What to Know About the Waves

What To Know About the Waves

John 6:15-21

 

Illus. Reading Waves.

 

This morning we will pick up in John 6:15 and read to verse 21. In our study, we will see the disciples out on the Sea of Galilee. Then they encounter some violent waves in the midst of rough seas, a sudden storm. The disciples had endured waves in these waters before, but these waves, the way they came upon them, and what they would learn from them are different than ever before.

 

Read: John 6:15-21

 

The account we are studying this morning, with disciples out on the sea encountering a storm, heavy wind, and waves, was no doubt a physical reality for them. They were up against a natural storm in nature, and Jesus showed up during the storm. Though it was a physical storm in nature, that storm was a trial and test of their faith that they endured. The waves surrounding them caused them to fear after trying to fight their way through, and as they do, as the story begins, continues, and concludes, Jesus shows up and shows them His ways when they were in what seemed impossible waves.

Without question, we all face storms in our lives and waves that we want nothing to do with. But for me and you, just like the disciples in the text we’ve turned to, there are truths that Jesus has for me and you when we are faced with waves in this life.  We can learn from this story that even when the waves are beyond our ability, it is an opportunity for God to show us His ways. I want to draw your attention to facts we need to know about the waves that rose up while the disciples were out on the sea, and also the waves that arise in our lives. While we will study John 6:1-15, we will also reference the accounts in Matthew 14:22-33, and Mark 6:45-52 as we consider the title of the message this morning, “What to Know About the Waves.”  

 

1. Though They Can Be Sudden, God is Not Surprised by Them

 

John 6:15-17(a), So Jesus, aware that they intended to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself, alone. Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum….

 

• Verse 15 points us to the context of the text. Jesus had just miraculously fed the large crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish.

 

• After he miraculous feeding, the crowd was ready to crown Jesus as their king, so immediately, He and his disciples end up leaving.

 

• From verse 15, we are told that being aware of this, Jesus withdrew back up the mountain alone.

 

• We weren’t yet told how He got down the mountain, and this is where the account of Matthew is helpful for us to consider.

 

Matthew 14:22-24, Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.

 

• Jesus then, walked down the mountain, sent the crowds away, and compelled his disciples to set out on the Sea of Galilee to go ahead of Him to the other side.

 

• From John 6:16 we know that it was in the evening.

 

• The Jews were looking for someone who would lead a revolt against Rome, who better than the One responsible for this miracle.

 

• But Jesus got the disciples, as well as the crowd going immediately.

 

• So Jesus headed back up on the mountain to pray, it was evening, and He was there alone and the disciples were out trying to get to the other side of the sea as Jesus had compelled them to do so.

 

• The term “compelled,” is defined in the Greek as to: necessitate, constrain, to make, or compel by force.

 

• It seems they when they headed into the sea, the waters were smooth…Then things began changing.

 

John 6:17(b)-18, It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing.

 

• When we read, “the sea began getting rough” in verse 18, the Greek word mean to wake up, to awaken, to agitate, or stir up.

 

• It was stirred up suddenly, and violently.

 

• The waves comes suddenly. The disciples must have been so encouraged spiritually. They had just seen Jesus feed the 5,000. They were amazed, not they set out on the sea, things start out smoothly, and then suddenly, the waves wake up.

 

• There are times where the waves stir up in our lives personally, sometimes after times of great victory. This is also seen biblically.

 

 Illus. Let it rain.

 

• From verse 19, we know that in response to the sudden storm, the disciples started rowing. They had rowed 25 or 30 stadia, which is around 4 miles.

 

• From Mark 6:48, we know that this was no laidback row, they were “straining at the oars.”

 

• From Matthew 14:24, we know that by the time evening came, the disciples were already a long distance from land, and their boat was being battered by the waves, with heavy wind against them.

 

• And from Matthew 14:47, that the boat was in the middle of the lake.

 

• During a similar storm, Jesus was with them, they woke Him up and He “rebuked the winds and sea; and it became perfectly calm” (Mt. 8:26). But now He was miles away.

 

• Mark 6:48 also tells us, however, that Jesus saw the disciples as they were straining at the oars, against the wind, fighting for their lives, fighting to stay on course, trying to get to the place they were told to go.

 

• Jesus had compelled them to get into the boat. He was aware that the waves were going to wake up. And He was watching as they made their way through them.

 

Psalm 32:8, I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you.

 

Hebrews 4:13, Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight.

 

• You are not hidden from God, nor is your situation.

 

• They were straining on the oars, but Jesus could see them, and He was going to meet them.

 

Luke 12:6-7, Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

 

• The disciples did not know when or even if Jesus would show up. But they did know where He told them to go.

 

• And as the wind was blowing away, the disciples were rowing away, with all they had. They had seen Him feed the multitude, and they were faithful to what He told them to do.

 

• We may not know when, or where, how, or why sudden waves swell up in our lives, but we can trust that God is not surprised by them, and He sees us in them.

 

• Even when they could not see Him, but He could see them.

