The Man who walks on water – John 6v16–24

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18d ago

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Good morning. If you’re just joining us today, we are currently studying one of the four accounts of the life of Jesus, known as Gospels. And this account was written by John, one of the disciples, who’s provided a meticulous eyewitness account of Jesus’ life.

(0:25 – 0:50)

Our pastor, Colin Adams, who’s been chairing the service this morning, started the series highlighting that Jesus has the capacity and the power to change lives. Why? Because of who he is. John launches right in from the start, stretching us from the off.

(0:51 – 1:18)

In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We learn that Jesus is the Word, that Jesus is God. God with God is at the very heart of everything around us, our created universe.

(1:20 – 1:56)

There are seven signs in John’s Gospel demonstrating that Jesus is God. We have already looked at four of them, changing the water into wine, healing the official’s son, healing the man at the pool. And last week, we had the amazing feeding of 5,000 men, plus women and children, so perhaps between 10,000 and 20,000 people, with a packed lunch of five small loaves and two small fish.

(1:58 – 2:33)

And we jump straight from the feeding of the 5,000 into another miracle, this time, as Colin has already said, Jesus walking on water. Now, either you’ll be sitting there this morning saying, Jesus is God, I have no problem with him walking on water, or you’ll be very sceptical and simply believe that this is made up, that this is fake news. Well, either way, I would encourage you to listen.

(2:33 – 2:49)

Listen carefully and explore the text with me today. If you’re using the Pew Bibles, John chapter 6 is found in page 1070, so 1070 in the Pew Bibles. John chapter 6, verse 16.

(2:54 – 3:11)

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

(3:12 – 3:38)

When they had rowed for about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water, and they were frightened. But he said to them, it is I, don’t be afraid. Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

(3:39 – 4:11)

The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but they had gone away alone. Some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

(4:12 – 4:29)

Amen, and this is the word of God. Wow, this is really one of the most interesting eyewitness accounts of Jesus. In the time that we have remaining, we’re going to look at three points.

(4:30 – 4:51)

Struggling in the storms of life, terrified at the holiness of Jesus, and chasing after the wrong Jesus. But before we get to struggling in the storms of life, we need to back up slightly and cover some of the ground that Colin finished with last week. So keep your Bibles open because we really need to read verses 14 and 15 for some context.

(4:52 – 5:15)

These verses, as Dick Lucas said, are like meat in a sandwich. It’s an interesting juncture between two awesome miracles displaying the power of Jesus. Jesus has fed, in conservative estimates, more than 10,000 people with a small pack lunch.

(5:15 – 5:33)

And it was plenty of food to spare, 12 basketfuls to be exact, displaying the power of Jesus. It was an amazing miracle. Then we jump straight into Jesus walking on the water, another amazing miracle.

(5:34 – 5:51)

And in between, we have these two verses. As I say, meat in the sandwich. Verse 14, after the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, surely this is the prophet who has come into the world.

(5:52 – 6:10)

People are amazed at the signs that Jesus has been performing. They clearly recognise that there’s something special about him, suggesting that he is a prophet. But as Colin shared last week, they aren’t interested in what Jesus has come to do.

(6:11 – 6:35)

No, they are interested in seeking to fulfil their own agenda through him. Verse 15, Jesus knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. This crowd of 5,000 men could become quite an army, quite a problem for the Roman rulers.

(6:36 – 6:50)

This crowd wants to make Jesus king by force. And what does he do? He withdraws. Jesus has already been tempted in the desert.

(6:51 – 6:59)

And perhaps this was another temptation. The people want their bellies filled. They want their society fixed.

(6:59 – 7:18)

They want to overthrow the Roman forces. Could Jesus do all of these things? Yes, he’s just fed an army with a packed lunch. Would this solve their problems forever? No.

(7:19 – 7:41)

Jesus could easily fix these short-term, temporal problems. However, his work was bigger than that. He was here to solve their and our broken relationship with God, changing things for an eternity.

(7:41 – 8:14)

He knows that his work is to be done on a cross, not overthrowing the occupying Roman forces. So, he withdraws, heading up the mountain, perhaps to think and to pray. A wee side point here, where is your quiet place? Jesus knew when to withdraw and on more than one occasion spends time on a mountain.

