John Chapter 7: “Spending time with Jesus”

V.  1-9- The more time we spend with Jesus, the more opportunity and obligation we have to believe. We see the effect that time spent with Jesus had on His Apostles, but what is missing here with His physical brethren?   The word “even” in v. 5 puts emphasis on that fact that His brethren above others should have believed.  Perhaps growing up alongside Jesus made their unbelief even more difficult to understand. They had witnessed His life more closely than almost anyone, yet John tells us that even His brothers did not believe in Him. They had expectations of what Jesus ought to do, and Jesus did not conform to their expectations but operated according to the Father's will and timing.  Their unbelief led them to either sarcasm with their Lord or a discontentment with His ministry management.  Unlike the unbelieving of John 11:8, 16, they encouraged their Lord into danger. 

 

Joh 1:11-13  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

Psa 69:7-9  Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face.    I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother's sons.    For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

Matthew 10:34-39 – Being about our Heavenly Father’s business will at times be incompatible with the status quo of our Earthy Father’s home.  Understandably, if Joseph and Mary did not always understand or appreciate the actions of young Jesus, His brothers (and sisters) would have to mentally and physically deal with the clear disparity.  Minds that were set on things of the earth would struggle to comprehend and get along with a mind that is set on things above (Col 3:1-2). 

 

Jesus’ response to His brethren highlights the purposefulness of His every action.  His brethren did not have the care of the world on their backs, nor did it matter how or when they went to the feast.  For Jesus however, He did everything in the perfect time of His Father. 

Joh 2:4  And Jesus *said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come."

Joh 8:20  These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Joh 13:1  Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Joh 17:1  Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,

Psa 102:13;  Gal 4:4 

               Elsewhere in John, Jesus uses this kind of language to reference the giving of His life; but whether this or that He is simply talking about His schedule for attending the feast, His timing was very important.   Again, not much has changed; for all the time we spend with Jesus, just as His brothers our faith is found wanting.   Are we just hanging out around Jesus or are we believing…

V. 9-13

For the Feast of Booths, Jews were required to “assemble”, Jesus wouldn’t have missed it (Lev 23:36).  Let’s be clear, Jesus was not afraid of man, nor was He afraid of going to this feast.  In a detailed manner, Jesus was faithfully, intentionally and decisively yielding to His Heavenly Father’s will. 

Pro 29:25  The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.       Vs.       Psa 19:9   The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

 

In the midst of confusion and division (“some” and “others”), in one thing they were united… “No one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.”  What a horrible thing to be united in.  Not much has changed.  We remain divided on many issues, but no one speaks openly of Him. 

What are you afraid of? __________________________ 

In a country with so much freedom, why are God’s children so quiet?  Have we escaped the bonds of prison and persecution only to be enslaved by our desire for acceptance and ease?  What excuse do you use to shroud cowardice and to keep quiet about Jesus and somehow have a clear conscience?  Will you through faith confront your fears in Jesus?  Jesus has already forewarned us who we should fear:  “My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.  I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Gehenna; yes I tell you, Fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5).

 

The people here were afraid of being put out of the synagogue, a fear which plagued the church for years:

Joh 3:2  “this man (Nicodemas) came to Jesus by night …”

Joh 9:22  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.

Joh 12:42-43  Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;  (43)  for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Joh 19:38  After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.

Joh 20:19  So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, "Peace be with you."

Gal 2:12  For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

              

2Ti 2:8-13  Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,  (9)  for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.  (10)  For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.  (11)  It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;  (12)  If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;  (13)  If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

Acts 4:18-20

God in Heaven, Remove this world’s fear far from our minds and teach us Your Fear, Oh Lord.  We desire for Jesus to confess us, help us to confess Him among men.  Please fill us with Your Words and make our bellies like unvented wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.  Teach us to speak, open our lips (Job 32:18-20).  Kindle a burning fire in our hearts shut up in our bones, unable to hold it in (Jer 20:9). 

 V. 15-16: Robertson relates: “This is not an argument against education, but it takes more than education to make a real man. Probably this sneer at Jesus came from some of the teachers in the Jerusalem seminaries. “Christ was in the eyes of the Jews a merely self-taught enthusiast” (Westcott).” We have the same problem today when we overvalue titles, and theological degrees more than “time spent with Jesus”. 

