Click here to listen to this church service from 2/2/14- John 6:16-21 on iTunes.
I had just completed boot camp and had received orders to go to a training school in Tennessee. My wife and I decided that we would drive from California to Tennessee.
Her sister was living there at the time so it worked out for her to join me during my training.
As we were driving through Arkansas, it was late, and very windy and rainy.
But as we continued the wind intensified. It was so strong that it was stripping the leaves off the trees and blowing them down the highway.
I couldn’t tell where I was driving. It was so intense that i was actually scared to continue so we pulled over.
By this time we realize we are right in the middle of a storm. Now we had never been through tornado weather in our lives - we’re from California.
But there we were at a rest stop parked between two large semi trucks. Our little Nissan Sentra didn’t stand a chance out on the open road but we felt sheltered by the two large trucks.
We fell asleep and woke up the next day to a clear and sunny day.
We all eventually go through storms, whether it is literal as the one I just described or metaphorical.
And more often than not we aren’t aware that we are driving right into one. We have no idea.
But Jesus does. He knows exactly where we are heading and for reasons that we do not immediately understand, he allows us to enter them anyways…
Jesus had just performed a miracle. He fed 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. The crowd was besides itself. The text tells us that they wanted to take him and crown him king. Yes Jesus was moved with compassion for he saw the people as sheep without a shepherd. But there is something more to the story.
Jesus is setting the stage to explain to the crowd that he is the Bread of Life (which will be covered next week.) But for now two things need to happen, one, the crowd needs to settle down; and two, his disciples need to settle in.
As far as Jesus is concerned the crowd is not ready for deeper spiritual truths. God at times will teach us deeper spiritual truths which ultimately make us stronger in our commitment to him.
Deeper spiritual truths don’t make us smarter they make us stronger in our faith.
And that is what the disciples need, to be strengthened in their faith.
At the end of this entire ordeal Jesus will issue a challenge. And as a result of that challenge it says that, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
He then turned to his disciples (that is, the twelve) and asked them, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”
But what does Peter say? “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?” v.68
Why did many leave while some stayed? The same reason some go and some stay today.
Let’s see what lessons we can learn in the storm…
John 6:15-21
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make
him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening
came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across
the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Matthew 14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the
other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
God is going to use this as an opportunity to test the disciples. Drivers ed for the disciples…
So lesson #1 - Jesus sends us into the storm.
The word “made” could be translated “compelled”
Jesus deliberately sent his disciples into the lake.
There are two ways to get into a storm:
- One is to flee God’s will in disobedience. Jonah found himself in a storm because he was not willing to walk in the will of the Lord.
- The other by obedience, as we see the disciples here.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
Lesson #2 - Jesus prays for us in the storm.
See, the disciples faithfully followed Jesus’ instruction and here find themselves in a storm.
This is a picture of God interceding for us while we, at the direction of Jesus, enter the storms of this life.
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25).
When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
Lesson #3 - God tests us in the storm!
James 1:2-4 - “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
The word “testing” means to “try and to learn the genuineness of something by examination and testing, often through actual use. The only way that we are gonna see what we are made of is by actually being put in some stressful environment.
As those who have decided to follow Christ, we will find ourselves beaten by the waves and the wind against us - there is no doubt about it.
Moses would have never felt the pain of rejection by a complaining people if he ignored the burning bush.
Daniel would not have had to face off with a lion if he hadn’t purposed in his heart not to defile himself.
Paul would have avoided persecution and imprisonment if he had simply stayed
in Tarsus.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
Lesson #4 - Jesus comes to us in the storm.
He came to them - He descended the same path they had taken.!
He understands our situation!
He feels what we feel!
He walks where we have walked!
Hebrews 4:14-16 - 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not
have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in
every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.
He came at the fourth watch of the night - It was the darkest part of the night, somewhere between 3am and 6am. They left when it was still light!
This tells me that they were exhausted, miserable, and tired. Probably wondering where Jesus was!!
26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
Help was on the way! there is comfort in knowing that help is on the way. BUT the text says they were terrified.
One commentator put is this way - Often the perversity of our hearts causes us to push God away when he comes to us in the storm.
Are you pushing God’s help away?
Lesson #5 - The Word of God brings comfort in the storm!
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
John 16:33 - 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Lesson #6 - The Word strengthens our faith
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
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