2. John 6:15-21
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. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the

3. boat, and they were frightened
boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”

6. The disciples weren't afraid of A STORM…

7. The disciples weren't afraid of A STORM…
They weren't afraid of JESUS…

8. The disciples weren't afraid of A STORM…
They weren't afraid of JESUS…
WHAT were they AFRAID of that day?

9. I read the story of a man who was hitchhiking on a very dark night in the middle of a storm…

10. The disciples have been out on the Sea of Galilee headed across…

11. That same day Jesus had fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish…

12. Mark 6:45-46
“45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.”

13. Matthew 14:24-27
“4 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night (about 3:00 a.m.) he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

15. Mark and Matthew said they thought JESUS was A GHOST…

16. Now why would they think He’s a ghost?

17. Now why would they think He’s a ghost?
because NOBODY WALKS ON water…

18. Now why would they think He’s a ghost?
because NOBODY WALKS ON water…
in fact NOBODY SHOULD BE where THEY WERE… unless they’re in a boat…

19. Now why would they think He’s a ghost?
because NOBODY WALKS ON water…
in fact NOBODY SHOULD BE where THEY WERE… unless they’re in a boat…
it’s a MIRACLE… but they’re not PREPARED to see a miracle…

20. Lots of folks through history haven’t been prepared to SEE MIRACLES, because miracles include Jesus…

21. About 10 years ago, a physicist and Templeton Prize winner named Paul Davies found – IN THE LAWS OF NATURE – tentative EVIDENCE OF DESIGN…

22. About 10 years ago, a physicist and Templeton Prize winner named Paul Davies found – IN THE LAWS OF NATURE – tentative EVIDENCE OF DESIGN…
Davies said, “As a physicist, I feel very uncomfortable with a God who intervenes in human affairs.”

23. What’s he saying?
He says he’s not prepared to see miracles.
Why?

24. What’s he saying?
He says he’s not prepared to see miracles.
Why?
He REJECTED the idea of a SUPERNATURAL POWER that could CHANGE THE LAWS OF NATURE…

25. Thomas Jefferson claimed he believed in God.

26. Thomas Jefferson claimed he believed in God.
He was SO OFFENDED by the idea that God could/would intervene in the course of human history that he PUT TOGETHER his own Bible.

27. Thomas Jefferson claimed he believed in God.
He was SO OFFENDED by the idea that God could/would intervene in the course of human history that he PUT TOGETHER his own Bible.
He literally CUT and PASTED numerous sections from the New Testament with a razor and glue.

28. EXCLUDED ALL THE MIRACLES OF JESUS; the ACCOUNT OF THE RESURRECTION.

29. Why would he do that? Because folks ought not to:

30. Why would he do that? Because folks ought not to:
WALK ON water…
FEED 5,000 people with just a LITTLE BIT OF FOOD…
HEAL the LAME and the BLIND and the LEPROUS with a single touch…
come back from THE DEAD…

31. I can understand THAT KIND OF THINKING from agnostics and atheists…

32. I can understand THAT KIND OF THINKING from agnostics and atheists…
But in our text, THESE ARE JESUS’ DISCIPLES out in…

33. I can understand THAT KIND OF THINKING from agnostics and atheists…
But in our text, THESE ARE JESUS’ DISCIPLES out in…
They’ve SEEN Him do miracles!
WHY SHOULD they be surprised at His walking on water?

34. 1st - they’d never seen Him DO THAT BEFORE.

35. 1st - they’d never seen Him DO THAT BEFORE.
2nd – because the NATURE OF MIRACLES is that… they’re NOT NORMAL.

36. God intercedes in OUR lives, time and time and time again.

37. God intercedes in OUR lives, time and time and time again.
You’d think, after a while we’d get used to that.

38. God intercedes in OUR lives, time and time and time again.
You’d think, after a while we’d get used to that.
If MIRACLES were happening every day, they wouldn't be called miracles…they'd be called REGULARS.

39. So I’m not troubled by the disciples struggling with this miracle.

40. So I’m not troubled by the disciples struggling with this miracle.
They weren’t rejecting the idea that Jesus could do miracles.

