John 6:16-25 – Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He *said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. 23 Other small boats came from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
“Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.” It was evening when the disciples got into the boat and started their travel to Capernaum. It had become dark and Jesus was not with them. These facts might cause us to wonder why they didn’t wait for morning and also why they were starting the journey without Jesus. Matthew 14:22 tells us that Jesus had given them a direct and urgent direction to get started across the sea.
“In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened.” When they had travelled about three or four miles a strong opposing wind stirred up the sea and they began to strain at the oars. (Mark 6:48) It is then that they saw Jesus walking on the sea and they became frightened. Let’s consider their circumstances. 1) They had already rowed about three or four miles. 2) It was dark, the sea dangerous and rough, and visibility was limited. 3) They were wet, cold and tired. 4) They did not know if the rough conditions would get better or if they would perish. 5) Then they saw someone walking on the sea. 6) This person was walking near them, but not towards them as Mark 6:48 states that Jesus seemed to be intent on walking by them. 6) Mark 6:49 and Matthew 14:26 reveals that the Apostles did not recognize it was Jesus walking on sea but that it was a ghost (Yes, a ghost. What does that cause you to believe about the reality of ghosts since the Apostles believed they existed. Also see Luke 24:37).
Some modern “scholars,” as they often can do, would twist the reality of what happened. Some claim that Jesus was not walking on the water but on the land by the seashore. They claim that the Apostle were hugging the coast and so they saw Jesus walking on land and not on the water. The scriptures do not allow for this position. V19 clearly states that Jesus was walking on the sea. Mark 6:49 and Matthew 14:25 also state that Jesus was walking on the sea. No accounts of this story say that Jesus was walking on land. Furthermore Matthew 14:24 states that the boat was already “a long distance from the land.” Mark 6:47 states that the boat was in the “middle of the sea.” Matthew 14:25 states that they saw Jesus in the fourth watch and so likely about three in the morning. Since it is established that the boat was not close to land and the visibility poor, and the Apostles busy trying to stay afloat and on course, it is not probable that they could even see a person walking on land. The proposal that Jesus was on land and the Apostles just offshore is just not tenable.
Family and friends, the scriptures do not support this erroneous mangling of the truth that their supposition. The bigger problem is the presupposition of opposing the supernatural in the Bible. Those who are troubled by the supernatural in the Word are not believers in the Word, but are those who are opposed to. It is dangerous ground to oppose the Word, it is opposing God Himself who gave us the Word. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
We who love the Lord, and who have drawn near to know Him, look for the path that He gives us through the trials of life. We know that He is always with us and watching over us. (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5) When our lives become a turbulent sea we ought to look to Jesus and not wonder how we could fix, or change our circumstances. Often, only Jesus can do that and unlike anyone else but Him. He can do it every time. We should be of the mind that God can rescue us from anything. But what if we shall suffer or die for His name, all who trust Him and His Word, should be willing to endure all for His glory. Let us be ready for the hardest of trials. Be ready to surrender all, whatever it may be, for His glory. To be ready for that, we must know Him by fellowship with Him in the Spirit and by His Word. Praise God who keeps us all the way till when He brings us home. Praise God always! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.