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Moving On Without Jesus
John 6:14-21
One day, a very small, sickly-looking man with
thick glasses rode into a western town on the stagecoach. He was hired
as the local saloon’s bartender, but the owner gave him a word of
warning: "Remember, drop everything and run for your life if ever you
hear that Big John is on his way to town."
Things went fine for a few months. Suddenly, a big, strong cowhand with
a ghost-white look on his face burst through the swinging doors
shouting, "Big John’s a’comin’! Big John’s a’comin’!" The patrons
scrambled to get out the door, knocking the small bartender for a loop
as they pushed by him.
The bartender gathered his senses about him and had just found his
glasses when the room went dark. He put them on to see a giant of a man
eclipsing the saloon doors. Riding bareback on a buffalo, using a
rattlesnake for a whip, he came right through the saloon doors,
splintering away the doors and doorframe! The man FLUNG the snake into
the corner, KNOCKED over tables, and took his massive fist and SPLIT the
bar in half as he demanded a drink.
"Y-y-yes sir!" The bartender nervously handed a bottle out to the man.
He BIT the top of the bottle right off with his teeth, downed the
contents in one gulp, let out a belch that shattered the saloon’s
mirror, ...and then turned to leave. The bartender realized he wasn’t
going to hurt him, so he asked the man if he would like another drink?
"I ain’t got no time," the man roared as he got on his buffalo,
rattlesnake in hand. "Big Jooooohn’s a’comin’ to town!"
Have you ever been afraid?
Maybe there have been some “Big Johns” in your life that have made you
more than a bit apprehensive—a person that has treated you rudely or
even threatened you. Perhaps you have had some life-threatening event
that you know the outcome could have been different than it was.
When we sense danger, it is a time for help. When we know there is
something wrong with us physically, we go to a doctor for help. When we
know that we are having trouble solving a conflict with someone, we go
to a counselor for help. When we have legal problems, we go to a lawyer
for help. When we break down on the highway, we call a tow truck for
help.
No matter what kind of danger we are in, help is always available. We
discovered this last week when a great crowd had followed Jesus well
into dinnertime.
It’s like the story of a little boy who is asked what His favorite Bible
story is, and he replies, “I like the one where everybody just loafs and
fishes.”
Well, that’s not quite how it went! But it was about an unending supply
of loaves and fish. Jesus took five loaves and two fish and made a feast
out of them for over 5000 people. And there was more leftover than with
which they started.
Now we come to the events immediately following.
Verse 14
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is
indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"”
The people were pumped with excitement after Jesus fed them. Many had
been following after Him out of curiosity. Some had been following Him
out of desperation, hoping that somehow He could help them in their
plight. Others were following because it was their hope that Jesus was
the Messiah—someone who would save them from the tyranny of Rome.
So Jesus goes about healing, and now feeding over 5000, the people are
getting pumped. Their enthusiasm is growing, not waning. Jesus could be
the ticket. It was starting to make sense.
Now the crowd concluded that Jesus is the Prophet we read about in
Deuteronomy 18:15.
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among
you, from your brothers — it is to him you shall listen…
They believe that the time has come. This is the One that they are
waiting for. They liked having a Savior who met their material needs. It
is apparent that Jesus could do anything. So watch out Jerusalem—here we
come.
But though they did not realize it, this is not what they needed. What
they needed was not gifts of a material nature. They need gifts of the
spiritual kind.
Verse 15
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to
make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus perceived that the people had the wrong thing in mind. You see,
Jesus had no political ambitions. It was not His desire to be popular.
He did not come to make people’s lives easier. His desire was to
complete the mission the Father had sent Him. He came to be the Savior
of the world. So when people make the move to force Jesus to be the
king, He decisively rejects it. This is not the kind of king Jesus came
to be. He has come to be a different kind of King with a kingdom much
greater. So as they approach, He withdraws.
Whenever temptation comes, it is time to pray (Mark 6:46).
In Mark’s account of this event, it says and after he had taken leave of
them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
Jesus needed to make sure He was on track. He needed to keep His
perspective. So, it is time to be with the Father. It is time to make
sure His will lined up with His Father.
Verses 16-18
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.
In the other gospel accounts, we know there was a little more to the
story than they just got into the boat. In Matthew, they are compelled
by Jesus to do so. You can almost hear Him saying, “I need some time
alone, so get in the boat!” And off He goes up the mountain to pray, and
out into the lake they go, but trouble is coming.
While sports fishing off a Florida beach, a tourist capsized his boat.
He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the
overturned craft. Spotting and old beachcomber standing on the shore,
the tourist shouted, "Are there any gators around here?!"
"Naw," the man hollered back, "they ain’t been around for years!"
"Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore.