 

Job 23:9-12, When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him; He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him. But He knows the way I take; when He has put me to the test, I will come out as gold.

 

• The waves were sudden, but God was not surprised by them, He still had a plan for the disciples, He could still see them.

 

Illus. He sees.

 

Psalm 121:1-4, I will raise my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

 

1. Though They Can Be Strong, They Cannot Stop Him

 

John 6:19-20, Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

 

• The disciples were thrown off there course, and they were straining at the oars due to the wind and waves.

 

• From verse 16 we learned at the time the disciples went down to the sea and got into the boat, it was at the time when evening came.

 

• We know from verse 19 that the disciples had been straining at the oars for a few miles, and from Matthew 14, we know that they had also been rowing for a few hours.

 

Matthew 14:25, And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.

 

• Since we don’t commonly divide our nights into four watches, it is important to understand the timestamp we are being given by Matthew.

 

• In that day, the night was from 6pm to 6am and was divided into four watches: Watch one from 6pm to 9pm; Watch two, from 9pm to 12am; Watch three from 12am to 3am; and Watch four from 3am to 6am.

 

• From the time they got out on the sea, to the time Jesus ends up arriving, there was potentially 9 to 12 hours of straining at the oars.

 

• Jesus showed up in the fourth watch.

 

• If I were in that boat, if I were facing the waves I would have wanted Jesus to show up earlier.

 

• When I am in their boat, when I am facing the waves, I often wish Jesus would come walking on those waters immediately.

 

• And when He doesn’t, how easy it can be to despair, but when the waves weary me, that is when I know I need to watch, and wait.

 

Micah 7:7, But as for me, I will be on the watch for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation.

 

• The word “watch” in Micah 7 is to watch expectantly, to lean forward and watch closely.

 

• The word “wait” is to wait with patient hope and trust.

 

Jeremiah 29:10-11, “For this is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

 

• Logic might say to throw in the towel, let the wind blow you wherever it wants to, you’ve been trying and your trying seems to only get you further and further away from where you are wanted to be…

 

• But the disciples continued fighting hard to get to the place Jesus had directed them to. As they pursued the destination He directed them to, giving all they could to get there, they were in His hands.

 

• He sees you straining, knows the wind is heavy and will likely come to you like He did to the disciples, in an unexpected way, at an unexpected time.

 

• As Jesus came to the disciples, they did not recognize Him.

 

• Jesus entered into their storm was very much different than their expectation…Walking on top of it. No doubt the storm was strong, but it could not, and cannot stop Jesus.

 

Matthew 14:26-27, When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

 

• When they saw Jesus, they initially thought He was a ghost, and then cried out in fear!

 

• Had they been looking for Jesus, perhaps they would have cried, hallelujah, this is just who we need in the middle of this storm!

 

• But they weren’t looking for Him and therefore did not recognize Him.

 

Matthew 14:27, But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

 

• Notice the order, Jesus first said, “take courage,” which is to be of good cheer, then, “it is I” which is “I am.”

 

• He gave the exhortation, prior to the revelation. Be of good cheer, then, it is I.

 

• This is good instruction for us to know, not just Jesus’ the disciples: “Take courage, be of good cheer, it is I, or literally, I am.”

 

• You may have heard that “I am,” is the name of God. It means “all that I am I will be to you.”

 

Psalm 93:4, More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty.

 

Psalm 65:7, Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.

 

Job 9:8, He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

 

Illus. Wave Power.

 

Illus. Focus.

 

• In the book of Matthew, prior to Jesus entering into the boat, we are given additional insight into how Peter learned that in his life on that night.

 

Matthew 14:28-31, Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 

• Peter got down out of the boat and walked on water as he headed toward Jesus.

 

• With his eyes fixed on Jesus and His desire to be with Jesus and seemingly follow His footsteps in the midst of the storm, Peter, full of faith, began walking on water.

 

• Peter remained above the waves until he took his eyes off of Jesus and instead turned his eyes away from Jesus and focused on the storm.

 

• As Peter began to sink, he cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”

 

• Immediately Jesus reached out to Peter and caught him, asking “why did you doubt?”

 

• Jesus’ question to Peter centered on why Peter allowed the wind and waves to overwhelm his faith….

James 1:6, The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

 

III.  Though They Can Be Stifling, He Can See You Through Them

 

• From the book of Mark we know that as soon as Jesus entered into the boat with them, the wind stopped (Mark 6:51).

 

• From the book of John we know that they immediately arrived to their destination.

 

John 6:21, So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

 

• The disciples welcomed Jesus into their boat, verse 21 says “they were willing to take Him into their boat.”

 

• The waves were not the end for them. And ultimately, it was Jesus who brought them to an end.

 

Illus. The waves we face.

 

• Peter himself, who faces those waves and walked on water before becoming afraid would one day write these word: “For a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by trial…” In other words, the trials are real, sometimes necessary, but they are for a limited time.

 

• Though they were out at sea and the could not see Jesus, he could see them, and He would see them through.

 

Isaiah 43:2, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

 

Illus. He can see you through.

John 6:15-21