Who is Jesus? Chapter 27 "Jesus Walks on the Water"

 

Who is Jesus? Chapter 27 "Jesus Walks on the Water"

After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Jesus said, “Tell everyone to sit down, in groups of 50 or 100.” So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000 not counting women and children.)

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the disciples to give out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”  So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves and few fishes.

 John chapter 6 records:  After the people saw the signs Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jesus discerned the thoughts of the people; Here was their opportunity, they could see daily food without work and this appealed to their selfish nature.

 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew from the crowd as he instructed his disciples to go ahead and sail without him. So they entered their ship and determined to go to the other side of the sea, as Jesus sent the people away and ascended higher up on the mountain to pray and be alone with His Father God.

 Matthew chapter 14 states: "But their ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." 

 Rowing very hard, they were only able to go about 3 or 4 miles and the disciples were not able to control their ship because of the storm. Their greatest fear was that they might perish. 

 Mark 6 tells us it was sometime between three and six am in the early morning that Jesus was alone standing on the land watching.  He could see the disciples rowing frantically as the winds and waves tossed their boat and - - Immediately Jesus went to them walking on the water. (Wow, that must have been an amazing sight, and scary too.)

 

And when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out in fear.  But right away, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid."

   

Can you really blame the disciples for being afraid?  How would you have reacted if you had been there?   I think I know the answer and so do you.

 

Peter hoping that maybe this was really Jesus and not a spirit, answered Jesus by saying, "If it is really you, then ask me to come to you on the water." And Jesus said, "Come."  

Taking a bold step of faith, Peter stepped out and began to walk on the water toward Jesus, but suddenly fear took over and he looked down at the troubled sea and began to sink.  His next move was a good one, because Peter cried out; "Lord Save me."

Immediately Jesus reached out and caught the sinking man, and lifted him up, saying to him;   "Oh you of little Faith, why did you doubt?"

  

As the two of them entered the boat the wind and waves ceased and all who were in the ship fell at Jesus feet and worshiped him saying:  "Truly you are the Son of God."

The disciples took some deep consideration to confess that Jesus was the Messiah, but never the less, Jesus accepted their worship, because he is God's son. If he were merely mortal and not God, it would have been wrong to allow his disciples to worship Him and to deify Him. 

 Today each of us need to understand that Jesus is waiting to hear what we have decided about him.  Are you ready to say; "Jesus you are the Son of God, and I will worship you?

 Say it now, “Come into my heart Lord Jesus, and I will serve you all the days of my life."