Scripture Introduction
I was listening (a few days ago) to a sermon by Tim Keller, a PCA pastor in New York. He made (for me) a helpful distinction between looking at a truth and looking through it. Some think of Christianity as a dry and stagnant and intellectual exercise — a religion that promotes certain facts which can be looked at and dissected. So Christians believe Jesus performed miracles; scholars and skeptics argue whether such claims are possible or believable.
But as Pastor Keller noted, living, vital, life-transforming faith requires that we look through truth. Sin distorts our perception, making life unclear, blurring our view of ourselves and others. To look through truth is to put on glasses which focus the whole world. It is to be changed by truth, not merely to know of it. It may be accurate to say that such is the effect of true conversion — facts now focus our eyes to truly see.
I think that helps explain why Jesus so often acted out his teachings rather than simply state them as doctrinal truths. As in our text today — Jesus could have simply said, “God is to be feared, and not to be feared.” Instead, he sends his disciples into a classroom at sea, to learn to look through this truth as well as at it. Their experience and response teaches us much about God and fear. Please listen (or, if you prefer, following along) as I read John 6.15-21. [Read John 6.15-21. Pray.]
Introduction
He began his first inaugural speech, March 4, 1933, with these words: “This is a day of national consecration. I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly…. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance….”
Was Franklin Delano Roosevelt correct in those famous words: “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”? Certainly his rhetoric captured the imagination and contained truth. Fear can paralyze; unreasoning, unjustified terror grips our hearts and seems to control our wills (and even our limbs). Maybe fear is to be feared, especially unreasoning fear.
But is fear the only thing we have to fear? The disciples were afraid when they saw Jesus. But then they were glad and past the storm. What is Jesus teaching them (and us)?
1. We Overcome Fear By Fearing God (John 6.16-20)
We may miss something if we only read this account in John’s Gospel. He does not include an earlier incident in the life of the disciples. Mark, however, records both.
In Mark 4, the disciples were (also) in a boat, but with Jesus asleep in the stern. Suddenly, a great windstorm arises, threatening to sink their craft. They were terrified of the storm and woke Jesus, saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus rebuked the wind and sea, and said to his men, “Why are you so afraid?” They feared the storm; so Jesus demonstrated his power over the wind and the waves. A living lesson: Jesus’ presence controls the circumstances we face so that we need not fear. That was Mark 4.35-41.
Two chapters later, we read of a second “sea sermon.” Right after feeding the 5000, Jesus places his disciples in a boat and sends them across the Sea of Galilee without him. Mark shows us that these two events occur on the heals of one another, but with different lessons.
With that in mind, notice a distinction between the events: there is no indication here that the disciples are afraid of the storm. The sea is rough; a strong wind is blowing; Mark even observes that they were making headway painfully. But fear comes from seeing Jesus walking on the water. They thought it was a ghost, and they are terrified.
That seems strange to me. Jesus feeds a huge crowd by miraculously multiplying 5 barley loaves and 2 salted fish into a feast for ten to twenty thousand people. Plus, there are 12 disciples and 12 basketsful left over. We cannot know for sure, but its seems likely that each took with him a basket and the baskets are in the boat with the men, one for each.
So, what is wrong with these guys? Why do they not cheer Jesus’ arrival? Why are they afraid when they had clearly seen his power and should have anticipated his miraculous help? The answer is that they still do not expect the presence of the supernatural. Jesus is clearly from another world; he is not safe! The transcendent has invaded, and the only possible response is dread and terror. They do not understand about the loaves, for their hearts remain hardened. They see, but they do not yet see through.
So what is Jesus after in orchestrating this elaborate lesson? What is he accomplishing in the life of these men? I would ask that you consider three things.
1.1. Jesus teaches them (and us) that he never leave nor forsake us.
We sang it earlier in the hymn, “How Firm A Foundation”: "The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!"
It had been a long night. It was evening when they left the shore; now it is about 3 AM. The men are exhausted and discouraged by the difficulty of the task. But unlike before, Jesus is not asleep in the rear of the boat. He is not with them; there is no one to help. So they grit their teeth, keep to the oars, and make headway painfully.
You heard about the man who was forced to his rooftop during the flooding after Katrina. He was not afraid because he believed God would take care of him, regardless of the circumstances. When his neighbors began evacuating their homes, this man was not worried. "God will take care of me," he assured himself. Soon, the rising flood waters drove him to his roof. A rescue boat came, and the men in the boat shouted, “Climb in, we’ll save you."
"No thanks," the man replied, "God will save me." The flooding continued. Sitting on his roof, wrapped in a rain jacket, the man saw a helicopter fly overhead. A rescue net was dropped into the man’s lap. "Grab on," the crew yelled. "We’ll save you.”
But the man would not: "God will save me" he yelled. "I don’t need your life preserver." The helicopter flew away; the flood rose; the man drowned. When he reached Heaven, he asked Peter why God did not save him. Peter said: “We sent a boat and a helicopter. Why did you not climb on?”
Obviously, that is a silly, made up story. But it reminds me of the disciples. They did not expect God to do anything either. They thought they were alone.
Have you not felt the same? You are trying so hard to live faithfully and pure, and it seems God has abandoned you to your passions and the world’s impurity? You want to love your spouse completely and unreservedly, but it feels like God offers no relief or support? You put much effort into blessing your kids, but you are sure God is not involved or concerned? You try to make ends meet, but there is never enough.
