“Getting Through The Storms of Life”
John 6:15-21
Sermon Series: “Getting Acquainted With Jesus”
Introduction: Life is like a storm sometimes. It seems like we are sailing along very smoothly, and then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, we are hit with something that seems like a hurricane. It may really be a natural disaster, or it can be the death of a loved one, financial problems, sickness, family problems or a host of other possibilities. Everyone has these kinds of storms that test their faith.
Let’s also examine the context and background of this passage so we can have a fuller appreciation of actually what is occurring. This occurred on the Sea of Galilee, which is a freshwater lake located in the Jordan Valley with Mount Herman above. It is 13 miles long and 7.5 miles wide, but it is only 150 deep at its lowest point. The practical effect of all this is that a sudden storm can blow up and wind can whip violently down open places in the mountain range and actually create a funnel effect because of the shallowness of the water. There have actually been 10-foot high waves reported on the Sea of Galilee.
Message of the Miracle: We can count on Jesus to get us through the storms of life.
Why is this true? We can count on Jesus because of:
1. His Person-Jesus is God. This miracle demonstrates the deity of Christ because it shows Him to be God the Creator who has absolute power over nature. Furthermore, Jesus claims to be God (v. 20). He said, “It is I; do not be afraid.” He was identifying to them that it was Jesus walking on the water. However, He was doing even more than that. The phrase, “It is I” is actually the Greek phrase, “ego eimi,” which is normally translated, “I Am.” Remember that we have seen this phrase used at different times in this gospel, and it is indication of the fact that Jesus is God. Loosely paraphrased, Jesus was saying, “Relax, guys, God is here to take care of you” (see Hebrews 4:14-16).
2. His Presence-Jesus is God with us. This story is a beautiful picture for us of the Christian life. The parallel passages indicate that Jesus was on the mountain watching them and praying for them. Today, Jesus is in heaven watching over us and making intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). However, Jesus also came to them and was present with them in the midst of their storm. Today, we have God the Father whom we pray to, Jesus our Savior who is our Advocate and Mediator that we pray through, and God the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and is always with us (see John 14:15-18). Hebrews 13:5b-6 say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” There is a picture of the gospel in this passage because Jesus came to rescue us from sin and get us to the other side of having an eternal relationship with God instead of being separated from Him.
3. His power-Jesus is God who has all power. Jesus has the power to take care of us and get us through the storms of life. He fulfilled His plan that was presented in His command (Mark 6:45) and got them to the other side. He will do the same for us, whether that means giving us peace in the midst of the storm, stopping the storm, or getting us to heaven.
4. His purpose-Jesus is God who is the all-knowing and sovereign ruler. Jesus is in control, and He does nothing by accident. He has a perfect plan-even for storms. His purpose includes:
Revealing Himself
Revealing our hearts (Mark 6:52)
Refining us and building our faith and obedience (see James 1:2-8)
Conclusion: What should we do if we are in the midst of a storm?
1. Trust Jesus (for some people that is for salvation and for others it is for strength in the midst of the storm)
2. Keep obeying what He has told us to do.
