Get Out Of The Boat! Series

I. Jesus Constrained His disciples

A. Jesus Sent them into a storm

B. Jesus Prays for them in the storm

C. Jesus Sees them in the storm

D. Jesus Went to them in the storm

1. He Comes In The Face Of Disaster

2. He Comes In The Face Of Darkness

II. Peter Considers his Lord, 28

A. Peter sought the will of Christ, “Bid me come.”

B. Peter sought the presence of Christ, “bid me come unto thee!”

III. Peter Conquers his Fears

A. His fear

B. His friends

IV. Peters Consternation

A. Peter’s Problem

B. Peter’s Prayer

V. The Disciples are Convinced of Who He is

Three pastors were sitting in a boat, fishing.

“I’m thirsty,” said the first. “I’m gonna go get myself a Coke.” So he got out of the boat, walked across the water, and came back with his Coke.

“Ooh, that looks good,” said the second and got out of the boat. He walked across the water, got his Coke, and came back.

“You’re right,” said the third. “I think I’ll get one too.” He steps out of the boat and sinks like a rock.

“Hey,” said the first pastor to the second, “should we tell him where the rocks are?”

Background:

John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

John 6:15 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.

I. Jesus Constrained His disciples

Matthew 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

A. Jesus Sent them into a storm

Matthew 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

B. Jesus Prays for them in the storm

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

C. Jesus Sees them in the storm

Mark 6:47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

Mark 6:48 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.

In his book The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning tells about an incident which took place one day when a two-story house caught on fire. The family was making its way out of the house when the smallest boy became terrified, tore away from his mother, and ran back upstairs. Suddenly, he appeared at a smoke-filled window crying hysterically. Standing outside, his father shouted, Jump, son, jump! I will catch you.”

The boy cried, “But daddy, I can’t see you.”

“I know, his father called. But I can see you.” That’s really all that matters in threatening situations, isn’t it? To know that our heavenly Father can see us.

D. Jesus Went to them in the storm, 24, 25

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

1. He Comes In The Face Of Disaster

The disciples were in a fight for their lives. Mark 6:48 says that they were “toiling in rowing”.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

2. He Comes In The Face Of Darkness

The Bible says that Jesus came to them in “the fourth watch”. Sometime between 3 AM and 6 AM, during the darkest hours of the night, Jesus came walking on the water!

Let me remind you that even in the darkest hours of life God is still God and He is still in control of your life.

Psalm 139: 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Even the darkest hours of life cannot hide you from the face of God. He is there even when you cannot see Him.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.