Maybe you are not afraid of the storm; you are past that. Now, just like the disciples, you grit your teeth and row with no hope or dream of God’s help. You keep your expectations low so that you will not be disappointed. But see Jesus walking on the water. On an earlier day he was in the boat, and we learned not to fear the storms. Now he is with us, even when he is not “with us.” There need be no “all alone” when facing life’s difficulties. Will you expect and desire God’s help? He never leaves nor forsakes us.
1.2. Jesus teaches them (and us) that God is fearful.
What is it that frightens the disciples? Is it not the presence of God? Such is always the human response to holiness.
Moses knew it: “So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.’”
Isaiah felt it: “Woe is me; for I am lost!”
Peter experienced it. He fished all night but caught nothing. Jesus coaches him to cast his nets again. He is dubious, but obeys; and catches so many fish that the nets begin to break and two boats are filled so that another fish would sink them. We expect Peter to shout: “Hallelujah! My worries are over. Forget the Sonar/GPS Chartplotter fish finder! Who needs Roland Martin or Bill Dance when you have this guy?”
But how does Peter, the tough guy, the salted fisherman, respond? He falls on his knees before Jesus: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
We want to be close to God; but such is always a terrifying experience. It is as if our souls have two layers. God laid down a layer which longs to know him. We recognize that we remain restless until we find rest in him. We want to know the glory of that by whom and for whom we were made. We need to touch the holy. Yet another layer sits on top, placed by our sin. Thus we fear (or even are repulsed by) the holy. [Illustration from Keller.]
Jesus brings this to the center of the disciples’ attention. We must know that God is fearful.
Maybe you imagine a love which never confronts, never corrects, never changes us. We hope God will help us and still leave us in control. We want a domesticated deity to provide favors when the night is long and we are lonely.
Jesus will have none of that. God is great and greatly to be feared. First, even when we do not know his presence, he is with us. Second, he is holy and fearful. Third…
1.3. Jesus teaches them (and us) that God is greater than all life’s troubles.
Verse 20 tells us that Jesus says, “It is I; do not be afraid.” That is true, but it may not be the best translation. Literally Jesus said, “I am; do not be afraid.” That does not sound right in English, so we put, “It is I.”
It is probably important to see the literal translation because that same phrase has been used before when God explained his presence to his people. Moses met God at a burning bush. The flame of fire came out of the bush, but it was not consumed. When Moses came near, God said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
God then tells Moses that he is to bring Israel out of Egypt. And Moses asked, “What am I to tell the Israelites is your name?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM…. Tell them “I AM sent you.”
There in Exodus 3.14 is the exact same phrase occurs as Jesus spoke in John 6: “I AM; do not be afraid.”
Jesus does not say, “Think of the odds of drowning in the Sea of Galilee; they are low; do not fear.” He does not say, “The weather forecast is for clearing skies; do not be afraid.” What does he say? “I am; I overwhelm all other troubles.”
A couple of years ago we went deep sea fishing on a boat that could handle 10-12 passengers. It seemed a nice size when we were in dock; but in the middle of the ocean it was tossed to and fro. We even had a little problem with some seasickness. I have also been on an ocean liner. That is a much bigger boat, one that can handle as many as 3000 passengers. The waves of the sea are not even noticed by those on board.
When Jesus says, “I AM,” he is proclaiming to be of such substance that no storm can rock the boat where he is captain. I AM—this is the solid ground that you can build your life upon. I AM—my presence makes every circumstance different.
Roosevelt’s slogan, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” is not quite true. Life offers a virtually endless supply of things to fear: sickness, war, draught, final exams, speaking in public, being fired, losing a friend or loved one, singleness, old age, cancer, death.
Speaking with Pastor Chuck Hickey yesterday. As we reflected on the great difficulties we face in pastoring the church while trying to keep our own lives going, he said, “I’m convinced that life is really moving from one trouble to another.” I agree.
How do we face them? “I AM; do not be afraid.” Jesus never minimizes the storms; he does not say, “It’s not as bad as you think.” He says, I AM greater than you imagine. We overcome fear by fearing God.
2. We Find a Friend By Fearing God (John 6.21)
We realize at this point that Jesus does all this intentionally. Anyone who can calm the storm and move the boat instantly to the other side must control the storms. This is a lesson designed to teach the disciples that the answer to the fearfulness of God is to invite him into your life. Then you will find there really is nothing to fear. Refuse to fear God and life has fears significant enough to freeze the bravest soul. Fear God and “take him into your boat” and you fill find him a faithful friend who presence overwhelms all fears.
Charles Wesley wrote this in his journal. Sunday, January 25, 1735: “At noon our third storm began. At four it was more violent than before. At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers, which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired, and would receive no pay, saying, "it was good for their proud hearts."… There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards, "Were you not afraid?" He answered, "I thank God, no." I asked, "But were not your women and children afraid?" He replied, mildly, "No; our women and children are not afraid to die." From them I went to their crying, trembling neighbors, and pointed out to them the difference in the hour of trial, between him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not.”
The storm revealed to Wesley the lack of faith in many, including himself. Those that fear God can live without fear.
3. Conclusion
One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can’t dear. I have to sleep in Daddy’s room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"
Some of us may be afraid of being thought a big sissy. We do not call on God to help and comfort. One day God will bring a storm to disabuse you of your thoughts of self-sufficiency. Today he asks you to humble yourself and admit that you are not sufficient for life’s storms. Will you not take Christ into your boat and be glad?
