November 11
72 Steps from Glory to Glory
Jesus Walks on Water
Step 35: Bethsaida Wilderness to Gennesaret
After feeding the 5000 in the wilderness, Jesus sends the Disciples away in the boat while He goes up on a mountain to pray.
These events take place in Matt.14:24-36; Mark 6:48-56; John 6:19-21
(Why did this story not appear in Luke’s Gospel? Maybe because Luke was a Gentile and wasn’t there at the time. Mark probably wasn’t there either, but he was likely familiar with the men and the Sea of Galilee. Also, after the death of Jesus, Mark was a disciple of Peter and likely heard this story told many times.)
While many of the Disciples were seasoned fishermen with experience on the Sea of Galilee, it was still a dangerous place.
- Matthew and Mark’s gospels tell this story almost word for word. But Matthew’s has a little more detail. Mark and John do not talk about Peter walking on water. John’s account is the shortest. We will read mostly from Matthew.
- Matt. 14:24 The disciples have just seen Jesus perform the miracle of feeding thousands. Proving that He can do anything. Now they are in the middle of a storm and afraid for their lives.
- In the middle of the sea. They were just as close to one shore as the other.
- The wind was contrary, basically coming from every direction, which was a characteristic of this body of water. **
- The waves can be as high as in these storms.
- Do you think that this storm could have been a satanic attack? After a spiritual high, does Satan attack God’s people to discourage them?
- V. 25 Jesus comes to them.
- The fourth watch= 3:00 am-6:00 am, the darkest part of the night. If Jesus sent them away while it was still light, they had been fighting the weather for hours.
- Jesus walks on the sea. It does not matter how rough things get; Jesus walks above it.
- V. 26. I remember a story of an old woman who, when asked Did she believe in ghosts she said, “No, but I’m scared of them.”
- Research showed that the Jews of that day did not believe in ghosts. But the disciples had never seen anything like this before. They probably did not know what to think.
- V. 27 Jesus says: Cheer up, it’s just Me!
- V. 28-31 Peter gets out of the Boat, walks on water, sinks, calls out to Jesus, and is rescued.
- Peter says, “If it is you?” Could this be compared to Gideon and the fleece? Judges 6
Have you ever done the same thing? Have you ever asked God to prove Himself?
- Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat. His faith wavered when he saw the wind. He had enough faith to call out to Jesus.
- In v. 31, Jesus was chastising Peter, or was He encouraging him? Could He have meant something like this, “Come on, Peter, you know I’ve got you. If you were Peter, which one would strengthen your Faith?
- V. 32-33 When Peter and Jesus get in the boat, the storm stops. The Sea becomes calm. The disciples realize that only God can do this, so they worship Jesus as the Son of God.
- Over and over, they have seen Jesus perform miracles. Do you think this was the first time they realized that Jesus was the Son of God?
- Think about this: even though you know Him as God, has He ever done something new for you and you realize once again that He is the Great I AM?
הסוף
V.34-36 When they get to the Sea of Galilee, they are in the land of Gennesaret. The people recognize who He is. Many people are healed.
This is the end of His second year of ministry. More and more people now see Jesus as Messiah. Because of this, His third year of ministry will become more and more controversial as the Priests and Pharisees feel more threatened by Jesus.
** The Sudden Storms of the Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee is notorious for its sudden and violent storms, which can produce waves reaching up to 10 feet in height. This phenomenon can be attributed to the lake’s unique geographic location and topography. Surrounded by steep hills and valleys, the lake is especially susceptible to strong winds that funnel through these valleys, creating large and powerful waves.
Another contributing factor to these sudden storms is the difference in temperature that can occur between the lake’s surface and the air above it. On hot days, the lake’s relatively cool waters (averaging around 20°C or 68°F) can cause the air above to be unstable.
When this cool air mixes with the warm air from the surrounding hills (which can be more than 10°C or 18°F warmer than the lake’s surface), convective wind currents can form, resulting in sudden, powerful gusts that create large waves on the lake’s surface.
From the Bible
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.
And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.”
Matthew 14:22-36 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.14.22-36.NKJV
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