Acts 4:11-13  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  (12)  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  (13)  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated (G62), common men (G2399), they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

G62  ἀγράμματος ag-ram-mat-os - unlettered, illiterate:

G2399 ἰδιώτης idiōtēs id-ee-o'-tace - an ignoramus (compare “idiot”): - ignorant,

They pulled the same defensive argument or tactic against the once blind man of John 9:34  “They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.”  Here the argument was not so much an attack on the preachers education but rather his status and social class.  But again we are reminded that while education can be good, nothing can take the place of time spent with Jesus. 

 V. 21-24 - Jesus appears to reference back to His Healing at Bethesda (in the Spring at the time of Passover) and it is now Fall during the Feast of Tabernacles. Approximately 6 months has gone by, but they still can’t see the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus isn't simply defending Himself.  He's exposing their misunderstanding and misapplication of the Sabbath law.  The covenant of circumcision was given to Abraham prior to the giving of the Law Covenant to Moses.  Quite clearly, the Jews rightly valued keeping circumcision to the 8^th day as taking precedence over the ordinary restrictions concerning Sabbath labor. (given in Gen 17:10-14; reiterated in Lev 12:3 and confirmed in Gal 3:17).  This was righteous judgment; this apparent compromise was not explicit in the Law but does seem to be the right conclusion. 

More specifically to Christ, notice that the priest always was working; factually, Saturday could be one of his busier days (Num 28:9-10; Matt 12:5).  His work was justified and necessary because he was the priest.  Paraphrased He was saying, “If you recognize that God's command concerning circumcision takes precedence over your ordinary restrictions concerning Sabbath labor, and if the priests are required to work in God's service on the Sabbath, then why are you angry that I have made a whole man well on the Sabbath?”  Jesus was perfectly carrying out His priestly duties on behalf of His people.  John 5:17  But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”  In fact, Jesus was perfectly accomplishing His Father’s will and work.  We should have known that He would “be about (His) Father’s business”. 

V. 24 - Jesus isn't teaching that we should never make judgments. In fact, He explicitly says to “judge righteous judgment.” The problem is judging according to appearance rather than according to righteousness.  Jesus teaches us to look beyond the outward appearance and judge according to the heart, purpose, righteousness, and principles of God's Law; never setting the Law aside, but understanding and fulfilling it rightly.

We far too often walk by sight and do not walk, smell and feel by faith as our Father would teach us.  1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Isa 11:1-4  Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.  (2)  The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.  (3)  And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;  (4)  But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

Jesus would teach us to look to the heart of the matter; never ignoring the Law but always fulfilling it. Isaiah had already told Israel that Messiah would not judge according to what His eyes saw or what His ears heard, but would judge with righteousness. And now, standing before them in the temple, Jesus tells them to do exactly what they are failing to do: ‘Judge righteous judgment.’

 

The Pharisees had become masters at judging by appearance, to the degree that going about to establish their own righteousness they had forgotten the righteousness of God (Rom 10:2). They claimed to have “the corner” on the Law (v. 49), yet had long become strangers to its Spirit, principles and righteousness.

Mat 23:23-24  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.  (24)  "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

Pro 21:3  To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.   Hos 6:6; Mic 6:8.

Jas 1:22-25-27  But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James reinforces this same truth throughout his letter. He calls us to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22), describing God’s Word as the “perfect law of liberty” (1:25), and then calls it the “royal law” (2:8) and again the “law of liberty” (2:12). This law is not merely a collection of regulations, but an expression of God’s righteous character that governs our hearts and how we treat others.

We can be just as guilty of this as the Pharisees; not by rejecting God's Word, but by taking one legitimate principle of Scripture, isolating it from the rest of God's revealed will, and then using it to condemn something God Himself approves.  Jesus perfectly manifests the righteousness, mercy, justice, and love expressed in God's perfect and royal law of liberty. The Pharisees thought they knew the letter of the Law well enough to condemn Jesus, but they did not understand that the Law was pointing them away from self and towards Christ.