(8:15 – 8:45)

I can see why. I love mountains. But if you’re not Cammie Kennedy and mountains aren’t your thing, do understand the importance of a quiet place, whether that’s in the garden, whether that’s on the couch, and I’ll put in with no TV and no phone to distract you.

(8:46 – 9:04)

It’s good to have a quiet place where you can better reflect and talk to God. Anyway, that is the point of interest between these two mighty miracles. And it’s important for them not to be missed.

(9:04 – 9:22)

And having paused momentarily on verses 14 and 15, verses 16 and 17 now make more sense. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake. When they got into a boat, they set off across the lake for Capernaum.

(9:23 – 9:51)

By now it was dark and Jesus had not yet joined them. When I first read this passage, reminding myself about what I was going to be preaching on today, I did think, why did the disciples just leave Jesus? But then verses 14 and 15 make sense. Because if you’re reading in isolation, you would have been left wondering why.

(9:52 – 10:11)

Why did the disciples up and leave without Jesus? But it’s clear that he is looking out for them too. He’s ushered them away, away from the selfish crowd, intent on starting a resistance, intent on forcing Jesus to be their king. Jesus wants his disciples away from these influences.

(10:11 – 10:20)

No doubt arrangements have been made to meet in Capernaum. So the disciples get in a boat. And note the change of tone.

(10:22 – 10:39)

John is a fantastic writer. It was dark and Jesus had not yet joined them. It’s like if you’re watching a movie when the lighting and the music all changes.

(10:41 – 10:56)

It was dark and Jesus had not yet joined them. Dramatic effect from John the writer. And he continues, a strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

(10:57 – 11:20)

And when they had rowed for about three or four miles, now I don’t know if anybody’s rowed three or four miles, but you’d be pretty shattered. The tension is building. Although an inland lake, the Sea of Galilee is still known to be able to turn rough very quickly, depending on the strength and the direction of the wind.

(11:21 – 11:58)

Of the 12 disciples, at least four, possibly seven were fishermen, used to fishing on the Sea of Galilee, used to fishing in the day and at night. Yes, it was a dangerous job, but these guys knew this water. We see in a previous occasion in another storm, when Jesus was asleep on the boat in Matthew chapter eight, they wake him shouting in that storm, Lord, save us because we’re going to drown.

(12:00 – 12:32)

So this lake can produce storms, which are ultimately going to kill people. On this occasion, the disciples are on a boat in the dark, three or four miles out without Jesus and the storm comes in. This can be seen as a wee bit of an analogy for two things, an analogy of church, an analogy of ourselves in our own lives.

(12:33 – 12:57)

As we are struggling in the storms of life. The church, a small group of people, remote from the land, irrelevant from the world or so we are told. We have seen for decades the church has been in decline in Scotland and across the UK.

(12:59 – 13:37)

And I would put this down to the fact that the church has drifted, or worse, rode its course away from Jesus and the truth found in our Bibles. The church has struggled when buffeted by the winds and the storms of secularism, bowing to the agendas of the teachings not compatible with Scripture. Whether pursuing a social gospel, where more effort is put into saving society than preaching the gospel.

(13:38 – 14:23)

Or having a love wins attitude that says regardless of biblical teaching, we will follow the LGBTQI direction and promote this in our churches. Churches are in danger of shaping the evangelistic message to the world’s perceived needs, rather than teaching the gospel exactly as Jesus intended, including judgement and the consequences of hell if we reject Jesus. Church members straining at the oars of good works, but not sharing in the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

(14:25 – 15:01)

So buffeted by the winds and the waves and the storm, the church easily changes course, seeking to go off with the flow. And what about you? There are around about 150 people here today, another hundred watching online. Are all of our lives like a beautiful rose garden, where everything is perfect? I don’t see anybody’s hands going up.

(15:04 – 16:15)

What do you do when the storm comes? Can you make it to the other side of the lake without any help? What are your struggles? Are you far from Jesus, going it alone? Are you struggling with ill health, mental health, bereavement, unemployment, broken homes, job security, being overlooked for promotion, failed your exams, a cheating spouse, family problems, exhausted, looking after a baby, neighbour disputes? Everything feels out of control. I don’t know everyone’s struggles here and watching online. Although as an elder of the church, I do seek to help and support pastorally those within my community group as other, elders do in theirs.