About halfway there he asked the guy, "How’d you get rid of the gators?"
"We didn’t do nothin’," the beach bum said. "The sharks got ’em."
Well, just like this man the disciples were in a heap of trouble.
The text tells us that it was dark, but more importantly Jesus had not
come. Apparently, they had started rowing across to Capernaum, but
stayed close to shore, because they were going to pick up Jesus along
the way. But it was not working out that way. The wind was driving them
farther and farther south, so much so, that they lost sight of shore and
the possibility of picking up Jesus.
Matthew is very graphic in describing the storm. He describes the boat
as literally being tormented. The storm was raging. The wind was against
them. The waves were immense. And though Peter, Andrew, James and John
would have all been experienced in storms, their experience probably
taught them that you don’t go out on the lake in this kind of weather!
They had to wonder if they were forgotten. They must have felt alone.
After all, Jesus had sent them out here. Did He somehow forget all about
them? Did Jesus just not care? What was going on?
Verses 19-21
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.
The disciples thought they saw a “water demon” coming across the waves.
You know how the tales of fishermen can be. Here was a strange form
appearing in the midst of the sea. It’s a monster! It’s a demon! It’s a
ghost! Whatever it was, it was scaring the living daylights out of them.
But they did not need to be scared. It was Jesus walking across those
waves. It was Jesus using those tossing waves like pavement for his
feet.
Jesus offers pleasurable words of comfort. “It is I, do not be afraid.”
It is as if Jesus says, “The very things that oppose you, the boisterous
sea, the buffeting winds, I already have under my feet. I am in control
of these events, therefore there is no need to fear”
No, they were not forgotten and His Word revealed His Presence. Instead
of scolding their vanquished faith, He soothed and encouraged them with
the language of a conqueror. “It is I, do not be afraid.” “Do not be
afraid of darkness, I am light.” “Do not be afraid of death, I am life.”
“Do not be afraid of your sins, I am your salvation.” “I am your
Creator, your Redeemer and Your Friend” “I am King of nature and the
King in every realm.” “The contrary winds cannot hinder me and the
tossing sea cannot overwhelm me.” “I am King.” “It is I, do not be
afraid.”
The disciples teach us a wonderful lesson here, that we should eagerly
desire to have Jesus “on board.”
Note what happens to the disciples. As soon as He is on board, they are
saved. The storm is gone. And they have arrived at their destination.
They are at peace.
APPLICATION:
On his first business trip to Japan, Bob Redrow and his colleagues were
picked up in a van for the drive to a meeting. During the ride Bob
became distressed by the driver, who constantly turned around to talk to
his passengers as the van zipped dangerously through the narrow streets.
Finally Bob had had enough, and as politely as he could, he asked their
host to please focus on the road. He gave Bob a strange look, but
nonetheless turned around and faced forward.
After a few moments of tense silence, one of Bob’s American colleagues
nudged me and asked, "What was that all about?"
"He’s gonna get us killed," Bob said. "He’s not paying attention to the
road!"
"But Bob, the steering wheel is on the right," the friend explained.
"He’s not the one driving."
Have you ever noticed that we often get focused on the wrong things?
Just like Bob we think one thing is so important, and we find out that
this is not what it’s all about. In the same way, I believe that this is
the lesson of the story.
1. Life is hopeless without Jesus (cf. Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 2:12).
Just like the disciples were in the dark without Jesus, so is life. Life
is dark without Jesus. Our life without Jesus is dark. And just as it
was dangerous for the disciples while Jesus was not there, so is life
dangerous without Jesus. We are in danger.
In fact, without Jesus, our situation is most grave. We are heading for
everlasting destruction. And just as it was frightening for the
disciples while Jesus was not there, so is life. Life is frightening
without Jesus. When the storms of life come, and we don’t have Jesus,
our situation is most hopeless.
But note how Paul describes our spiritual condition when Jesus is in our
life:
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to
the kingdom of his beloved Son…
…remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated
from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of
promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
If you are finding life very difficult today, for whatever reason, know
this…help is on the way!
He understands and He cares. And He wants to get into the boat. Are you
going to invite Him in?
WE ARE MEANT TO HAVE JESUS IN OUR LIVES.
We need to have Him on board. We need to invite Him into the boat. Our
lives are so designed that we are restless and without peace unless He
is in them.
Whenever we have the presence of Jesus, we have the power of Jesus.
It is available to us. The power that healed the invalid is with us. The
power that fed over 5000 people is with us. The power that walked on
water, calmed the storm, and brought the disciples to their destination
is with us. So, we don’t need to be afraid when Jesus is in our lives.
Whenever we have the power of Jesus, we have the peace of Jesus.
We do not fear because He is with us and He is in charge. So…have you
invited Him in?
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