 

The Pharisees could quote the Law, defend the Law, and condemn others by the Law, yet when the One who perfectly fulfilled the Law stood before them, they could not recognize Him. Jesus calls us to something better: not a righteousness based upon outward appearance, human approval, or religious performance, but a righteousness that sees as God sees, judges righteously, loves mercy, walks humbly, and follows Christ. So let us not merely be hearers of the Word, but doers of it; let us not fear man, but fear God; and let us not merely know about Jesus, but spend enough time with Him that the world can see that we have been with Jesus.

The Bread of Life

V.  29-71 The chapter starts off with two miracles where Jesus protects and provides for His Bride giving us every needed reason to fully trust Him. In the middle of the passage Jesus explains the work of God that is producing life giving faith in the lives of His people.  Finally, at the conclusion of the chapter we see the end results:  Some believed Jesus and most did not.   The passage culminates in a high moment for Peter “Lord, to whom shall we go?”  We don’t have a plan B. 

V. 29 is the central verse of John 6… “this is the Work of God, that you believe (have faith) in Him (Jesus) whom He (the Father) sent (from Heaven). The passage is about true, saving, life-changing faith.  As John summarizes “these are written so 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 20:31). 

The means is faith.  The object of that faith is Christ.  The source is God's grace (as a gift).   By Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone.   

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 4:10  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

 

v. 35 Jesus uses synonymous parallelism to emphasize that coming to Christ and believing in Christ are two ways of describing the same saving response; that Christ alone satisfies the deepest hunger and thirst of the soul.

 

V. 54 “Whosoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life.”

So we have to ask: What has Jesus already told us produces eternal life?  Believing in Him.

Jesus isn't giving us two different methods of salvation (either believe in Jesus or take communion).  He is describing the same saving reception of Christ with progressively stronger imagery.   Therefore, we should understand the later metaphor through the earlier explanation rather not abandon the earlier explanation and make the metaphor literal.

The later “eating” language is not introducing a sacramental mechanism for salvation. It is illustrating the personal receiving of Christ by faith.  Just as in our physical life regarding satisfying hunger and sustaining life, to know about bread is not enough…to look at or smell bread is not enough… even touching bread is not enough…to be satisfied and sustained, one must put the bread inside their own body.  Quite literally, that which used to be the life of another organism now becomes molecular and cellular life inside of you.  Digestion is how we physically eat and faith is how we spiritually eat.   The issue is faith in Christ and dependence upon Christ, not the magical or supernatural properties of physical flesh.

 

The Lord's Supper is not unimportant. Jesus commanded His church to observe it, and it is a beautiful and serious ordinance.  While we may rightly reference this passage in our understanding of communion, be careful to recognize that the physical practice of communion is not what Jesus is directly talking about in John 6.  Catholicism has not only confused this issue but goes as far as to pretend to hold the monopoly on Christ’s presence and as such, the way into Heaven.  We will not waste time here talking about transubstantiation, but we too believe in the necessity of the Lord’s table but do not hold that in and of itself it is salvific.  We too believe in the presence of our Lord during these special church ordinances (communion and baptism) but avoid the mystical liturgy that errantly developed through the centuries.  Jesus doesn't tell us to consume a substance in order to receive life; He tells us to receive HIM. The eating language illustrates faith's receiving of Christ, while the surrounding context repeatedly identifies believing on Him as the means by which we have everlasting life.

 

Here we find people who were “seeking Jesus…” but “not because they saw signs” (and believed), “but because they ate of the loaves and were filled.”  Many people still “seek” Jesus today but have not yet been freed from slavery to their own bellies.  “For many walk, of whom I often have told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Phil 3:18-19).  No doubt many who crucified Jesus had been fed, healed and taught by Him before.  

