John 6:16-21 Surviving the Storms of Life

15.03.09 John 6:16-21 (NASB)

Sermon Audio File: John 6:16-21

Going Deeper: Study Guide

Surviving the Storms of Life

When we began chapter 6 we found ourselves in the midst of a miracle. This was the 4th sign in the gospel of John, popularly know as the feeding of the 5000. The key lesson that we focused on was related to trusting God. We found that the disciples were pre-occupied about earthly things - how were they going to disperse this huge crowd, and if they stay… how are they going to feed them all? Up to this point the disciples had been with Jesus for about 2 years. We would think that they should have know the nature and character of their Master, and what He could do. Yet we find that their spiritual eyes are short sighted. They were in the presence of Jesus - God the Son - but they were spiritually blind. Despite this we should give the disciples credit for obeying Jesus’ instructions as He prepared for the miracle. Now Jesus performs the miracle for all to see. As the people finished eating, the disciples collected what was leftover. They were able to fill twelve baskets with the barley bread which had not been eaten by all the people. What the disciples learned that day was to focus on Jesus more, instead of focusing upon themselves. They learned that Jesus is sufficient for all things and He demonstrated it again through the miraculous feeding of the great crowd. With the miracle complete the disciples had learned something about trusting their teacher and His power. The disciples faith wavered but in the end it was bolstered, and caused them to mature just a little bit more.

Today we are going to see that Jesus reveals even more of Himself to His disciples. If you remember back to verses 14 and 15, the people began to say that Jesus was the Prophet that God had promised from the days of the OT. The people in interpreting the fulfillment of the OT Scriptures were correct. Yet it was energized by the wrong motives - the people interests, in Jesus, lay largely upon the Jewish hopes for political freedom from the yoke of the Roman empire. They sought a powerful and influential person who would be from their own people. They figured that Jesus was just the right One to play this role, and they tried by force to make Him king. We know from the gospels that even the disciples viewed Jesus as a political deliverer. Yet when Jesus rejected the position there was a great sense of discouragement. In their view this was a great time to become king. The feeding of the crowd gave rise to the possible recruitment of 5000 men.

As we begin the next section of chapter 6, we have the 5th sign that is presented in the our gospel - the miracle of Jesus walking on water. This is the account from the Scripture:

16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they [started to] cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea [began] to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He ^said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

This sign is witnessed only by the disciples and no one else. It served to encourage the discouraged disciples who just witnessed Jesus reject the kingship of the people. The disciples could have been wondering if they had been mistaken about Jesus. They could have been thinking that they put all their eggs into one basket - perhaps they had misplaced their faith in the wrong person? They had spent all this time with Jesus and now when the people had pressed Jesus to be their king He refused. The disciples were likely replaying over and over in their minds the question - If Jesus was really serious about bringing in the Kingdom …then why doesn’t He seem to care? Perhaps the disciples hopes were somewhat shattered. Yet in Jesus’ refusal to be king he demonstrated His authority over the great crowd, for He was not going to do anything that was in conflict with His Father’s will.

This 5th sign would serve to be an encouragement to the disciples and settled the many doubts that they had. So what Jesus chooses to do is to reveal to His disciples His true identity as the Son of God - the sovereign Lord over all creation. This is what we will see through this sign - that Jesus is our LORD AND SAVIOUR, that He in all circumstances can be trusted. This miracle of Jesus walking on water helps us to think through our faith. It challenges us to live in greater trust in Jesus that He is the One who brings us through the so called ‘storms’ in our life. When we place our trust in Jesus we don’t need to be afraid.

Understanding how God matures us can be seen through three stages, in the journey of the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. The disciples grow in faith by:

1. TRAVELING IN DARKNESS ALONE (v.16-18).

The disciples are stretched to their own limits through:
2. TRANSITIONING FROM FEAR TO FEAR (v.19).

But they survive the storm, and likewise we can survive the storms that we face in our life by:
3. TRUSTING JESUS WITH THE FEARS (v.20-21).

So now let us begin digging into the text to see what the Lord is teaching us today.

1. TRAVELING IN DARKNESS ALONE (v.16-18)

v.16-17 Our events begin late in the - evening. Jesus had asked that His disciples go ahead of Him, by boat back across - the sea of Galilee, to the western seaside town of Capernaum. Jesus’ own plan was that He would be alone on the mountainside in prayer (cf. 6:15). Jesus spent little time to rest but found strength in the presence of God the Father, to carry on. Soon Jesus would be off again ministering to the disciples in the middle of the sea through a miracle. It seems that Jesus had given the disciples the instructions to go on without Him if He - had not yet come to them by the time it had already got - dark. It was now dark and Jesus still did not meet them. So in obedience to their master’s command (Matt. 14:22), the disciples got - into a boat, they [started to] cross the sea to Capernaum. They were probably reluctant to depart feeling anxious about leaving Jesus behind. Though they traveled these waters often they may have felt the vulnerability of going on the lake with some winds blowing. Little did the disciples know that a time of trial was awaiting them. They would find themselves alone in the dark, clinging on to life in desperation.

v.18 The Sea of Galilee is a lake about 21 km long and 13km wide. It is a fresh water body of water being fed by the Jordan River and underground streams. The water is clear and the home of many fish. The lake is close to 700 feet below sea level and therefore it is surrounded by mountains and cliffs. The air temperature can reach up to 40 degrees in the summer months, and that is in the shade. This combination makes for some treacherous conditions. A Bible encyclopedia states - ‘The difference in temperature between the surface of the sea and the high surrounding mountains makes it liable to sudden and violent storms, as the cool air from the uplands sweeps down the gorges and upon the surface of the water (ISBE).’

