Please turn in your Bibles to John chapter 6. To begin this morning, I want to ask you when was the last time you have been absolutely amazed by Jesus Christ? When is the last time you marveled at Him? I mean when have you gone into shock and awe at this Miracle-working God-Man? 2 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “He comes back to be marveled at among all those who have believed.” We will be marveling at Him and worshipping Him throughout all eternity, and the passage we are going to look at today should cause us to stop what we’re doing, consider what He’s doing, and just plain marvel at Him.
The last time we were together here we saw an overview of this chapter. We saw that even though this is the longest chapter in the New Testament that it was really just three stories: the first is the miraculous feeding (verses 1-15), the second is the miraculous walking (Jesus’ walking on the water—verses 16-24) and the third is the miraculous teaching (verses 25-71).
Just as a review, last time we met we looked at the first story and saw that Jesus tested His disciples by asking them where they were going to buy bread to feed the multitude, and the disciples immediately went to their brains to try to figure out a solution to their problem, instead of going to Jesus who already had the solution before He presented the problem, so we talked about how easy it is for us, when facing testings and trials in our lives to immediately want to start figuring out a solution on our own, rather than going to Jesus Who has a solution already. And we showed how John 6 verse 6 can help get us through any trial or testing we ever face: “He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” So Jesus fed the multitude with a few loaves and fishes, again demonstrating that He is God, that He can do miracles, and that He Himself is all we need for life, and godliness.
And finally we saw this feeding of the multitude as pointing forward to the gospel, as verse 48 and on tell us that Jesus came down from heaven that His own body might be broken on the cross, to give life to all who believe. The cross is where He feeds the multitude by giving His life so that our sins might be forgiven, and that we might have eternal life.
Today we move on to the second story, the miraculous walking where Jesus walks on water. Now you probably know that this story has been mocked by numerous rationalists, those people who just can’t believe in the miracles. They’re intelligent, logical, thinking people, and they just can’t believe someone could walk on water. So they say anything from the disciples were outright lying, to they didn’t really see Him walking on the water, they saw Him walking on the shore. But I say to you that if this story is not correct then we might as well throw away the whole Bible because if one part is wrong the whole thing is wrong. So its either this book that’ wrong, this book that has stood the test of time and science for 4000 years, or it’s the rationalists that are wrong.
Let’s read the story, starting with verse 16:
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 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. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don’t be afraid." 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. John 6:16-21 (NIV)
So let’s look today at just two things: First, the causes of their fear, and second, the solutions to their fear.
So here’s the situation: the luncheon is over, evening has come, so the disciples get in their boats and begin to head home for the night. But soon they are faced with difficulty in their boat. Notice 3 problems in verses 17 and 18. First, it’s dark out and it can be scary to be in a boat on the water, at night. You constantly wonder what you are going to run into, and it’s downright frightening. But not only was it dark, verse 18 tells us that a strong wind was blowing. Now if you’ve ever been in a rowboat, or canoe, or something you paddle in the water, when the wind is strong it gets very difficult to make progress. In fact from the time it got dark until 3:00 in the morning, they had only made it about 3 miles. So it’s dark, they can’t hardly see, and they’re fighting a strong wind and hardly getting anywhere. And finally, because the wind is strong the waters are rough. So they’re paddling around in this storm at night, being tossed about and making very little progress.
But this isn’t the worst of it, the real problem is stated in verse 17, “Jesus had not yet joined them.” There is a song that goes, “anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.” But this is the opposite. Jesus isn’t with them, they don’t have His presence and they don’t feel safe. Of course they are afraid.
Now I do want to mention that the text gives us the distance that they had rowed so far, which is stated in verse 19 as 3 or 3.5 miles; in other words, just about half way. They’ve made it halfway across. But why tell us that? Why do we need to know how far they were from shore? Well could it be, that God knew that rationalists, those who don’t believe in the supernatural, would try to explain away this miracle, and state that the disciples didn’t really see Jesus walking on the water, they saw Him walking on the shore near the boat. Well the problem is that they are 3.5 miles from shore, and it’s night. Well what exactly can people see 3.5 miles away, at night, during a storm? And if He is just walking on the shore, why are they afraid? No, they see what they think is a ghost, because people don’t walk on water. It’s some ghost, or goblin or ghoul, or phantom or something is walking on top of the water and verse 19 says “they were terrified.”
Now they wouldn’t have been quite as terrified had they just known their Bibles. For instance, Job chapter 9 says “God alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.” Job says, “God walks on water.” “He alone treads on the waves of the sea.” Had they known their Bibles maybe they would have said “this is not a ghost, this is God, because remember ‘God alone treads on the waves of the sea.’”
So here are the causes of their fear: it’s dark, very windy, and the waters are very rough, Jesus is not there, and they got this ghost thing to deal with. They were terrified.
See usually in life numbers of problems come at us at once. It’s not just dark, it’s dark and stormy. In other words, about the time we get sick and have medical bills, we also can’t work and our income stops. Or about the time the air conditioner breaks, the freezer quits and you discover termites in the walls while you’re trying to take care of the mould problem. This is always the way it is. Job didn’t just lose his oxen, donkeys and servants, no, he lost all his sons and daughters and his health. Problems and difficulties can come at us in droves. "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1 (NIV)
So here are the disciples, out on the boat in the night, in the storm, not making much progress, seeing a ghost, and they’re terrified. But they’re going to discover the Solution to their fears.