(16:17 – 16:33)

But what do you do in the struggles in life when everything feels out of control? Notice Jesus earlier. He went to the mountainside for quiet. And we know from other passages that Jesus would have been praying.

(16:34 – 17:04)

Struggling, prayer is a good place to start. But do our prayers purely demonstrate my current needs, or are my prayers shaped by Jesus and His agenda and His kingdom? What did … Notice what the disciples do in their boat. What do the disciples do when they’re struggling against the storm? They invite Jesus in.

(17:06 – 17:25)

So, if you’re struggling this morning, I present to you a gift, Jesus. Simply invite Him into your life to walk with you and help you in your struggles. Invite Jesus in.

(17:25 – 17:59)

Jesus is more than willing through the power of His Holy Spirit to help you daily with the struggles that you are experiencing. Going back to the church situation, it was really encouraging to hear from Andy Hunter a few weeks ago at our prayer meeting about a quiet revival of churches, where church-going Christians have increased by around two million. Yes, you heard right, two million in England and Wales in the last six years.

(18:01 – 18:24)

3.8 million to 5.6 million. FIEC, Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, to which our church is aligned, these type of churches are seeing growth. And why are they seeing growth? Because they invite Jesus in.

(18:25 – 18:45)

They are no longer buffeted by the storm. They are preaching the gospel, and they are pointing people to Jesus. I often speak to people, and when I tell them I’m going to church, they often ask, well, how many people go to your church? And when you tell them 150, 160 people, they’re amazed.

(18:48 – 19:03)

And they ask, why is your church going well? And I say, well, because we stick with the Bible. We preach what the Bible teaches. So invite Jesus in.

(19:07 – 19:22)

Notice that although struggling in the storm, there’s no reference here at this point to the disciples being afraid. I mentioned earlier in Matthew chapter 8, they were afraid then. They wake Jesus up and say, Lord, we’re going to drown.

(19:23 – 19:37)

But there’s no reference here to them being afraid at this point. Most of them are hardy fishermen used to the rough seas. However, the disciples were terrified at the holiness of Jesus.

(19:38 – 20:07)

Verse 19 continues, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water, and they were frightened or they were terrified. Why were they frightened? Well, firstly, wouldn’t you be in a storm looking at Jesus walking on the water? Put yourself in their shoes. But there is so, so much to unpack here.

(20:08 – 20:21)

Firstly, let’s get this out of the way. Was Jesus really walking on the water? Perhaps he was on the shore. Some people have said no, they’ve been travelling for three or four miles.

(20:22 – 20:39)

Could it have been a sandbar that was three or four miles long? No. John writes this account as an eyewitness, as a fisherman who’s sailed that sea on many occasions. If John knew about a sandbar that stretched three or four miles across the Sea of Galilee, he would have said.

(20:40 – 20:47)

He later wouldn’t have died for it. He didn’t say, because no such thing exists. Let’s put that one to the side.

(20:48 – 21:06)

John, the other fishermen disciples and the non-fishermen disciples were frightened or terrified because Jesus was walking on the water. Jesus has turned water into wine. He’s healed the official’s son without even being there.

(21:06 – 21:19)

He’s healed the man by the pool and many others. And he’s just fed more than 5,000 people with a lunchbox. Jesus is revealing his power and revealing himself to be God.

(21:20 – 21:38)

So why not walk on the water? In biblical times, seas were often seen as dangerous, places of unrest. You didn’t know what was lurking in the deep. But who created the seas? God.

(21:39 – 21:50)

Who controls the seas? Psalm 89 verse 9 says this, You rule over the surging sea. When its waves mount up, you still them. Referring to God.

(21:51 – 22:03)

Psalm 107 verse 29, He, God, stilled the storm to a whisper. The waves of the sea were hushed. Who controls the seas? God.

(22:05 – 22:22)

The feeding of the 5,000 that we looked at last week has big Exodus links with Moses wandering around the dry desert. The Israelites grumbled at the lack of food. And the Lord provided quail in the evenings and manna in the mornings.

(22:23 – 22:40)

Here, the people were hungry and needed fed. And the Lord provided in exactly the same way that Jesus did with the feeding of the 5,000. They were hungry, in the desert, no food.

