Reading: Mark chapter 6 verses 45-62.
Ill:
Nun & Petrol Story.
This is the third nature miracle in Mark’s gospel:
• The first nature miracle was calming the storm by just speaking (Mark chapter 4).
• The second nature miracle was Jesus feeding of the 5,000 people (Mark chapter 6)
• This third miracle has Jesus walking on the water.
• Note: Mark does not include the incident of Peter getting out the boat.
• We will come to that in a moment.
• We will look at the incident and then Peter’s input at the end.
The key lesson for me in this story is Faith:
• Verse 52 clearly brings out that point.
• “For they (disciples) had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened”.
• The disciples had witnessed first hand,
• The compassion and the power Jesus had for a large crowd of strangers.
• Now in the middle of a raging storm,
• They needed Jesus to have the same compassion on them, his 12 friends,
In life, both the blessings and difficulties that we experience:
• Should deepen our relationship with the Lord.
• Should cause us to trust him more and more.
• Like the disciples we need to learn & keep learning,
• That the compassion and power of Jesus,
• Are permanent qualities of his nature.
• Therefore we can trust him in one situation after another, In fact, in all situations.
Now There are two kinds of faith.
(1). Saving faith.
• When we put our trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
• This comes first and is the most essential of the two.
(2). Experimental faith.
• That is what we practice after we are saved.
• “We walk by faith and not by sight” – by daily trusting the Lord.
Quote:
“Saving faith is primary and fits us for heaven;
experimental faith is subsidiary and fits us for earth”.
Saving faith is intangible,
• It cannot be measured.
• Ill: Some of our faith was like a mustard seed, others like a mustard tree.
• We are saved not because we had great faith,
• But because we put our faith in the right source, in a great saviour.
Experimental faith is tangible:
• It produces visible results that can be tested.
• Ill: rebuilding a Church or a specific need.
• We trust the Lord to meet that need,
• And when he meets that need, we can see our faith was tangible, real.
Jesus wanted the disciples to put their faith in him:
• To catch a glimpse of who he really is, God made flesh!
• The deity of Jesus is seen throughout this incident.
• Three truths about Jesus in this story,
• Have an Old Testament equivalent regarding Jehovah.
(1). Walking on the water.
• The Old Testament often pictures God walking over the sea.
• Quote: Psalm 77 verse 19: “You walked through the waves; you crossed the deep sea”.
• Jesus, walking on the water,
• Is behaving like God in the picture language of the Old Testament
(2). We have the expression that Jesus was going to “Pass by” the disciples (verse 48).
• At first sight that does not mean much,
• But again this is an Old Testament expression linked to God himself.
Quotes:
• Exodus chapter 33 verses 19-23:
• “The ‘dazzling light of God’s presence’ passed by Moses”.
• 1 Kings chapter 19 verses 11-12:
• “God passed by the mountain top where Elijah had camped”.
• Job chapter 9 verse 11-12:
• Job said in his despair. “God passes by, but I cannot see him”.
• “Passed by” is a common Old Testament phrase,
• Used of Jehovah.
(3). Jesus words.
• In verse 50 Jesus said to the disciples; “It is I. Don’t be afraid!”
• The Greek words Mark uses for “It is I” are simply “I AM”.
• The name “I AM” is what Jehovah called his name,
• When Moses asked for a name in Exodus chapter 3 verse 14.
So this story of Jesus walking on the water:
• Is packed with Old Testament ideas,
• That point the reader to one conclusion;
• That when Jesus walked on the water,
• It was like the appearances of God long ago.
(1). Preparation (verses 45-50):
(1). Jesus in control (Verse 45):
45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Before Jesus went into the hills to pray he does two things:
• First he dismisses the crowds:
• Second he dismisses his disciples.
Verse 45: “Jesus made his disciples get into the boat”:
• Mark uses an unexpectedly strong verb;
• It literally reads “Compelled them into the boat”.
Question: Why did Jesus compel His disciples to leave?
Answer: Twofold:
1st Explanation is found in John chapter 6 verse 14-15:
14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Apart from the miracle of the resurrection:
• The feeding of the 5,000 plus people, is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
• That would indicate to us that this miracle was very significant.
As a result of what they saw and experienced:
• The crowd suddenly got restless, and there was always the danger,
• That they might start a popular uprising to make Jesus king,
• The crowds had ideas of a national and political Messiah.
• A mighty warrior king, who would over throw their Roman oppressors.
• They had yet to understand that before Jesus could reign,
• He must first suffer and die.
• Jesus would be king but according to his timescale not theirs.
• So Jesus and his disciples quickly left that place.
2nd Explanation:
• Jesus would use this situation to teach them an important lesson on faith,
• One that would help prepare them for the work that lay ahead of them after He was gone.
Remember this incident follows on from when:
• The disciples had just completed a very successful evangelistic mission,
• They had been healing the sick and preaching the Gospel.
• They had also shared in the miraculous feeding of 5,000 people.
• Jesus fed the people, through his disciples who shared the food.
We would say that:
• They were on a “spiritual high”, they had experienced one blessing after another.
• And this in itself can be dangerous.
Quote:
“It is good to be on the mountain¬top,
Just vas long as you don’t get careless and step off a cliff”
In life our spiritual blessings must be balanced out with difficulties and trials:
• Otherwise, we may become pampered children,
• Instead of mature sons and daughters.
• Difficulties and battles often follow on from spiritual highs,
• Ill: Jesus baptism & temptation.
Note:
• Remember that this storm came because the disciples were in the will of God,
• And it was Jesus who sent the disciples into the storm.
(2). Jesus in Prayer (verse 46).
The secret to victorious living:
• Of overcoming the difficulties and trials,
• Is given to us by Jesus in verse 46: “Jesus went into the hills to pray”.
