S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The miracle of Jesus walking on the water, recorded in three of the Gospels (Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:16-21), came on the heels of His miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with only five l...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

I believe we can easily over spiritualize the events in the gospels and miss the lessons that are intended for us. Much of Jesus's engagement with his disciples represents "training exercises" so they would learn how to follow him.

But what does it mean to follow Jesus? I believe Jesus was seeking to hammer home 4 points to learn what it means to follow his example:
1. He had all authority on heaven and earth because he was the Son of God 
2. He had all power on heaven and earth because he was filled with the Holy Spirit
3. He only did the things he saw his Father doing
4. He only spoke the words his Father gave him to say

Now consider what Jesus gave his disciples:
1. He gave them his authority to minister in his name and they went out to the surrounding villages
2. He gave them the Holy Spirit to empower them and even the demons obeyed them
3. He showed them the Father's heart and will, by every encounter he had with people during his ministry
4. He spoke the truth from the Father that he wanted them to hear, understand, apply to their daily lives and tell other people

But what was Jesus great challenge - and our challenge today?
He was dealing with sinful people!
The disciples wanted to be independent; rely on their own skills and resources; do things their own way and take the glory for themselves - just like we do! 

So what did Jesus have to do? He had to break their pride and independence - just like he has to do with us all the time. Therefore, many of the stories we encounter in the gospels take place so the disciples will have to surrender their will to his will and lay aside their pride and humbly follow and learn from him.

Before the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus had sent his disciples out 2x2 to minister in his name. They came back filled with pride and mojo - "even the demons obey us" they said. Jesus saw the effect that this power and authority had on them so he wanted to get them away where he could warn them of these effects. But the crowds wanted to hear Jesus and wouldn't leave them alone.

When the crowds grew hungry the disciples told Jesus he needed to disband the meeting so people could go home and eat - telling Jesus how to run his ministry because they wanted to be in charge. So what does Jesus do? He says in effect, so you think you have figured my ministry out - then YOU FEED THEM! - Then they complain about having to spend 8 months of a persons wages to feed everyone. I think that when Jesus performed this miracle, each disciple had a basket with a small loaf of bread and part of a small fish. I think each disciple thought the food would be gone after the first person. But when each person reached into the basket and came out with food they were "COMPLETELY ASTONISHED". Later they would understand the lesson - Jesus is the bread of life.

After the feeding, Jesus sends them out on the boat to go across the lake. A strange request for early in the evening. He tells them he needs some time alone to pray and will join them later. But how will he join them. I think Jesus wrestled in prayer with his Father until the fourth watch of the night asking for wisdom to help the disciples overcome their sinful desires.

I personally believe that Jesus created this storm to teach his disciples about dependence on him. The fishermen were in their element, confident in what they were doing, but they encountered a fierce storm and thought they were going to die. Their own resources were completely useless to save them and they never thought to PRAY for help.

Mark`s gospel says that Jesus came walking on the water and was about to pass by them. Why would he do that unless he wanted to show them how superior his skills and resources were compared with their own. Once they recognise Jesus, he joins them, calms the storm and they immediately get to the other side. 

The disciples don`t understand much of Jesus teaching and many of his practical training lessons until later, when they had received the Holy Spirit.

August 13 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

I think it was to teach us that:

1) Sometimes we feel battered by the storms. Mt 14:24

2) Sometimes we feel the darkness has won. Mt 14:25

3) Sometimes we feel our best efforts are to no avail. Mt 14:29-31

4) Sometimes we think the end is near. Mt 14:30

5) But, there is always the rescuing hand of Jesus! Mt 14:30

Two hymns give us the application:

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.

Refrain

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!

~James Rowe

Throw Out The Life Line
Throw out the life line across the dark wave;
There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is sinking today.

~Edward S. Ufford

May 06 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report