Jesus Walking on Water. Matthew 14: Mark 6: John 6:16-21

Transcription

1 1 Jesus Walking on Water Matthew 14:24-33 Mark 6:47-52 John 6:16-21

2 2 Texts: Walking on Water Matthew 14:24-33, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Mark 6:47-52, When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. John 6:16-21, When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 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

3 3 them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 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. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. Commentary: I. The texts for this lesson describe four (4) miracles, not just one (1); viz., A. walking on water. B. enabling Peter to walk on water. C. calming of the storm. D. immediately arriving at their destination. Note: These events constitute the fifth (5 th ) great sign of Jesus' divinity as related by John. I. The disciples, having been sent away in a boat toward Capernaum from the site of the multitudes and having attempted to make Jesus king by force, found themselves in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. A. Winds were blowing and the waves were tossing. B. Master, the Tempest is Raging. Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is o'er-shadowed with blackness; No shelter or help is nigh. "Carest Thou not that we perish?" How canst Thou lie

4 4 asleep When each moment so madly is threat'ning A grave in the angry deep? Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today; The depths of my sad heart are troubled; O waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o'er my sinking soul; And I perish! I perish! Dear Master: O hasten, and take control. Master, the terror is over, The elements sweetly rest; Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored, And heaven's within my breast. Linger, O blessed Redeemer, Leave me alone no more; And with joy I shall make the blest harbor, And rest on the blissful shore. The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will; Peace, be still! Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea, Or demons, or men, or whatever it be, No water can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean and earth and skies: they all shall sweetly obey Thy will; Peace, be still! Peace, be still! They all shall sweetly obey Thy will; Peace, peace, be still! C. The disciples at even were in the ship in the midst of the sea. D. Darkness fell with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. They were in grave danger from the storm. E. Note: The devil, having failed in his attempt to make Jesus king by force, now tries to kill the disciples in this storm. F. Jesus was in the boat asleep in the stern when an earlier storm arose. He was not totally absent from the disciples! Jesus was training the disciples step by step so they could operate successfully after he had ascended.

5 5 II. While all this was beginning to happen Jesus was alone on the land to the east of the Sea of Galilee. A. Jesus saw the distress of the disciples from his vantage point on shore. B. Jesus saw the disciples toiling in their attempt to row the boat against the wind. They were able to row against the wind and waves only about 25 or 30 furlongs. The ship was about to sink. C. At about the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them walking on the water. D. Jesus made as if he were going to walk on by, but the disciples saw him, were troubled thinking they were seeing a spirit, a ghost, and cried out for fear. The disciples evidently believed in ghosts. (The Greek word is actually phantasm.) III. Jesus immediately spoke to the disciples, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." A. In all of our troubles Jesus tells us, "Be of good cheer; I am with you; be not afraid." B. Have trust in Jesus in good times and in bad times. IV. The outspoken Peter said, "Lord, if it is really you, permit me to come to you walking on the water." A. Matthew is the only gospel writer who included this remarkable event concerning Peter. B. This either took much faith on Peter's part or little thought as to what he was getting himself into.

6 6 C. Jesus said, "Come" Peter went! Peter actually walked on the water! D. When he took his eyes off Jesus and saw the boisterous winds and waves, he became afraid and began to sink. E. Peter was afraid and began to sink. F. There was no one who could save him except Jesus. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" G. There is no one who can save us except Jesus. We cry with Peter, "Lord, save us!" H. Jesus stretched out his hand and caught his hand and rescued him! He rescues us as well! I. Jesus rebuked Peter, "O you of little faith! Why did you doubt?" J. Walking on water in the middle of this ferocious storm took quite a lot of faith. When Peter did not persevere in faith he was said to have little faith. K. What would Jesus say to us with all out lack of confidence? L. Most of the things the human race has achieved would never have been achieved if mankind had taken their eyes off the goal and focused on the difficulties that would be encountered. V. When Jesus entered the ship, the winds ceased immediately. A. Storms suddenly arose and subsided on the Sea of Galilee.

7 7 B. Those in the ship worshiped Jesus having concluded that he was indeed the Son of God. C. Mark states they were amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wandered. D. They had failed to connect the power needed to feed 5,000 men plus women and children with the power needed to walk on water and still the storm. E. The disciples' hearts were hardened. In this regard they were dense, not too swift. VI. The ship was immediately at the land! It had amazingly reached its destination as if they had sailed across the lake on a moon lit calm sea. A. The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. It is thought the place of this crossing was a distance of about 6 miles. B. A furlong, based on the Greek stadion, was 606 3/8 feet. Twentyfive to thirty-five furlongs, the distance rowed by the disciples, was between 2.87 and 4.01 miles, or about half way across the lake. C. Watches: In New Testament times night, from sunset to sunrise, among the Greeks and Romans was divided into four (4) watches each consisting of approximately three (3) hours each. The fourth watch was from approximately 3:00-6:00 A.M.

8 8 Jesus Walking On Water Questions 1. In the watch of the night, when the boat in which the were riding was a from land, Jesus came to them on the. 2. arose on the lake and the waters grew. 3. The apostles saw Jesus the, on the ; and they were. 4. Jesus said, "It is ; don't be. Take." 5. Peter responded, ", if it is you, tell me to come to you on the." Jesus said, "." Peter got down out of the, walked on the and came toward. 6. When Peter saw the, he was and beginning to out, "Lord, save me!" 7. Describe times when you began to "sink" and cried out, "Lord, save me."

9 Immediately Jesus reached out his and him. "You of, why did you doubt?" 9. Those who were in the Jesus saying, "Truly you are the of." 10. This passage describes four miracles: (a) (b) (c) (d)