1. Matthew 14:22-36 Mark 6:45-56, John 6:15-21
Jesus and Peter walk on water

2. Overview
Jesus dismissed the crowds and sent the disciples on their way quickly
Jesus prays on the mountain side
The disciples caught in the storm
Jesus comes to them
Peter walks on the water
So what?
Once again, we are going to look at information from all 3 gospels that record this miracle to give the most complete picture we can
The differences are not a problem: clearly different details about the same incident
Chronological context: After the sending out of the 12 – They return and seek a “quiet place” – Feeding of the 5000
This is before the sending out of the 72

3. Jesus dismissed the crowds and the disciples
Immediately…
The people wanted to make Jesus king
Jesus knew this was wrong
Jesus response was decisive
Got the disciples away
He dismissed the crowds
He went to pray by himself
Mark 6:45 - Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
John 6:14-15
After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Perhaps Jesus knew that their immature faith may lead them to join the people in seeking to make Him king?
We know that they were later arguing about who is the greatest
Fleeing from temptation and sin is a good response
Joseph,
1 Cor 6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
1 Cor 10:14 - Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
1 Tim 6: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
2 Tim 2:22 - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
This does not mean we are afraid:
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Eph 6: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Jesus’ dismissing them underlines that He is not going to become an earthly king: he doesn’t teach them – He dismisses them
I’m sure that some of them were “discouraged at the missed opportunity”
Jesus did what was right, not what was popular and he didn’t worry about upsetting people
This having told the disciples to feed them

4. Jesus prays on the mountain
Jesus felt the need to be alone with God
Jesus needed help and strength
Last week: doing God’s work is food
This week: Jesus spends time alone with God
Time alone with God is vital
We need corporate worship
Family worship is helpful
We also need time alone with God

5. So what?
Jesus knew what God’s plan for him was and didn’t let others knock him off course
Jesus knew, understood and allowed for the weaknesses of his disciples
We need to act decisively when temptation comes
We all need to take time alone
with God 1)
We as individuals and churches must be careful to keep walking with God
We must always do what is right and must not allow expedience to lead us to compromise
Eg – we could probably build a much bigger church much more quickly if we sold out to theological compromise
Personal benefit above quiet time / worship – Katherine – Work etc – Alison Whitesmith
These are not absolutes – it is about understanding what God has called us to and walking in obedience – Monopoly illustration 2)
1 Cor 10:13 - No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Although Jesus allows for our weaknesses – he doesn’t condone them and always uses the experience for our good (Rom 8:28)
3) Don’t discuss with the devil – that was Eve’s mistake!
We can and must however engage in battle – Jesus temptation

6. The disciples caught in a storm
We have here a “living parable”
Jesus and His church
Jesus knew what was happening
Jesus knows and cares
Jesus is in control of our circumstances
They were where God wanted them to be
Storms of correction
Storms of perfection
Better to be in a storm with Jesus than
to be “at peace” without him
Explain living parable
Jesus saw their situation
Mark 6: After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 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.“
Jesus’ empathy
Heb 4: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus sovereignty
1 Cor 10: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Rom 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
They were where Jesus had told them to go so they got on with it! – they didn’t change course or head back to shore – they rowed for at least 9 hours
Storm of correction – Jonah
“At peace” without Jesus - Luke 12:20 - "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

7. So what? How do we face the storms of life
Do we trust in Jesus who Knows, cares and is in control?
We need to understand whether we are in this storm for our correction or for our perfection

8. Jesus comes to them 4th watch of the night – 3-6am Jesus came to them
They had been rowing for at least 9 hours
Jesus came to them
Jesus came walking on the water
They didn’t recognise him
They thought they were seeing a ghost
“Catastrophic thinking”
Jesus will always come to help when the time is right
This may not be when we want him to come
The thing they feared was the means Jesus used to come to them
Can’t have been that easy for Jesus either!
They were blinded by their fear – fear and faith do not coexist in the same heart – one banishes the other
They lost their perspective
Don’t write this off as “primitive and uneducated men”
They had previously been casting out demons
We often do not recognise Spiritual reality as we should

9. So what? Keep going through the storms of life
Walk in obedience till God gives relief
Avoid catastrophic thinking
Jesus will always come at the right time
Keep looking for him

10. Peter walks on the water
Peter’s faith and boldness
Peter took his eyes off Jesus
Peter cried out to Jesus
As soon as he started to sink
(He didn’t wait till he was drowning)
Jesus caught him and then rebuked his lack of faith
Peter’s test was not the best one we could devise! - John 10:4 - When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Peter was not putting the Lord to the test – he was growing in his faith
Matt 4:6-7
"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Jesus didn’t rebuke the others!

11. So what?
Do we have the faith to reach for the impossible even in the storms of life?
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus
Exercise and stretch your faith
Cry out to the Lord the moment you start to sink

12. Todays take-away
Do we take time to understand where God is leading us and then follow Him?
Do we deal decisively with sin and temptation?
How do we face the storms of life?
Are we bold in faith?