Get Out Of The Boat

The disciples had just reported to Jesus that John had been killed and was now buried. John, as you recall had gone to Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, and told him he was sinning by marrying his brother’s wife. That might be why he was known as “John the Baptist”.

At a birthday party for Herod, the daughter of Herodias danced and Matthew 14:6 says she greatly pleased Herod.

According to Josephus, a Jewish historian says the girls name was Salome. After her dance, Herod told her that he would give her anything she wanted, and her mother told her to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter. So in verses 10 and 11 of Matthew 14, we read that John was beheaded and the head given to the girl. Then the disciples took the body and buried it, verse 12.

The daughter, who danced, has been labeled by different commentators as either an older child or an older teenager. The Greek word korasion (ko-ra.se.on) is only used twice in the New Testament. Once speaking of Jairus’ daughter, whose age is listed as 12 years and Salome whose age is not listed. Also one says the Greek word for dance, orcheomai (or-khe-o-my) is used 4 times in the New Testament: two of these refer to the occasion with Herod, and the other two say, referring to the men of Jesus’ day, “They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’

Regardless of the type dance, it cost John his head.

When the disciples relayed this to Jesus, Matthew 14:13 says, that Jesus got into a boat to go to a deserted place, most believe to be alone. You recall John was His cousin, as well as the one that God sent to be the front runner for Him.

In Luke 7:28 Jesus had this to say about John: among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist;

When Jesus left this area he got into a boat and went to Bethsaida, and according to Mark, Luke and John the large crowd that was following him, ran around the north end of the lake and met up with him in Bethsaida. This is where Jesus fed them, perhaps 15 to 20 thousand, with the 5 loaves and two fishes..

After the crowd had eaten they proceeded to take Christ as their king. You see, that was the thought of the Jews that a messiah would come and free them from the bondage of Rome. After this miracle they said, “: This is he! This is the one!

John 6:15 says that Jesus knew the multitude were about to take Him by force to make Him king

Jesus knew what would happen if the disciples confronted the crowd so he

told the disciples to leave and he went upon the mountain to pray.

As the disciples were rowing the boat a storm arose and regardless how hard they tried they couldn’t get the boat to straighten out.

Then they see a figure walking on the water, and they

became afraid.

I. These men were fishermen! They had been on the water many times, and in storms before.

A. They knew how to steer a boat.

1. When I was a teenager I was invited to go fishing with a cousin to

A large lake in Florida.

2. It turned out that two other men were going.

3. When we got in the boat, which didn’t have a motor, I learned why I had been invited.

4. I tell that to tell you I didn’t know then, and don’t know now how to steer a row boat.

5. They accused me of reckless driving.

B. But these disciples were good drivers, but the winds and waves were greater than they.

C. It was only a mile and a half from Bethsaida to Capernaum, but the scripture tells us they had rowed between 2.9 and 3-1/2 miles and were in the middle of the lake. (John 6:19).

D. When they saw this figure coming toward them on the water,

1. Matthew and Mark say it was the forth watch of the night. The day was divided into 12 hours, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

2. The night was divided into watches.

a. The first watch was 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

b. The second watch was 9:00 PM to 12:00 Midnight

c. The third watch was 12 Midnight to 3:00 AM

d. The forth watch was 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM

3. In Mark 6:48 it says: He “ would have passed them by”

a. The Greek word used here means “I desire”