 

For God to weed out 31,700 men and leave Gideon with only 300, He posed two tests (who is afraid and who is unprepared) (Judges 7).  Here, all it took was one statement from Jesus, “I Am the Bread of Life”.  It is easy to expose those who are looking for their next meal from those who are looking for eternal life, just take the food out of the equation.  These people who had searched for Him and desired to crown Him King, had suddenly lost interest.  “As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

 

They were not impressed with Jesus.  Perhaps they would have believed if there were an explosion, or if one rose from the dead (Luke 16), or if the gates of hell were opened.  “But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: ‘…The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Deut 30:11-14; Rom 10:6-12).  Faith is a gift from God, and faith comes by hearing the Word of God.  Here is something Amazing, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  God has made it natural to man that we believe what we hear and believe what we see.  We must get our ears and our eyes in the right place; off this world and onto Jesus. 

 

Our believing must be wrapped up in nothing other than Jesus 1 Cor 1:18-2:5.

They grumbled and stood discontent with Him who the Father sent.  This is not the first time God’s people have grumbled at His provision.  These false disciples were referring back to the manna that their fathers had eaten freely in the wilderness (Ps 78:17-33), forgetting that their fathers loathed it.  At that time the children of Israel ate angels food, food prepared by God, yet it wasn’t enough.   Now, the True Manna, the True Bread of Life, the Provision of God is before them prepared to be broken, yet it wasn’t good enough.  They were being “taught of God” (v. 45), yet said “Who can listen to it?” (v. 61).  Jesus revealed Himself as being “the Bread of Life”, always has been and always will be.  To simplify it Jesus says in v. 63, “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

 

To bring it now to us:  in the past, God's people have not appreciated God's provision before them, whether it was manna in the wilderness or Christ standing before them.  Jesus stands before us today, still the Bread of Life, the Word of God, is He good enough?  Before God’s Word, are we asleep… distracted… somewhere else… are we bored… are we interested but disobedient.  God, make your word more necessary than our necessary food (Job 23:12), treasured in our hearts (Ps 119:11), more desirable than gold, sweeter than honey (Ps 19:10), joy and the delight of my (our) heart(s) (Jer 15:16).

 

Many are flocking to a spread table, or big gymnasiums, bright lights, smoke, booming speakers, fancy preachers, and amazing choirs/bands, but who will come to Jesus.  When rough times come, the sun is scorching the seed on the stony ground, there are offences and grumbling, and Christians are dropping like flies, Jesus’ words come, “You do not want to go away also, do you.”  May our response be deep set in our hearts and shown forth in our lives, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 

 

Thankfully, Peter had become so dependent upon the Bread of Life that even when it was difficult to chew or hard to swallow, Peter knew which table he should be sitting at.  He had tasted the Heavenly Gift (Heb 6:4) and was convinced that the Lord is Good (Ps 34:8).  Like the Syrophoenician woman of Mark 7:24, insults and injury only drew her closer to her Lord; regardless, she would stay at her Master’s table, even if only for the crumbs which fell to her.  Many people in life will use any excuse they can find to reject God and seek their own desire.  Don’t look for a reason to dislike the preacher or the church service, or you most likely will find it.  On the other hand, there is a remnant who have found themselves so utterly dependent upon God, that you cannot chase them away, even with a stick.  They say, “though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). 

 

Vs. 37, 39, 44 and 65 Behold the harmonious and provisionary work between the Father and the Son.

In considering these verses and the “giving” and “raising up” work of the Father, consider also this parallel in vs.39 and then 40.  V. 39 speaks of “all” and “it” while v.40 speaks of “everyone” and “him”.  

Hebrews 10:5  Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;

John 19:36  For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 

Luke 24:38-39  And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  (39)  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Acts 2:22-32

1 Corinthians 12:27  Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Ephesians 5:30  because we are members of his body.

John 10:27-28  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  (28)  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

John 17:12  While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Heavenly Father was 100% faithful in His care over the Physical body of Jesus.  In like manner, He will be no less faithful with us.   

 

So in conclusion, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   Now our Faith and Hope rest in the Loving work of God.  “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Cor 3:4-5). The Father gave the Son, the Son willingly laid down His life, and the Father raised Him again, whole, complete, and victorious over death. The Father was perfectly faithful to the body He had prepared for His Son, and He will be no less faithful to the body of people He has purchased and given to His Son.  Our confidence, then, is not in the strength of our faith, the perfection of our works, or our ability to preserve ourselves; our confidence is in Christ, who finished the work, conquered the grave, and will faithfully complete what He has begun.