(22:41 – 23:01)

And Jesus provides. Who controls the Red Sea? When the Israelites are about to be killed by an advancing Egyptian army and are hemmed in by the sea? God. Exodus 14 verse 21, Then Moses stretched out his hands over the seas.

(23:02 – 23:19)

And all night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The disciples knew all this. And here is Jesus walking on the water.

(23:20 – 23:45)

Who controls the seas? Jesus. Strolling through the storm, Jesus has all the power, absolute power over all the forces of creation, all the creatures of the deep, and all the forces of darkness. Jesus doesn’t want His disciples to look at Him in amazement.

(23:46 – 23:58)

By doing this, Jesus is saying, I control the sea, the wind and the waves. I am God. And this is terrifying to the disciples.

(23:59 – 24:11)

They are glimpsing at Jesus in a different light, realising that He is God. They know that God is holy. No wonder this is a terrifying experience for them.

(24:12 – 24:24)

But He said to them, verse 20, Look back down into your Bibles. It is I. Don’t be afraid. And there’s even more to unpack here.

(24:24 – 24:33)

I am not a Greek scholar. You probably already knew that. But I’m thankful for the help of those commentators who are Greek scholars.

(24:35 – 24:58)

Jesus says in Greek, ego eimi. I am. It is I. How reassuring must this have been for the disciples? It is I. A number of years ago, I was in the mountain rescue team.

(24:59 – 25:18)

And I don’t know if I’ve shared this story before, but in one of our rescues, we were looking for two men near the summit of a munro. We battled up the side of a mountain against the wind in avalanche conditions. Watch the civilian mountain rescue team turn back due to an injury and the conditions being too dangerous to go and rescue these two men.

(25:19 – 25:45)

Meanwhile, a small group of our team had driven the Land Rover right around the back of the mountain so that they could approach the summit in safer conditions. They found the men near the top lost in absolute whiteout conditions where you couldn’t see your own hand in front of you. And had our team not got to them, there’s every chance they would have perished had they stayed out in those conditions overnight.

(25:47 – 25:55)

But what did they need? They weren’t injured. They were lost. And they simply needed reassurance.

(25:56 – 26:14)

We are here to help you to get you down to safety. If you’re doing a first aid course, almost every problem that’s out there, heart attack, stroke, whatever the problem, you’re always, always told to provide reassurance. Anybody that’s done a first aid course will know that.

(26:15 – 26:29)

Ego eimi. I am. It is I. John is ensuring that his readers make some big connections here.

(26:30 – 26:52)

Where have we seen this before? Back into Exodus. We notice there’s so many connections in this section of John with big chunks of Exodus. Exodus chapter 3, verse 14, God said to Moses, now this is Moses who is hiding his face, terrified, afraid to look at the burning bush.

(26:54 – 27:04)

I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites. I am has sent me to you.

(27:05 – 27:16)

Jesus is revealing himself to the disciples as God. It is no wonder that they’re terrified. But fear is banished in the presence of Jesus.

(27:17 – 27:49)

Bruce Milne, in his commentary, highlighted that Jesus comes to them in their difficulty, that they have never been out of his sight, even if he might have been out of their sight. Do you get that? They might never, they have never been out of his sight, even although he might have been out of their sight. Jesus’s commitment is unconditional.

(27:51 – 28:22)

How encouraging is that? Verse 21, what do the disciples do? Then they were willing to take him into the boat and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. Two things that I want to unpack here. What are you going to do with Jesus? Jesus reveals himself as God to the disciples with power over wind and waves and water, and they take him into the boat.

(28:23 – 28:47)

Jesus is a clear historical figure. There is no doubting his existence. But who was Jesus? If he was just a good guy and a good teacher, how does he do the miracles that he does, demonstrating his power, feeding the 5,000, walking on water? You see, it is all or nothing for me with Jesus.

(28:47 – 29:03)

There’s no halfway house. Either he is God and therefore you need to respond to him and either invite him in or reject him. And if you reject him, you have to face the consequences of what comes with that.

(29:04 – 29:21)

Or he isn’t God and this is fake news. And if that’s the case, nothing else that Jesus claimed can be true either in terms of his miracles, his death, his resurrection, his claim on your life. Jesus is either God or not God.

(29:22 – 29:47)

And with that, you have to make a decision. Who Jesus is demands a response from every one of us watching online or in this room. What will you do with Jesus and his claims on your life today? And secondly, this almost goes unnoticed without a ripple.