This is the situation that we have in our passage in verse 18 - as it states that - The sea [began] to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. The disciples were facing a dangerous situation, yet not something totally unfamiliar to them, since some of them were experienced fishermen - but we will discover that even their life experience would give them no comfort. In a moment everything seemed to be totally out of control. They were tossed about in the churning waters of the raging sea, all together - yet alone.

Jesus possess Divine knowledge and He knew about the storm, He knew that the disciples were struggling at sea - and remained in prayer until the appointed time. Jesus knew what He was to do with the disciples and the storm. He knew in His infinite wisdom that the disciples required to have their needs pushed to the limits before He intervened. In order to accomplish His work in our hardened hearts Jesus allows for situations that He knows that we can’t totally handle on our own. Many times we live with a mere knowledgeable faith - we say to ourselves - and to God … ‘I believe that You can handle this.’ But what God purposes for our maturity and His glory is that He wants us to realize and live out this - ‘Lord, I KNOW that you can handle this!’ So, God allows those storms to well up in our lives, in which we find ourselves strenuously rowing against, making little progress. But in order for us to learn this lesson…He leaves us alone, so that we be - TRANSITIONING FROM FEAR TO FEAR (v.19) …. Yes, sometimes God has to humble us before we can mature!

2. TRANSITIONING FROM FEAR TO FEAR (v.19)

v.19 Under normal conditions the trip across the Sea of Galilee, is only a few miles across the top, and would require little time to navigate. But from Mark chapter 6 (47-48), we know that the disciples were in the middle of the lake. The strong headwinds which they needed to fight against pushed them way off course. This caused them to take a greater deal of time to get to the other shore. They had been rowing all evening and had only rowed the distance of about three or four miles, that is about 5 or 6 kms. The time would have been between 3-6 am (Mk. 6:48), so they would have battled the storm, rowing at least 6 to 9 hours at this point. This is when they saw Jesus - drawing near to the boat. This is where the drama of the encounter begins. We need to remember that the disciples had been rowing all night - so they were tired - drained physically and mentally. They were shaken and scared because of the danger of the storm. They were surrounded by darkness without any security, and their life saver was left on the shore since Jesus was not in the boat.

Haven’t we sometimes found our selves in a like emotional situation? A meltdown in a relationship - perhaps you are drifting apart from a spouse - from your parents - a friend; Maybe you are encountering an uprising of emotional turmoil - someone close to you is severely ill - you have had an argument with a close friend - you are moving to an unfamiliar place; or possibly there is an unwanted disorder in circumstances - the loss of a job….all these turn in events which drive us into a frenzied vertigo…..we don’t know where the horizon lies…. leaving us with a sense of self paralyzing hopelessness and despair. The disciples found themselves in such a like emotional situation. Then they all saw a figure beyond the boat….their life saver Jesus….but it seemed too good to be true…. and then they slipped back into fear - and in this new fear, they thought it to be a phantom or ghost (as Matt. And Mk. record). Their response was from fear to fear. They were frightened - struck with fear and seized with alarm at this strange occurrence - Jesus walking on the sea.

As believers what a powerful assurance we are given. That even when things are seemingly out of control and we begin to feel like we have been pushed out of an airplane with our hands tied behind our backs…. plunging rapidly downward in a dizzying spiral…and we just can’t reach forward to grab the pull string on the parachute of our own resources…Jesus is here. Here is an illustration that I found that might help us understand what I have been stating:

A construction worker who was employed on some high building project, was working at night. Busy on the edge of the wall, many stories high and with insufficient lighting, he suddenly lost all his balance and fell, but managed to grasp the edge of the wall with his fingers. Desperately he clung for his own life, hoping that his plight would be discovered. He was in total darkness below the level of the wall, and his cries were lost in the chatter of the roar of the machines, and the myriad of other sounds arising from the project. Soon he felt his arms grow numb, and his fingers begin to relax against every effort of his will to hold them rigid. Frantically he tried to save himself, but… At last his fingers slipped from the wall, and, with a retching cry of sheer terror, he fell…….plunging down… all three inches to a scaffold that had been there in the darkness all the time!

Isn’t this just like us many times? We like the disciples think that we can get through anything with our own endurance and resources. We like the construction worker clinging on to everything that we have….right to the end. When we acknowledge that we indeed have our weaknesses, we become fearful, anxious, and perhaps even unhappy….yet underneath…. all the while, are the everlasting arms of a faithful, loving and all-powerful Saviour - ready to break our fall, prepared to show us the best way, ready to restore our faith in a faithful God. (HO VanGilder, in Knight - fear).

