JESUS WALKS ON WATER

JOHN 6:16-21; MATTHEW 14:22-33; MARK 6:45-52

Intro: The story of Jesus walking on water is retold in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John; it is not in the Gospel of Luke. Although Peter isn’t mentioned in the Gospel of John, however, in Matthew, he gets out of the boat and walks on the water to meet Jesus. Matthew, Mark, and John all show this miracle immediately after Jesus feeds the five thousand. After Jesus finished with the feeding of the five thousand, something unusual happens – (Matthew 14:22-23 22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone; Mark 6:45-46 45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Why the urgency? Why the rush? John 6:14-15 explains 14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. (because some of the people wanted to force Him to be King.)

According to Maslow, these most basic human survival needs include food and water, sufficient rest, clothing and shelter, overall health, and reproduction. Maslow states that these basic physiological needs must be addressed before humans move on to the next level of fulfilment. Out of all these needs, some things are non-negotiable. Whatever socio-economic status you might have; your basic need is food and good health. 

1. Why would you not make someone who feeds you and heals you whenever you are sick your king?

So, these people wanting to make Jesus their king weren’t wrong in their thoughts, but that’s not why Jesus came. 

1. If you were in Jesus’ shoes, would you allow yourself to become king? 

What lessons can we learn from this miracle of Jesus walking on water?

1. Do not allow needs or opportunity to be your driving force, but only the will of God. John 6:15 tells us that following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand men, not counting women and children, the crowds were ready to take Jesus and make Him King by force. What would you have done in this case? Imagine you went to preach in a city, and you performed miracles and you fed the entire city and healed all their sicks, and in return, they insisted on making you their king? What would you do? But, Jesus sent the disciples away hurriedly, dismissed the crowd, and went to the hills to pray. Jesus knows perfectly well what the will of God for is life was. Do you know the will of God for your life? There was a need for a King, and an opportunity for him to fill the need. How tempting might such an opportunity be for you? Jesus knew that it was not the Father’s will for Him to be their King, at least in the physical sense, and you too need to know God’s will for your life so that you can say no to everything else.
2. Do you know the will of God for your life? Or you are ready to follow the trend of the world?
3. Sometimes Jesus sends you into a storm. I have been told that “If Jesus is in it; then it shouldn’t be this hard. But it was God who told me to do it, then why is it this hard?”. My response is always the same – have you not read the Bible? Jesus, “made his disciples get into the boat” we are told. As a matter of fact, Matthew and Mark used this word “INSISTED” Jesus insisted – This means that Jesus was sending them into a storm. BUT WHY? To build their faith. Sometimes Jesus does the same with us. 
4. What storm are you in at the moment? 
5. God is always testing our faith It has been said that a faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. Faith is like a muscle. The more we exercise faith the stronger our trust in God becomes. When you are in the storm, it is not easy to recorgnise Jesus, but He is always there… Deuteronomy 31:8 8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” In Matthew 14:28-31, we see Peter walking on water at the command of Jesus, BUT Peter saw the strong wind and the waves, this meant that Peter took his eyes off Jesus Hebrews 12:2 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith Keep your eyes on Jesus.
6. Who are you fixing your eyes upon? Jesus? FaceBook? TikTok? News? 
7. Jesus has the power over the storms in our lives – In Mark 6:51 we read “then He climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped.”In John 6:21 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! Are you willing, are you eager to allow Jesus into your boat to calm your storm and to arrive at your destination? 
8. Who are you allowing into your boat? 

Conclusion: Just because things are hard doesn’t mean that Jesus is not with you. Jesus wants you to trust Him and keep your focus on Him. You need to have a faith that endures even though there is a storm, and allow Jesus into your boat.