John 6:16-24 Matthew 14:22-33. Facing the Storms of Life
Immediately after Jesus had fed the five thousand he returned to help his priority group, the disciples.
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. John 6:15-21
In this abbreviated account there can be little doubt what John means us to learn from it. Jesus can walk on water and this was seen by all his disciples. Then Jesus introduces himself using the name of God - ‘I am’. Even the liberal scholar C.H. Dodd has concluded that this phrase is ‘more than probably used here, as elsewhere, as the divine name. This is in accord with the reason John wrote his book that he summarised towards the end of his book.
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31
This, the fifth miracle, was described with this one end in mind, that readers may come to put their faith in Jesus and, because of that commitment to Jesus, be given eternal life.
That this is the purpose of these stories is further emphasised by the ‘Bread of Life Discourse’, that immediately follows. Here Jesus explains that he is the ‘Bread of life that comes from heaven’ and that by ‘feeding on him’, ‘coming to him’, which is ‘believing in him’ is the only way to receive eternal salvation.
“I tell you the truth, he who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47
Is it a miracle?
Some have tried to explain this sign away. One commentator suggested that Jesus may have been walking on barely submerged stones. However John excludes this as having any credibility by mentioning that the miracle took place ‘three or four miles’ from the shore. Mark says they were in ‘the middle of the lake’ (Mark 6:47). At this point the water is around 140 feet deep! As we will see in Matthews account, which has a wider application, Peter was also enabled to walk on the water, at least for a while. Another suggestion of the liberal scholar William Barclay, is that Jesus was simply walking along the shore. It is inconceivable that John would describe this as a miracle to convince all people that Jesus is God if he and the other apostles knew it to be misleading. All the disciples witnessed Jesus walking on water, and Peter doing the same. The whole Bible emphasises that God is truth, and that people must follow Jesus because he is truly God who did miracles and rose form the dead.
In one of the Charlie Brown cartoons, Charlie and his friend Linus are talking. Linus says,
“I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact it is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or complicated that it can’t be run away from.”
This philosophy is so common, many try to avoid all problems and possible confrontation at all costs. This may be why so many Christians find it so hard to talk about Jesus or invite people to come and hear the Bible being taught. This short story in John does have something to say about this.
The Focus is on Jesus
In these few verses the name of Jesus or a pronoun referring to him are mentioned nine times. John doesn’t want us to focus on the miracle but on the nature of Jesus.
Jesus was already tired and the pressures of trying to teach and help so many people who wanted him to be an earthly king must have weighed heavily upon him. Mark records that Jesus went off to the hills to pray (Mark 6:46), a wonderful example of what to do when there are pressures - share them with our heavenly Father.
The ability of Jesus to walk on water, when linked to his claims to be one with his heavenly Father, is further evidence that John wants to bring both together so we can be sure to recognise who Jesus is. Don’t forget why John wrote his book – evidence leads to belief, following Jesus results in our being given eternal life.
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples that are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31
‘The disciples were afraid’ because they thought they were seeing a ghost (Mark 6:49), but John does not major on the disciples’ reaction – he wants us to focus on Jesus and who he is.
John does focus, with good reason on what Jesus first said to the frightened disciples,
“It is I.” John 6:20
The Greek this phrase is derived from is ‘ego eimi’, which could be another reference to the repeated use of this divine name on Jesus’ lips in John’s gospel, again pointing out his real nature. However it could also just be a reassuring ‘It’s me’. Probably the truth is that John is using the reassuring term to point to his prime reason for writing. Later in the chapter Jesus says,
“I am the bread of life” John 6:35
This is the first of eight expressions, ‘I am’, that undoubtedly John intends to have a divine meaning. The Lord introduced himself to Moses at the ‘burning bush’ by saying that his name is ‘I am’. The other ‘I am’ statements of Jesus in John’s gospel are:
“I am the light of the world” John 8:12
“ . . .before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58
“I am the gate” John 10:7,9
“I am the good shepherd” John 10:11,14
“I am the resurrection and the life” John 11:25
“I am the way, the truth and the life” John 14:6
“I am the true vine” John 15:1,5
The Disciples’ Problems
John’s version of the story focusses on who Jesus is but the other gospel writers have a wider application and include other lessons that the disciples needed to learn. In Matthew’s version of this story we read,
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.” Matthew 14:22
Obedience to Christ is the true mark of his disciples. It was after dismissing the crowd that Jesus went into the mountains to pray. Just as Jesus knew what he was going to feed the hungry crowd so that he could teach his disciples, so it is highly likely that Jesus knew that the storm was coming and planned accordingly. He knew they would have troubles when the storm broke over Galilee yet he set them on this course. This is a central theme of the Bible – our Lord is in full control of all that happens to us and uses adverse circumstances to train us. What he wants is obedience.