(Sing) He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it in you. 

A Harmonized Reading: Jesus Walks on the Sea  (Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21)

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone (John 6:15).

Immediately He constrained His disciples to get into the ship and to go before Him unto the other side, toward Bethsaida, while He sent the multitudes away (Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:45).

And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray. When the even was come, He was there alone (Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46).

When even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea, entered into a ship, and were going over the sea toward Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them (John 6:16-17).

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary. The sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew, and the disciples were distressed in rowing, for the wind was against them (Matthew 14:24; Mark 6:47-48; John 6:18).

From the mountain He saw them toiling in rowing, When they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came unto them, walking upon the sea and He would have passed by them (John 6:19; Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48).

When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a spirit;" and they cried out for fear. They all saw Him and were troubled (Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:49-50).

But immediately Jesus spake unto them, saying,  "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."  (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 6:20)

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water."  And He said,  "Come."  When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying,  "Lord, save me!"  Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, caught him, and said unto him,  "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"  (Matthew 14:28-31)

Then they willingly received Him into the ship. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased (John 6:21; Matthew 14:32; Mark 6:51).

Immediately the ship was at the land whither they went (John 6:21).

And they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered; for they considered not the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened (Mark 6:51-52).

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, "Of a truth Thou art the Son of God."  (Matthew 14:33)

 

John 6:16-21 (through 29) The Lord Upon the Sea

The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake approximately thirteen miles long and eight miles wide at its broadest point. It lies more than six hundred feet below sea level (the lowest freshwater lake on earth and the second-lowest lake overall, after the Dead Sea.). Because of its geography and the surrounding hills, winds can descend suddenly upon the water and create dangerous conditions.

John says that the disciples had rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs (approximately three or four miles) when Jesus approached them. They were not near the shore or standing in shallow water. They were far out upon the lake, in the darkness, with a strong wind blowing and the sea rising.

The parallel Gospel accounts place Jesus’ arrival during the fourth watch of the night, sometime between approximately three and six o’clock in the morning. The disciples had been struggling for hours. Their strength was failing, the wind was contrary, and Jesus appeared to be absent. But while they may have lost sight of Jesus, He had not lost sight of them.

It was then that Jesus came to them, walking upon the water.  Jesus was not using an unusual balancing technique. He was exercising authority over the physical order that He had created.  By this time, Jesus had shown His disciples that He possessed authority over sickness, blindness, demons, death, wind, and waves. Now He demonstrated His authority over the most elementary physical principles of His creation. 

Some foolishly imagine that there was a sudden cold snap and that the surface of sea had become Ice chunks.  This is man’s defiant attempt to ignore the power and authority of God.  The sea of Galilee does not freeze for multiple scientific reasons: climate, altitude, depth, wind and waves (which were notable this night).  God did not drown the Egyptian army in puddles and Jesus wasn’t hopping on ice cubes.  Such theories are not attempts to understand Scripture but to avoid its supernatural claims.

It was a miracle. By definition, a miracle is an extraordinary work of God that transcends the ordinary course of nature. If every miracle could be explained entirely by natural causes, it would no longer be a miracle. The very purpose of miracles in Scripture is to authenticate God's revelation and reveal His glory.  Miracles only make sense because of God.  Even the natural phenomenon of surface tension cannot remotely explain what happened. It provides only a tiny fraction of the force necessary to support the weight of a man. Scripture does not invite us to search for a scientific explanation, but to behold the Creator exercising authority over His creation. We don't know how, but we know Who… that is the point.

Whether we describe it as Christ exercising authority over gravity and physics, or picture the sea bowing beneath the feet of its Creator and lifting Him up, it would have been astonishing to witness.

Job 9:8 says that God:  “Treads upon the waves of the sea.”    

Psalm 77:19 says: “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters.”

“Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea, Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies, The Master of ocean, and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, "Peace, be still! Peace, be still!”

May we remember that even in the most turbulent and confusing times of life, God remains completely present, fully aware of our condition and 100% in control.