We as believers are never TRAVELLING IN DARKNESS ALONE, and we don’t have to be TRANSITIONING FROM FEAR TO FEAR…we just need to be ….

3. TRUSTING JESUS WITH THE FEARS (v.20-21)

A long time ago a real person wrote this response about real circumstances…

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ... 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 [we are] afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you....14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things [are] for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal ….. 5:5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight... That was the Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:18-5:7).

v.20-21 In the midst of these terrifying circumstances for the disciples - Jesus speaks calm into the situation - the focus of the disciples fears shifts from the storm unto the Saviour - ahhh…the sound and reassurance of a familiar voice - It is I; do not be afraid. Jesus says It is I - which literally is I AM. Apart from the introduction of this book back in chapter 1 ….this is one of those small glimmers in this gospel, of Jesus’ self declaration - His true unveiled identity - and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth - He is Deity - He is God - the great I AM of the OT Scriptures. In the authority of His person, Jesus commands the disciples - don’t be afraid. It is in the presence of Jesus that we can find abiding peace for the storms of life. We find in Him, Divine assurance and protection.

Since the disciples now knew that this was not a phantom, but Jesus in person - So they were willing to receive Him into the boat. As Jesus steps into the boat with Peter, the sea storm stopped (Matt. 14:32). The miracle was now complete, without Jesus even saying a word or lifting a finger - what an awesome display of Divine power. It was like the storm was waiting for the purpose of the miracle to be finished. With this taking place immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going, so they made it to their destination. Another miracle took place.

So how do we on a practical level TRUST JESUS WITH OUR FEARS? There is no miracle formula…and it is in fact often undervalued and taken for granted….that is read and apply Scripture into your life. In the past years there was a book written entitled ‘Experiencing God’ and one of the catch phrases is ‘Let go and let God.’ That sounds like a good thing to do, but it is theologically wrong. What that statement teaches is that we just sit back and God will do everything. ‘Let go and let God’ is wrong because it absolves us from human responsibility….taken to the logical ends it is saying that - if things go wrong it is God’s will (or even fault). So how do we Biblically trust Jesus? We can look at a variety of verses but let’s just take one of them - Col. 3:16 states - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…’Dwell’ means ‘to live in’ or ‘to be at home,’ and the word ‘richly’ can be translated as ‘abundantly or extravagantly rich.’ This means that our response in trials, and just everyday living, is that Scripture should permeate every aspect of the believer’s life and control every though, word, and deed. We need to be submitted to the Word of God in obedience therefore allowing the Holy Spirit to shape and direct us with the truth of God’s Word (MSB). When we live our lives in obedience to the living Word…Jesus….when we ‘welcome Him into the boat’ (if we kinda stretch that phrase a bit) - in other words, we respond to His Word…. He will chart the course of our life and bring us to our destination. Jesus guides us not according to our own desires, but according to the Father’s will….according to His own timing and purpose.

In the gospel according to Matthew we have this statement of response - Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Once again the disciples spiritual eyes were open for a moment. They recognized Jesus for who He claimed to be - the Son of God. The book of Colossians 1:15-17 - states this: And He (that is Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, [both] in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. The disciples saw with their very eyes - Jesus reveal Himself as - the One who made the world. Jesus was I AM - God in human flesh - God with the disciples - God with us. Jesus in walking on the water controlled the forces of nature which He created. He suspended the law of gravity and demonstrated that He is the Sovereign Lord of all creation….therefore there was only one response - and that response was that the disciples worshipped the one true God - unveiled to them being revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. What an awesome demonstration of His person. What an effective tangible object lesson, that was given to the disciples. It is also a powerful reminder to us.

More recently, in our times a pastor wrote this….‘We will never find ourselves in a place where Christ cannot find us; and no storm is too severe for Him to save us from it. He protects His own, whom He will never fail or forsake (Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5). The lesson for the disciples is the lesson for us. There is no reason for God’s people to fear. There is no reason for anxiety, no matter how hopeless and threatening our problems seem to be. Life is often stormy and painful, often threatening and frightening. Some believers suffer more than others, but all suffer at some time and in some way. In spite of that, the storm is never so severe, the night never so black, and the boat never so frail that we risk danger beyond our Father’s care’ - J. MacArthur

Today…Sunday…is the start of a new week. Isn’t it great that we are able to start off the week with God’s Word and His people? As we enter this week may we be reminded that we don’t have to feel that we are TRAVELING IN DARKNESS ALONE (v.16-18). This week if we find ourselves looking to our own resources and we are TRANSITIONING FROM FEAR TO FEAR (v.19)….think about what we have learned today…and be assured that we can through the Spirit of God, be TRUSTING JESUS WITH OUR FEARS (v.20-21).…… He will lead us and mature us…as Jesus stated… IT IS I….DO NOT BE AFRAID.

(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
.
.
.