LIFE OF CHRIST - MINISTRY OF WITHDRAWALS

First Withdrawal

-A Storm at Sea, Jesus Walks on the Water

-Mark 6:45-52, Matt 14:22-33, John 6:14-21

-John’s account tells us that the multitude wanted to take Jesus by force to make Him a king.  Clearly,

 they were expecting Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom.  Eager to seek revenge for John’s death, the

 multitude grew impatient and was about to force the issue regarding their false expectations. 

-Jesus “constrained” (“made” – NAS, NIV) the apostles to depart and begin a return to Capernaum by

 way of the Sea of Galilee. 

            -“Jesus had ‘constrained the disciples’ to leave him; the Greek word for ‘constrained’ is very strong,

              and this implies that his disciples were reluctant to part from him” (Boles, pg 318).

            -Seeing the disciples depart probably helped persuade the multitude to do the same.

-After sending the multitude away, Jesus then entered into a mountain to pray alone. 

            -“It is significant that Jesus wanted to be alone in prayer with his Father when he saw that the people

              so grossly misunderstood the nature of his kingdom, and would make him a king over a material

              kingdom.  (John 6:15.)  In this retirement Jesus escapes the attention of the multitude and the

              confusion which had been continued since the disciples of John came to him; he could meditate on

              the death of John and upon his own death which would, before long, follow; he would have

              opportunity to pray for the weak disciples and the multitude, that they might hunger more for the

              spiritual food and understand better the nature of his kingdom” (Boles, pg 318).

-Jesus knew that the disciples were having a difficult trip while rowing into the wind.  During the fourth
 watch of the night (between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.), Jesus came to them by walking on the water.

            -This shows us that the time Jesus spent in prayer to the Father was not brief but consisted of several

              hours – from sometime around or shortly after darkness (Mark 6:44-45) into the early morning hours

              (Matt 14:25).  Oh, but how short our prayers often are.

            -When the disciples saw Him, not recognizing who He was, they were afraid.

            -But, Jesus called out to them, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matt 14:27).  The NAS and

             NIV have “Take courage” in the place of the KJV’s “Be of good cheer”.

                   -In Christ and through Christ, courage is gained and fear overcome – a good and important lesson

                    for Christians!

-Matthew’s account gives us some information regarding Peter that isn’t recorded in Mark or John.

            -In response to Jesus’ words of comfort, and seeking assurance in the identity of Jesus (notice the

              “if” in Matthew 14:28), Peter asked that he be able to walk to Jesus on the water.

            -Peter climbed from the boat and began his incredible walk.  However, becoming distracted by the

              tempestuous waves, doubt entered into him and he began to sink.  However, he did the right thing

              in calling out to Jesus for help.  Jesus reached out, caught him and rebuked him with the words, “O

              thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”  Peter’s faith was not complete, but it was certainly

             strengthened on this occasion along with the faith of the other apostles.  For, when Jesus and Peter

             entered the boat amidst a calmed sea, “they were greatly astonished” (Mark 6:51, NAS).       

                        -Having witnessed so many wonders, including the feeding of the multitude, they should not

                          have been surprised at Jesus’ abilities on this occasion but they were.  (see Mark 6:51-52)

                          Clearly, they were still learning and would continue to do so.

            -Many have been critical toward Peter in regards to this passage.  It is true that he became

             distracted while walking toward Jesus.  However, let’s remember that there were 11 other

             men who were still sitting in the boat.  Peter was the only one to step out onto the water.

             Now ask yourself – “Would I have stepped out of the boat?”

                        -“Peter was impetuous and ever ready to venture forward even at the risk of failure.  He was

                          a man of undoubted physical courage…Oftentimes Peter has been called rash, headlong,

                          cowardly, and suchlike; but there is no mark of such a character in him; if he were cowardly, we

                          have no record of it in the gospels; he was impetuous” (Boles, pg 320).

-When I read this passage, I think about the song entitled “Love Lifted Me” which includes the following

  words, “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to

  rise no more; but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am  

  I…Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love out of the angry

  waves.  He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Savior wants to be – Be saved today.”

            -To be saved, we must focus on Jesus and not become distracted by the things of this world.