God’s Favorite

John 6:16-27

Jesus walks on water

CIT: Jesus walks on water

CIS: John’s focus is on relationships, not miracles

SO: The hearer will focus on Jesus 

Follow along at d1.church/notes. 

Intro: This series is designed to show you through the eyes of John, the Person of Jesus, the Jesus of the Godhead, and the key moments of his life. John is not a chronological book. Some things happen out of order compared to the other gospels. The gospel of John is not about exactness; it is about a relationship between Jesus and “the one Jesus loved.”

Let’s continue with John Chapter 6.

1. Jesus walks on water (John 6:16-21)

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 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.  A strong wind was blowing, and the waters grew rough.  When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.  But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

EXP: Directly following the feeding of the five thousand (Both John and Mark place this story at this moment). Jesus has gone away on his own now, so the crowds did not chase him, and the disciples split from Jesus and got on the boat. They did not send the people away; they all left on their own. The miracles, combined with the food, have created a mob scene. The disciples have gotten on a boat, and they are rowing. The wind is blowing, and the water is rough. John says they have rowed about three to four miles, which is about halfway across the Sea of Galilee, when they spot what looks like a ghost, as described in Matthew and Mark, walking across the water toward them. They are at first afraid until Jesus identifies himself. 

I feel like I have to mention that Matthew records the incident in which Peter walks on water, and Jesus rescues him as he sinks. John does not share that part of the story. I believe it occurred, just that it is not John’s viewpoint of Jesus he wants us to see. 

They see Jesus and get him into the boat, and another miracle happens: the boat makes it the other four miles to the shore without them rowing.

ILL: Have you ever worked really hard on something, and someone comes and does it in three seconds in a way you never thought of before? One of our favorite Holiday movies is Christmas Vacation. There is a scene in which Clark Griswold has hung all the lights on the house, checked all the strands, and followed all the plugs to the power source, but the house still isn’t lighting up. His frustration mounts and mounts, and eventually his wife Ellen turns a switch on in the house, which powers the plugs, and all the lights come on. Clark is laboring tirelessly to find and fix the problem. Ellen basically walks on water, and the job is complete.

APP: John’s point of view is that the gap between where Jesus is in life and ministry and where the disciples were in life and ministry was as far apart as here and the moon. John describes a moment when they are basically running for their lives, rowing as hard as they can against a current in the night after a full day of work, just wanting to get to the other side, where they can rest. 

Mark describes this moment as a time when their “hearts were hardened, and they lacked understanding of the loaves.” Matthew says, “Jesus dismissed them.”

Dismissed. Confused. Stressed. Tired. Afraid. Then Jesus comes strolling along without a care in the world, oh, and now he has taken away the stress of getting across.

T.S.: Jesus knows all this and comes to them. Let’s re-read verse 20.

2. Do not be afraid (John 6:20)

But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

EXP: In John’s Gospel, we find Jesus always coming to us. 

Jesus went to the disciples and bade them to follow him. When Nicodemus had questions, Jesus met him. When the Samaritan woman was lost, Jesus found her at the well. When the disciples are in their feelings, Jesus walks on water to get to them. 

When Jesus arrives, he tells them the way to get back in a relationship with him, Stop being afraid. 

ILL: In Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, he gives four things not to do. Don’t worry, Don’t judge, Don’t make vows, and Don’t fear. All of these things will cause separation from God. The distance between the disciples and the moon I described is due to the fear they have put between them and Jesus. The picture here is that Jesus is trying to reach them, pulling out all the stops, and they are becoming more fearful and almost pulling away.

ILL: Often, people talk about fear in the bible as being in awe of the Lord. I will have to say that, most of the time, in context, it means what the definition implies.

Fear is a primal, functional emotion triggered by a perceived threat. It initiates vital survival mechanisms—the "fight, flight, or freeze" response—causing quick biochemical, physiological, and psychological changes designed to protect us from danger.

Fear causes the lizard part of our brain to take over our actions. This is a reactive center based on our survival needs. This is the opposite of dying to the flesh. This is literally living in the flesh. 

APP: Jesus words in this state to us are to stop living in fear. Recognize that if we look around, Jesus is coming to us in our deepest time of need. Our focus has to stop being on the problem and turn to the solution: Jesus.

T. S.: In complete acknowledgment of the situation. John's point of view is that distress is real, but so is Jesus.

3. The Crowds (John 6:22-24).

The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.  Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

EXP: The next day, the crowd of thousands remained on the other side where the feeding had taken place. As a matter of fact, boats of newcomers had arrived. The crowds had seen the disciples leave without Jesus and were sure that Jesus was still on the other side of the lake. Eventually, they all figured it out and dispersed. Both Matthew and Mark describe the scene when they arrive: they are recognized, many are bringing their sick, and healings are taking place.

ILL: As we review this story, we can see that John’s focus was less on the ministries taking place. The exposure of the children of God to the Messiah is primary. The miracles, even walking on water, are downplayed in terms of proximity to Jesus. 

There are times in my children's lives when being a father means being a provider or supplier of their needs. I take great pride sometimes in providing these things for my family. I am sure in my children's minds, it could have looked like my main priorities for their lives are paying for cell phones, buying dinner, or driving them around. While all of these things are needed and often a function of generosity and love, the important part of my life with my children, for them and for me, is the relationship. The times we get to spend together. These are the moments that matter. 

APP: I imagine John writing this, thinking, “Yeah, that was cool, but I miss my friend.” In that way, John is reminding himself that this relationship can still be had with Jesus. That the crowds may have left, or they may be descending upon you. Whether the storm is present or there is a lot of work to do, what matters is just being in his presence and knowing that he is actively trying to get to you and me at all times. 

TS: We know this is John’s point because he shares this in the following scriptures:

John 6:25-27 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Be careful that we are not focused on the material things, but on what matters most. Life eternal.

Let me pray for three groups:

1. Some are struggling to make things work. You are rowing hard against the waves
2. I pray that you will pause and look for Jesus, who is coming to rescue you. He is already dispatched to meet the need. 

2. Some of us are bound by fear and worry and cannot see the things God is doing. 

a. I pray we focus on the relationship with Jesus today

3. Maybe today, you came for the miracles and signs. Maybe God met a large need in your life, and you are ready to give him space. Today, if that is you, I want you to know that he wants to be in a relationship with you, and that the time you spend together will be the most important thing.

a. For you, I want to pray for salvation.