Look at verse 20: Jesus says, “it is I, don’t be afraid”, and verse 21 tells us that when Christ got in the boat it immediately reached its destination, and parallel passages tell us that as soon as Christ got in the boat the wind calmed down, so that Christ’s Word and Christ’s presence brought peace. The solution to the fears of the disciples was Christ’s Word and Christ’s presence. Let’s look at these:
He said, “It is I, don’t be afraid.” His Word calmed their fears. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.” John 16:33 (KJV) His Word brings peace. Listen, if we are scared in life, we have a resource to go to, the Word of God.
But not only did His Word calm their fears, His presence calmed the storm. Look at Mark chapter 6. I think its neat how both John 6 and Mark 6 record the same story. Mark ads a few details, let’s notice them, starting with verse 48:
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, Mark 6:48-51 (NIV) They were completely in awe. They marveled at Jesus.
Look at verse 51: “He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.” Not only did His Word calm their fears, but His presence calmed the storm. Now Jesus is always with His people, He says “never will I leave you nor forsake you.” But I want to say to you this morning an amazing statement: He is especially near to those who are going through storms in life. So that we can have confidence that when we face storms and severe trials, His presence will be very near and will calm our storms. David says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
Isn’t that what Jesus did here with His disciples? Listen, you and I have no need to fear any storm of life, because in that storm God’s presence will be very near, and we will feel Him carrying us and rescuing us.
Now, I want to apply John 6 verse 20 to us today. Jesus says, “It is I, don’t be afraid.” I want to apply this in two ways; first theologically, second practically. “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Theologically speaking Jesus, Himself is the foundation of our peace with God. In other words, the reason we do not fear condemnation is because Jesus died for us the cross. “It is I, don’t be afraid”. He is the foundation of our peace with God.
Jesus said, “It is I, don’t be afraid”, even so, in Ephesians 2:14 we read “For he himself is our peace…” and verse 17 says “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2:14-17
So that the Bible tells us we were enemies of God, we were at war with God; all people were born shaking our fists at God, rebelling against His authority. Until Jesus died on the cross, thereby forgiving and removing our sin, and making peace with God for all who will believe. Jesus said, “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Jesus is the Source of our peace with God.
But I also want to apply this practically, because there are times in our lives when it seems very dark and stormy, and we are tossed to and fro, like the disciples in this storm, and we’re not making very much progress. And we feel like we’re all alone, without the presence of Jesus, just us, in a storm, at night, fighting against the wind. We’re terrified. In other words, we will have difficulties, and enemies, and trials and sicknesses and hardships.
But you know what this passage teaches us? Jesus sees us. His eye is on us in our difficulties and our hardships. And He Who died to save us will not let us die in the storm, no He will come to us. And He comes to us, because He cares for us.
And where Jesus is, there can be no fear. He says in verse 20, “it is I, don’t be afraid.” Put that statement up against your worst fears: “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Listen, sickness may destroy these bodies, our money may sprout wings and fly away, and time will make all of us very weak, until we approach death. But what is all that compared to the word of Jesus, “It is I, don’t be afraid.” And He can perform miracles to calm whatever problems we have, and get us immediately to where we are going.
The reality is that believers in Jesus often face dangers and peril, but Jesus comes to us right in the midst of the problem, just in time, and calms our fears and brings us safely to the shore. “It is I, don’t be afraid.”
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go;
Anywhere he leads me in this world below;
Anywhere without him dearest joys would fade;
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid.
Anywhere! anywhere! Fear I cannot know;
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go;
See this passage teaches us that Jesus can work miracles to help His people. Believe that. This story was not just a miracle of Jesus walking on the water; actually there were 7 miracles here: 1-Jesus knew their condition. That’s why He came to them, He knew their problems. That’s a miracle. 2-Jesus saw them. Mark 6:48 says “He saw them straining at rowing.” It doesn’t matter where you are, Jesus sees you and He knows what you are going through, and He can help you. 3-Jesus walked on the sea. He can walk all over that terrifies us. 4-Peter walked on the sea while He looked at Jesus. I mean Jesus can not only walk on the water Himself, but enable us to walk on top of that which we are afraid of. 5-Christ rescued Peter. That’s a miracle. Just reached down and snatched him up. 6-Christ stopped the wind as soon as He got in the boat. 7-Christ got them immediately to the other shore, 3.5 miles away. What it took the disciples 7-8 hours to do, Jesus did in an instant.
And the disciples marveled at Jesus. Surely, Jesus is worthy to be marveled at. He rescued these disciples miraculously. And I want you to see Him rescuing you too, for when you and I were being tossed about in the darkness of our sin, in the storm of our sin, Jesus came to us supernaturally and rescued us. Calmed our fears and calmed the storm and brought us safely to the harbor. Why? That we might marvel at Him. That we might marvel at Him, and worship Him. Let’s do that now in song.
After song:
Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! Proverbs 30:4 (NIV)
Our Father in heaven, Lord Jesus Christ, You alone have gone up to heaven and come down, You alone gather up the winds and wrap up the waters, You alone have established all the ends of the earth and are in control of all things and all people. We are in awe of You. Please keep us marveling at you all of our days.