41. So I’m not troubled by the disciples struggling with this miracle.
They weren’t rejecting the idea that Jesus could do miracles.
They just weren’t ready for THIS UNKNOWN FEAR.

43. Part of the reason the disciples didn’t recognize this event AS A MIRACLE was because they didn’t RECOGNIZE JESUS.

44. Part of the reason the disciples didn’t recognize this event AS A MIRACLE was because they didn’t RECOGNIZE JESUS.
When we lived in Hawaii….

45. I had someone say to me this week, hello Jerry…

46. Why didn’t I recognize them
Why didn’t I recognize them? Because they WEREN’T where I’M USED to seeing them…

47. The disciples weren’t LOOKING FOR Jesus
The disciples weren’t LOOKING FOR Jesus. They LEFT Him BACK ON the other shore.

48. The disciples weren’t LOOKING FOR Jesus
The disciples weren’t LOOKING FOR Jesus. They LEFT Him BACK ON the other shore.
Mark 6:49-50
“49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they ALL SAW HIM and were terrified.”

50. “You guys go on and I’ll catch up with you later.”

51. “You guys go on and I’ll catch up with you later.”
That begs the question of WHY?

52. “You guys go on and I’ll catch up with you later.”
That begs the question of WHY?
To have some alone-time to pray?

53. “You guys go on and I’ll catch up with you later.”
That begs the question of WHY?
To have some alone-time to pray?
He knew HOW THEY’D REACT when He showed up.

54. Jesus intended to teach them a lesson about HOW TO REACT TO FEAR of the UNKNOWN.

55. I got on the Internet and started reading about this event.

56. So WHAT is it that THEY’RE AFRAID OF?

57. So WHAT is it that THEY’RE AFRAID OF?
THE UNKNOWN.

58. So WHAT is it that THEY’RE AFRAID OF?
THE UNKNOWN.
When the UNKNOWN showed up, these men thought they were seeing A GHOST.

59. FEAR is a RESPONSE to the UNKNOWN.

60. FEAR is a RESPONSE to the UNKNOWN.
People become afraid of all kinds of things:
financial difficulties…
Unemployment…
Sickness…
Death…
etc. etc. etc…

61. Almost without exception, WE’RE MOST AFRAID of something that hasn’t happened YET.

62. There’s a true story about a woman who came to a counselor in despair…

63. There’s a true story about a woman who came to a counselor in despair…
"If you're a Christian, isn't that an acceptable alternative?"

64. Fear traps us and slams the door.

65. Fear traps us and slams the door.
Jesus knew His disciples must face fear in their own lives.

66. Initially, what did Jesus do to help them deal with their fear?

67. Initially, what did Jesus do to help them deal with their fear?
It wasn’t another miracle or a sign from heaven.

68. “20 It is I; do not be afraid.”
Initially, what did Jesus do to help them deal with their fear?
It wasn’t another miracle or a sign from heaven.
John 6:20
“20 It is I; do not be afraid.”

69. Do not fear…
Fear not….
Don’t be afraid…
Occurs about 150 times in Scripture…

70. “5 I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
“5 I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

71. That’s the Jesus we believe in.

72. That’s the Jesus we believe in.
The Jesus who can:
heal the sick…
raise the dead…
feed 1000s…
walk on water…

73. That’s the Jesus we believe in.
The Jesus who can:
heal the sick…
raise the dead…
feed 1000s…
walk on water…
He NOT ONLY has ginormous power…

74. That’s the Jesus we believe in.
The Jesus who can:
heal the sick…
raise the dead…
feed 1000s…
walk on water…
He NOT ONLY has ginormous power…
What great LOVE FOR US that we need to not live terrorized by the UNKNOWN!

75. A preacher named Doug Goins went to see a woman in Seattle, Washington
A preacher named Doug Goins went to see a woman in Seattle, Washington. Her name was Helen Hayworth Lemmel.

76. 1 – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus1.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Words & Music: Hellen H. Lemmel
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

77. 1 – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

78. c – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

79. c – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

80. When we “turn our eyes” UPON JESUS we realize the promise of His presence…

81. When we “turn our eyes” UPON JESUS we realize the promise of His presence…
Belief in His promise give us an ADVANTAGE the world does not have….

82. DO YOU KNOW JESUS?