Can you imagine the scene of the worried disciples in the boat when the storm broke? Can you imagine Peter trying to direct them? John adds an interesting phrase to describe their plight,
“Now it was dark, and Jesus had not joined them.” John 6:17
John frequently uses symbolism as he describes a physical situation. It was indeed physically dark but the disciples were also in a spiritually dark place. Jesus was not with them and they had lost their confidence. The same symbolic darkness is used by John to describe Nicodemus’ visit to see Jesus,
“He came to Jesus at night . . .” John 3:2
Jesus explains later that he has come to be the light of this spiritual darkness.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12
All Christians are set on a course to sail against the secular winds of life. We will inevitably face troubles as we live in this world for the Lord Jesus. All who are committed to living for Jesus will face adverse storms in life. Shadrak, Meshak and Abednego would not have had to face the wrath of Nebuchanezzar and the Fiery Furnace if they had not been fully committed to obeying what God says in the Ten Commandments (Daniel 3). Daniel would not have been thrown to the lions if he had not determined to remain faithful and obey God (Daniel 6).
It is so easy to forget that our Lord cares for us and knows every situation we are going through. He saw the plight of the disciples as they wrestled with the wind and waves. King David had also been through very difficult circumstances yet he knew his Lord was always with him.. He was able to write later,
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. . . If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the night become light around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-11
It is so easy to think that God has forgotten me. But the Bible assures us that God knows everything and he does care.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
Jesus saw the difficulties that his disciples were facing and yet he let it continue. Why did he delay coming to help them? We see the same delay when Jesus’ friend Lazarus was seriously ill.
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” John 11:5-6
By the time Jesus and his disciples eventually arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus explained why he had delayed getting involved.
“So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not here, so that you may believe.” John 11:14-15
Jesus acts
In Matthews record of this event we read,
“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” Matthew 14:25
The fourth watch was between 3am and 6am. He had left them toiling for some hours yet he clearly knew what was happening to them. There they were in the dark, tired, miserable and worried when the Lord came to them. They knew that Jesus could help other people in need but now they experienced this for themselves. Job had this experience,
“My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6
Mark tells us,
“Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” Mark 6:51-52
Peace came when Jesus came on board and with that peace came faith. Jesus really is God.
John records that when Jesus boarded the boat,
“ . . . and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” John 6:21
Whether this was another miracle as Origen has suggested or whether it seemed with a good wind and calm sea that the final part of the journey passed extremely quickly is open for debate.
Peter fails
Matthew adds a further detail to the story, Peter wanted to walk on water too.
“’Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come’ he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’
There can be little doubt what Matthew wants his readers to learn from this. Jesus certainly wants all people to come to him. But then Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind, the potential problems. Fixation on problems is a sure way to go down. Most people with anxiety and depression have developed the habit of mulling or fretting over their problems. They can’t get free from the thoughts and these thoughts are so destructive. We must keep our eyes on Jesus and not on the problems. David recognised the importance of not mulling,
“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.” Psalm 37:8
We must keep focussing on Jesus. At the end of my medical training, I went on an elective to work in some Mission Hospitals in Uganda. One day, a friend and I were walking up Namirembe Hill in Kampala to visit the Anglican Cathedral at the top. Walking down the other side of the road was a smiling Ugandan pastor with a very deep clergyman’s dog-collar. We exchanged greetings and crossed the road to talk with him. He clearly did not know whether we were committed Christians but, being a very proficient personal worker he smilingly enquired,
“What are you doing in Uganda?”
We explained that we were working in Mengo Mission Hospital.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” he exclaimed, adding, “Does that mean you are Christians then?”
“Yes, we are,” we replied.
“That’s wonderful. Then tell me, how are you getting on with Jesus?”
I had never been asked such a question. Being British however I thought of a polite reply,
“Very well thank you, and you?
He clearly saw that I was somewhat embarrassed and started to talk about himself. He gave his testimony. He explained how he had been a twenty-nine year old school master when he had become a Christian. He then became very involved in his church, and because of his education he soon became one of its leaders. But he then found his Christian life was becoming stale. He was very busy, but spiritually dry; the warm relationship with the Lord Jesus that he had previously known had become cold.
“Then I realised what the matter with me was. I had to keep Jesus busy. Every time I failed Him I had to apologise straight away and whenever things went well I had to thank Him immediately. I must go now but don’t forget, ‘Do keep Jesus busy!’”
I shall ever be grateful to that pastor who, in such a short conversation, pointed me to what was going wrong in my Christian life – I needed to be Christ-centred. It is the development of this relationship with the Lord Jesus that is fundamental in the Christian life. Peter needed to learn to keep looking to Jesus and so do we.
BVP
