John 6:15-21
He’s Got It Covered
In my opinion, once we get past the incarnation and the
resurrections, the account before is one of the most powerful of all
the miracles performed in the Bible. Why? Because it involves so
many miracles.
There were at least five miracles:
1. The supernatural storm
2. Jesus walked on the water
3. Peter walked on the water
4. The storm stopped
5. The boat was at shore
This event is also one of the best documented, although it was
Matthew who gave us the most details.
\\#Matt 14:23-33, Mark 6:45-52\\
Let’s note some details.
I. A change in John’s modus operanti.
A. Normally in the miracles that John records, he records the
miracle then the preaching/teaching that Jesus gave
afterward.
B. \\#14-15\\ Here, it looks like the people were going to come
and take Jesus by force to make Him king so His teaching was
cut short.
1. Lest we think that they were coming because they really
wanted understood who Jesus was and wanted to serve God,
\\#25-27\\.
2. They were not coming to seek their Messiah. They were
coming to seek a free meal ticket.
C. Jesus will use this miracle to teach spiritual truth, but it
will have to be after He puts some distance between Him and
some in that crowd.
D. So John goes on to record the miracle that follows.
E. I wonder if walking with Jesus was often one miracle after
another?
II. \\#15-21\\ This was a powerful but strange miracle.
A. It was at least five miracles in one.
B. No one saw the miracles but the disciples.
1. Jesus was alone on the mountain.
2. The disciples were alone on the sea.
3. \\#John 6:17\\ It was dark.
4. It was stormy.
5. They were 3 1/2 miles from shore.
6. \\#22-25\\ The next morning, the people wondered how Jesus
got to the other side.
C. Why did Jesus do these miracles?
1. It had to be to teach the disciples something. They were
the only ones there.
2. What was He teaching with all of those miracles?
III. Two lessons
A. Things can get very bad.
1. Some think Christians are not supposed to have problems.
2. Some Christians preach that Christians are not supposed to
have problems.
3. The Bible disagrees AND that Jesus wanted His disciples to
know it!
a. There are storms.
b. There is what we would deem wasted labor and time.
c. There are times when there is nothing you can do.
d. There comes at least one time when it will cost you
your life!
B. Jesus has all power.
1. Notice the Power of His Eyes.
Mr 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for
the wind was contrary unto them: and about the
fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them,
walking upon the sea, and would have passed by
them.
a. \\#John 6:17\\ says it was dark.
b. The moon would have had to have been hidden by the
clouds.
c. The fourth watch would have been the three hours
before sun up.
d. Jesus was on mountain approximately 3 1/2 miles away.
e. But "He saw THEM toiling…."
(1) If it was anyone else, I would probably say it
was just a figure of speech. That another might
have caught a glimpse of the boat in the
lightning.
(2) But not Jesus! Jesus saw THEM.
f. Jesus sees all things.
(1) Jesus sees the faith you have in your heart.
(2) Jesus sees you in your struggles.
(3) Jesus sees that you love Him.
(4) Jesus sees what others do to you.
2. Notice the Power of His Feet.
John 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and
twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking
on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and
hey were afraid.
a. Jesus came walking on the sea.
b. The sea is a boundary to mankind. We do not easily
cross that boundary. It is dangerous, deadly to us.
c. But this sea was more than a boundary. It was raging,
making it infinitely more dangerous and deadly.
d. Those disciples feared for their lives not because of
the wind and the rain, but because of the sea.
e. The sea was their enemy. It was the epitome of all
their troubles.
f. And Jesus came walking on the sea!
g. When Jesus walks on the sea, it means some thing.
(1) Jesus’ feet tramples on problems.
(2) Jesus’ feet destroys His enemies.
Micah 1:3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out
of his place, and will come down, and tread upon
the high places of the earth.
4 And the mountains shall be molten under him,
and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the
fire, and as the waters that are poured down a
steep place.
(3) Jesus’ feet breaks our boundaries.
(4) Jesus’ feet brings us salvation and help.
(5) Jesus’ feet delivers us to safety.
3. Notice the Power of His Words.
John 6:20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be
not afraid.
a. I believe these words instantly calmed the disciples.
(1) As soon as Peter heard Jesus’ voice, he asked if
he could walk on the water too!
(2) That is a pretty amazing transformation! From
fearful to fearless!
b. We say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but
words will never hurt me."
c. Jesus’ words will! or they can bless you!
d. I remember the effect Jesus’ words had on Mary on the
resurrection morning.
John 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why
weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing
him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if
thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou
hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned
herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is
to say, Master.
4. Notice the Power of His Command.
Mt 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was
come down out of the ship, he walked on the
water, to go to Jesus.
a. God’s words are power; but when they give a command,
they are omnipotent!
b. Jesus said, "Come" and now Peter will come.
e. Like Lazarus who slept the sleep of death came out of
the tomb when told to come, so Peter came.
(1) Death did not hinder Lazarus.
(2) Grave clothes did not hinder him.
f. So when that voice calls all the dead to rise, they
will rise.
g. So when that voice commands all to bow, they will bow.
h. So when that voice commands the lost to abide in hell,
so they will obey.
i. So when that voice commands the saved to enter into
His reward for eternity, so we will!
5. Notice the Power of His Hand.
Mt 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth
his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O
thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
a. Peter had taken his eyes off of Jesus and was sinking
into the sea.
b. Then a hand, more powerful than any mere mortal’s
hand, reached down and saved him.
c. Peter’s salvation was physical, but Jesus’ hand is
more than able to save body and soul!
6. Notice the Power of His Will.
John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into
the ship: and immediately the ship was at the
land whither they went.
a. Jesus did not speak to the boat and He did not command
it.
b. He simply willed it and the ship was moved some 3 1/2
miles to the shore.
<OutlineIndex> <Close Window>