• Even after an extremely tiring day and another late night
• Jesus would not be kept from this vital appointment with his heavenly Father.
Ill:
Batteries and recharges.
(2). The Situation (verse 47-50).
47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He 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
(1). All alone (verse 47).
Jesus is alone on the mountain.
• The disciples are in the middle of the lake,
• They are together but alone.
• They are separated from family & friends, the shore,
• And most of all Jesus.
Ill:
• Just like you can be lonely in a room full of strangers,
• I think these disciples felt isolated.
(2). A storm (verse 48).
• A fierce gale swept across the Sea of Galilee.
• And blew the disciples off course.
• Matthew adds in his account (chapter 14 verse 24);
• The boat was “Battered, buffeted by the waves”.
Notice:
• Jesus saw the disciples in trouble,
• But to test their faith, he allowed them to carry on their own straining at the oars,
• When you consider the full day that they had experienced and the late hour
• The ‘fourth watch of the night’ (in verse 48).
• That would mean about 3 a.m, the darkest hour of the night.
• They must have been at the point of exhaustion,
(3). A panic (Verse 49-50):
He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.
Quote: David Hewitt comments:
“There was a local rumour that the last thing a boatman saw before drowning in Galilee was a ghost on the water”.
Question:
• Was Jesus asking them to trust him over superstitions?
• The disciples seemed here and elsewhere to believe in superstitious ghosts,
Notice that even though he walked towards them on the water:
• He made as if to pass them by.
• Jesus is testing the disciples to see if they have learned from the earlier incident
Ill:
The first nature miracle was calming the storm by just speaking (Mark chapter 4).
• In the earlier event the disciples were caught in a terrible storm:
• They thought they were about to die,
• It seemed like they were alone in the boat
• Jesus was in the boat but asleep, he was not actually doing anything.
Now in this similar yet different situation:
• Jesus is again with them,
• But again he is not doing anything directly to help them.
• Question: Would they grasp hold of the fact,
• That they were safe while he was near?
• Question: Would they grasp hold of the fact,
• That Jesus was calmly walking on the very thing that terrified them?
(4). A deliverer (vs 49-51):
He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
The disciples fail the test of faith:
• Instead of the presence of Jesus comforting them,
• It actually frightened them and they were terrified.
Jesus was waiting to be invited on board.
• Often we fight the struggles of life in our own strength,
• Like the disciples we row and row and get nowhere fast.
• Let’s heed the warning and invite Jesus on board.
• Then together they headed for the shore:
• Faith does not rule out human actions and hard work,
• But correctly places them in their right order.
Jesus will again show his Lordship over the elements of wind and water:
• Earlier in Mark chapter 4 verses 35-41,
• He just spoke, “Be muzzled!” And changed the situation with a word, a command!
• But this time he would do something quite unique,
• His very presence with them in the boat, would calm the violent storm.
(4). Christs power (verses 50-56).
This passage shows the power Jesus:
(1). Over the disciples fear (verse 50).
50because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
The disciples were in a difficult situation:
• The more they rowed, the less they progressed,
• The strong wind was preventing them from making headway.
• Then to there amazement they saw what looked like a ghost,
• A figure walking towards them on the water.
• Each of the disciples saw him but nobody recognized him!
• This caused panic and fear among them.
Look how Jesus calms the situation:
(1). He speaks.
• He identifies himself.
• He gives a word of reassurance and then a command.
(2). He climbs on board the boat.
• The disciples fear is replaced with amazement,
• As Jesus gets into the boat and the storm dies down.
Quote:
“True faith rests on God’s promises and not on our feelings, circumstances or anything else.
To recognize that God is with us, will bring courage and calm even in the most difficult circumstances.
(2). Over the storm (verse 51)
51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
Quote: The amplified Bible:
“They failed to consider, or understand the teaching and meaning of the miracle of the loaves; in fact, their hearts had grown callous – had become dull, and had lost the power of understanding”
• When we forget or fail to appreciate what he has done for us in the past,
• We will miss out in the present.
Ill:
“Remember me”.
(3). Peter (Matthew chapter 14 verses 22-36).
(1). An act of faith (verse 28-29).
28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus
• These verses show to us something about Peter’s character:
• He was a man who acted on impulse and without thinking what he was doing.
• He was ruled by his heart rather than his head.
• This is a personality trait that would appear all through his life.
While we often focus on the failures of Peter:
• Remember this was an incredible demonstration of faith.
• Peter dared to be different.
• Anybody can sit in a boat and watch.
• But it takes genuine faith to get out of the boat and into the water.
(2). An act of failure (verse 30).
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
• Peter started to sink;
• Because he took his eyes off the Lord and looked around at his circumstances.
• Peter was actually walking on the water with Jesus.
• Until he started to look around at the storm.
Peter failed and yet he didn’t:
• He failed the test of walking on the water,
• But notice, even Peter’s failures brought him closer to Jesus!
• He was certainly closer to Jesus than those in the boat,
• And he experienced a personal touch from the Lord.
Verse 31:
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him”.
• In his failure,
• Peter was closer to Jesus than all the other disciples who had no faith at all.
Quote:
“A saint is not a man who never fails;
a saint is a man who gets up and goes on again every time he falls”
Peter sows us the way to overcoming failure:
• Verse 30: “Beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
• Peter did not wait until he was drowning.
• As soon as he felt himself sinking,
• He called out to the Lord!
• At once Jesus reached out his hand to him and caught him;
• Saying: “You of little faith…..why did you doubt?”
Ill:
Sculpture and horse.
• This incident was for peter a time when the Lord,
• Just chipped away a few more rough edges in his quest to make something beautiful.
