Walking On Water- Sink Or Swim Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Today as we continue on with our series Deep Thoughts With Jesus, we are going to examine an interesting event in the life of Jesus as well as in the life of Peter and the other disciples.

• As we dig into the event of Jesus and Peter walking on water, I want us to look at this event on a little bit of a deeper level.

• This event really takes us to the crossroads we all face concerning our faith.

• As we live life, we can live it in the presence of Jesus, BUT will we allow the relationship with Him to be much more than a ministry of presence?

• What I mean by that is that we can get involved in the things that Jesus would want us to be involved in, such as being active in His church.

• We can read the Bible, pray, give, and do other works of charity; however, if we are not careful, we will miss what Jesus is calling to do with our lives. That is what I want us to consider this morning.

• This occurrence happens after Herod had John the Baptist beheaded, and immediately after the feeding of the 5000.

• Up to this point and after seeing Jesus feed the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, one would think that the Disciples understanding of Jesus would be solidly entrenched into their souls.

• The event we will focus on today forced the disciples to take a deep view of Jesus than they possessed ever before.

• These men had to make a decision, to sit in the boat, to walk on water with Jesus, or to drown.

• Let’s begin by looking at Matthew 14:22-24

• SLIDE #2

• Matthew 14:22–24 (CSB) 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. Life without the presence of Jesus. 22-24

• This had been an eventful time, Jesus had been told of the beheading of John the Baptist, so Jesus withdrew to get away from the crowds; however, they found Him.

• Jesus sees the crowds, heals people, and teaches them.

• It was at this point where we have the feeding of the 5,000. The disciples wanted Jesus to send the people home to eat; however, Jesus had a different plan.

• He took 5 loaves and 2 fish and fed the entire crowd.

• In verse 22 we see the word IMMEDIATELY, this was right after the feeding.

• Jesus seemed to be in a hurry to get away from the crowd.

• We are not sure why He was in a hurry, but one of the parallel accounts of the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:15 we read the following:

• SLIDE #4

• John 6:15 (CSB) Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

• Jesus knew the time and the circumstances were not right for Him, so He asked the disciples to go across the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida according to Mark 6:45.

• Jesus sent them ahead of Him so he could go into the mountains to pray.

• Now the disciples are alone.

• They left in the boat between 6-9 pm. The Romans divided the night into four WATCHES.

• 1- 6-9 pm, 2-9-Midnight. 3. Midnight to 3 am. 4- 3am to 6 am.

• John 6:16 tells is when evening came, the disciples got in the boat.

• This is what I want us to think about.

• These men were in the physical presence of Jesus, now they are not.

• Jesus sent them in the boat alone to get across the Sea of Galilee.

• These guys knew how to navigate and handle to rough waters of the Sea of Galilee, but this night was especially rough.

• The wind was blowing hard and the waves were battering the boat because the wind was against them.

• The men had made it about 3-4 miles according to John 6:19 at this point.

• There strong headwinds made the journey even more difficult, these men had battled bad conditions for most of the night.

• If they were with Jesus, the trip would have been much easier.

• Now this is not a situation where they chose to be away from Jesus, Jesus told them to go ahead of Him.