When they saw Jesus walking upon the water, they were afraid. He said: “It is I; do not be afraid.” The Greek expression is egō eimi, literally, “I am.”  The expression can naturally mean, “It is I,” but within the Gospel of John it also carries a deeper significance because of Christ’s repeated “I AM” declarations. His words did more than identify the figure approaching them through the darkness.  Their safety did not rest in calmer circumstances, but in the identity and presence of Jesus Christ.  They still saw the waves. They still felt the wind. They were still far from shore. But the great I AM had come to them, and His presence changed everything.

V. 21 - John’s wording strongly suggests that Christ not only mastered the sea, but also brought the disciples swiftly and miraculously to their intended destination. Christ was Lord over every obstacle standing between them and the shore. Jesus is not merely Lord over bread, fish, wind, and water. He is Lord over creation itself, over matter, natural forces, time, distance, and our destination.

Colossians 1:16-17 says: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible… all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

We are often like these disciples surrounded by darkness, opposed by the winds of this world, weary from rowing, and seemingly far from where we intended to be.  Yet God is faithful and Jesus still comes to His people.

No matter how high the waves rise or how strongly the wind blows, the words of Jesus still ring clearly to His disciples:  “I AM. Be not afraid.”  With such a Savior present, there is little in this world left for a child of God to fear.

In Matthew 8 when Jesus calms the storm and sea, he disciples ask: "Who is this?" However, in Matthew 14 The disciples declare: "You are the Son of God."  Notice the Development: The first miracle demonstrates Christ's authority over creation, while the second demonstrates His identity as the Creator Himself. When possible we avoid bad storms, but if storms are brewing let them at least be useful.  When life is howling around us, look carefully for the Savior amongst us.    

Matthew's account records one additional event omitted by John. Before Jesus entered the boat, Peter asked to come to Him upon the water. This remarkable event is more than an interesting miracle. It beautifully illustrates what Jesus will teach in the remainder of John 6.  God has deep plans for His children.  Jesus not only walks upon the sea, but He also calls us out upon the waters.  It is hard to imagine what was going through Peter’s mind when he self invites himself to walk with Jesus.  However, there is a beautiful overall takeaway here that correlates perfectly with Jesus’ teaching immediately following.  Jesus talks about “comes”/ “believes” (in vs 35) and then being “drawn” (in vs 44).  When Peter walks upon the water to Jesus we are seeing this coming, believing and drawing actively played out in the life of one of God’s children.  Why did Peter want to walk upon the water to Jesus…?  He was being drawn by the Jesus.  He was drawn by the miracle; he was drawn by Christ’s presence in his life.  “This is the Work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (vs 29).  God was at work in Peter's heart, producing faith;  This faith was feeding Peter’s soul and giving him everlasting life (vs 40). 

"He would have passed by them." (Mark 6:48)  This language echoes God's self-revelation to Moses (Exodus 33) and Elijah (1 Kings 19), where the Lord "passed by" His servants to reveal His glory. The One who 'treads upon the waves' (Job 9:8) is the very One who 'passes by' His servants to reveal His glory.  Jesus' action is not an attempt to ignore the disciples but a deliberate manifestation of His divine identity.  Open your eyes and see the Glory of God, through history and creation He is, as it were, making His Glory pass before us.  If we hesitate in unbelief, if we restrain from calling out to Him now, He and our opportunity to be with Him will pass us by. 

Mark tells us the disciples still had not understood the miracle of the loaves. John immediately records Christ explaining exactly what the loaves were meant to teach. The miracle was never merely about feeding hungry stomachs. It was pointing to the true Bread from heaven.  The One who multiplied the bread is the One who walked upon the sea. The One who walked upon the sea is the One who will soon declare, "I am the Bread of Life." Every miracle in John 6 is directing us to one glorious conclusion: Jesus Christ is enough.

Jesus reveals Himself as Lord over every part of creation. He is sufficient when our resources are small. He is present and compassionate when the night is dark and our strength is gone.  He is sovereign even when the winds of life and the choices of humanity are contrary.  Our safety is not found in the integrity and sea-worthiness of something we are floating on.  Our health is not found in the availability and nutritional content of something we are chewing on.  Rather, Jesus is our all in all.  He is the King of Kings and He is Lord of all.