Jesus Walks on Water

Lesson #99

With this lesson we begin the next section of chapter 6, in which Jesus walks on the water. This section is defined by John 6:16 – 21; “When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” (ESV). There is much more here than first meets the eye. Since chapter 6 is primarily about bread, why did John insert this episode of Jesus walking on the water? How does it fit in with the context of the chapter on bread?

We are not told why the disciples went down to the sea when evening came and got into the boat without Jesus and started across the sea to Capernaum. The mystery deepens when we read that it was now dark and Jesus still had not come to him. How were they expecting Jesus to come to them? In the boat, in the darkness without Jesus, the sea becomes rough because of a strong wind and the disciples find themselves in a dangerous situation. I think the connection to bread is right here. In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus provided physical bread for the people; Jesus was able to meet a physical need that if not met for a long enough time would lead to physical death. Here in the boat the disciples were in danger of losing their lives to the wind and waves. I believe Jesus wanted them to be there so that by his power he could calm the storm and begin to prepare them to understand that he not only has the power to produce bread but that he is the bread from heaven. The next challenge for Jesus is to convince the disciples and the people that he is the bread from heaven that provides spiritual eternal life.

After the disciples had rowed about three or four miles in worsening storm conditions they became very frightened when they saw Jesus walking on the water coming toward the boat. Jesus knew they were afraid and called out to them saying, “It is I; do not be afraid.” In this account John only tells us that “they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” We don’t see the disciples going to Jesus, but instead we see Jesus coming to the disciples in their time of need and identifying himself. The disciples were glad to see him and they desired to have him come into the boat with them.

After the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus had the disciples pick up the leftovers, which amounted to twelve baskets full; one basket full for each disciple. By this Jesus indicates that after ministering to the needs of the people, he would provide the resources to feed them, but he wanted to further show them that he is their bread. Jesus arranges for the disciples to be in a boat on a dark stormy night and amidst the storm he comes to them and when they take him into the boat with them they in a short time will arrive at the desired haven. Jesus is showing them that he does not just give bread, but that he is the bread of life. He does not just make the wind stop and the waves die down, but he gets into the boat with them and takes them to their destination. Think about this when you found yourself in the storm of life and Jesus came to you and you invited him into your life as the bread of life. In time he will take you to heaven as your destination. Jesus has shown that he can provide physical bread to sustain physical life, but he is the living bread from heaven that is needed to sustain spiritual life.

Prayer

Father, how exciting it is to experience how John unfolds who Jesus is. Each lesson takes me further in my understanding and my excitement of being with him for an eternal adventure. As I learn about and experiences the resources Jesus provides me, my concern grows when I realize the horror of eternal separation from the kindness of your grace for those who do not believe.