(29:49 – 30:01)

Verse 21, but immediately the boat reached the shore. Did you see that? It’s a great line. They reached the shore where they were heading.

(30:01 – 30:11)

Another miracle. And we shouldn’t be surprised by this miracle. Despite it being the stuff of sci-fi movies, immediately the boat reached the shore.

(30:13 – 30:38)

But given that Jesus has just walked across the Sea of Galilee to get into the boat three or four miles, it would have been strange then for the disciples to have to be straining at the oars for the next couple of miles to reach their destination. Instead, by inviting Jesus in, they immediately reached the shore. Something that Jesus promises us too.

(30:39 – 31:12)

If we invite Jesus into our lives as ruler and king, then we will safely find the eternal shore as he leads us to our heavenly home. Our text finishes with a clamouring of the crowd trying to find Jesus. Verse 22, the next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realised that only one boat had been there and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but they had gone away alone.

(31:12 – 31:32)

Some boats from Tiberias landed near the place that the people had eaten bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. The problem is, is the crowd are seeking Jesus for all the wrong reasons.

(31:33 – 31:45)

They want to see miracles. They want to force him to be their king. They want Jesus to be working to their agenda.

(31:45 – 32:02)

They are chasing after the wrong Jesus. These verses give a good indication of the clamour or even hysteria. The crowd probably quite sizable in number, given how many were fed the day before, all looking for Jesus.

(32:03 – 32:15)

They established only one boat left last night and Jesus was not on it. You can imagine all the discussions that are happening. Just the disciples have gone, where is this Jesus? He’s got to be around somewhere.

(32:15 – 32:39)

You can imagine this ridiculous game of hide and seek, only nobody was hiding. And there’s no Snapchat maps to help them either. And then further expectant crowds arrive from Tiberias, looking for Jesus, perhaps some of yesterday’s feeding miracle folks returning and others who have heard this news as it spreads.

(32:40 – 32:54)

But quickly they realise that Jesus is not on this side of the lake. They know that the disciples have headed for Capernaum. So like a mini Dunkirk, a flotilla of boats head for Capernaum in search of Jesus.

(32:54 – 33:21)

As they want more miracles, they want a King, they want to overthrow the Romans. Is this you this morning? Are you looking for the wrong Jesus? A Jesus who fits neatly into a little box. You can talk to him on Sundays and in times of crisis, rub him like a genie when things aren’t going your way.

(33:22 – 33:35)

A Jesus who makes no demands on how you live your life. A Jesus of love, but one who doesn’t judge. If that’s who you’re looking for, you won’t find him here.

(33:36 – 33:53)

We preach that Jesus is the Holy Son of God, as we’ve seen in these verses. Jesus is the word and the word was God. Jesus is so powerful that he walks on water and gets the disciples immediately to their destination.

(33:53 – 34:00)

This is not fake news. Jesus is greater than creation. He transcends time and space.

(34:01 – 34:18)

Jesus is so holy that he is terrifying. We preach here that Jesus, about a Jesus who came to do his work, not to our agenda, 2000 years ago or today. Jesus’ work was that of the cross.

(34:19 – 34:44)

Jesus was focused on his mission to die for our sins, to take the punishment that we deserved in order to bring us from death to life so that we can be reconciled to God and welcomed into his family. He came down from a mountain and went into the storm for us. So my advice today is don’t ignore Jesus.

(34:45 – 35:10)

Don’t put Jesus in a box. Instead, bow the knee to Jesus as your saviour, your ruler, your creator, your sustainer, and your Lord. Submit your life to him as he says to you, it is I. Don’t be afraid.

(35:11 – 35:41)

Please, today, invite Jesus in. I’m going to ask the band just to come up and play quietly the song that we sung just before I came up to preach. I’ve asked you today to be willing to bow the knee to Jesus as your saviour and ruler and creator and sustainer and Lord.

(35:42 – 35:50)

And we’ve just been singing. We bow down and confess. You are Lord in this place.

(35:51 – 35:58)

You are all I need. It’s your face I seek. In the presence of your light, we bow down.

(35:59 – 36:05)

So perhaps the band can play this as we just sit quietly before Colin comes back to speak to us.

The post The Man who walks on water – John 6v16–24 appeared first on Greenview Church.

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