden appearance of Jesus walking across the water frightens the disciples, and Jesus calms their fears, saying, “It is I”. In Mark and Matthew, the wind ceases when Jesus gets into the boat. In John, nothing more is said of it, but instead the immediate arrival of the boat at its destination is noted once Jesus got into the boat.

How do we get Jesus into our boat?

1) Walk in the light-

John 6:16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

· Don’t live life in the dusk.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

· Light invades the darkness

Ephesians 5:8 (NRSV) For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—

2) Don’t leave the shore without Jesus.

John 6:17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

· When we are launching out into familiar territory, is Jesus along with us?

· In areas where we know how it’s done, is Jesus there?

3) Things can get unpredictable when out at sea, don’t get overly confident.

John 6:18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.

· Good and Bad things happen to everyone. Are we prepared?

Matthew 5:45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.

· What do you do when your life seems unsettled and things are breaking up?

Psalm 40:4 (NCV) Happy is the person who trusts the Lord, who doesn’t turn to those who are proud or to those who worship false gods.

4) When things look like they are falling apart, don’t fear He is near.

John 6:19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

· God’s promise to us : When we draw near to Him, he draws near to us. James 4:8

· Don’t Fear -Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Isaiah 43:1-7 (NIV)
1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

5) Receive Him into your boat.

John 6:21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

What happened when they received Him into their boat?:

· The storm calmed.

· They where immediately where they needed to be.

· What took them all night long in strenuous labor now was effortless.

Question: Who is in your boat?

Where are you at today with Jesus?