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This sermon was preached on Sunday 12/08/2001 Am, by Kevin Matthews.
I’m sure that at one time or another you have heard of, or even read footsteps in the sand. There is usually a picture on a bookmark or a calendar or something similar, with footsteps in the sand along a beach included with the poem. The accompanying poem tells of how there were two sets of footsteps and how in difficult times there was only one set of prints. It is in those times, so the poem tells us, that Jesus actually carried the person forward through the difficulty.
Now as nice as that is and with all the warm feelings that many may get from this poem, it comes down to being nothing more than superficial sentiment without a biblical grounding. It is theologically incorrect and we should reject its message as a perversion of the truth set forth in the Bible.
In actual fact there is always only one set of footprints in the sand and they are ours. Through all the relatively easy times there is one set of footprints and through all the difficult times there is one set of footprints. In no situation does the Lord remove us from the difficulties that we are presented with here on earth and in none of the easier circumstances do we continue on under our own head of steam, nor do we merely cooperate with God in order to get through each day of our lives.
The Scriptures plainly teach that the reason why Christians continue on, through both the easier days and the more difficult days, is because we are so enabled by the Almighty Spirit of God. He always gives us the ability to endure and to persevere, and we must always work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling, for it is He who works in us both to will and to do.
The passage that we are looking at this morning will help us to get a much better understanding of what actually does go on during adversity, so let us therefore consider together our passage in John 6.
Read John 6:14-21
In our previous study in John chapter six, we considered the feeding of the 5000 plus. Here was a clear demonstration of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sign that he performed on that day clearly pointing to Him as the promised Messiah and as God. What was the reaction of the people to this sign? Did they bow to their sovereign Creator and offer vows of trust and obedience toward their King? No.
‘Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world (6:14).’
What a tremendous reaction to Jesus is shown here. Is that what you see when you read this verse? How close they must have been to the Kingdom of Heaven that day perhaps?
Certainly they had recognized that there was something spectacularly different about Jesus. They had recognized that the sign that Jesus had performed in feeding all these people from so little, was proof of a greater identity. The sign had captured their imagination, for they were caught up in the moment and a great stirring was moving through the crowd. Surely ‘this is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’
However, these people were no nearer the Kingdom of Heaven then when they first arrived at the place, for they looked not for a spiritual deliverer but a temporal deliverer. They saw in Jesus someone who was like Moses, someone who could do a similar thing to Moses in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. They sought someone who could this time round deliver the nation from Rome.
Read Deuteronomy 18:15-18
‘Was not Moses also able to give Israel bread in the wilderness? Surely this Jesus is the Prophet, for he is able to do the same sort of thing as Moses, surely he is the Prophet like Moses? This Jesus must be the one who will deliver us from Rome as Moses delivered Israel from Egypt? Does not this Jesus command our hearing as Moses did the people of old? Yes, He is the Prophet!’
Here in this passage you see Jesus at the height of His popularity. Why is that do you think? It is because the people see in Jesus an earthly Messiah who would restore the Kingdom to Israel, and who would be able to supply all their needs abundantly. They have in their minds a picture of an earthly deliverer of their own making, a fantasy, and they are off and running with it.
‘When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone (6:15).’
The spirit of rebellion was stirring and rising into a frenzy of whipped up excitement. The crowd was feeding itself with its own-shared vision of a golden era for Israel about to break forth upon Palestine. The air was electric with expectancy and moving quickly into a state of unstoppable activity in the direction of rebellion.
Yet this is not what Jesus was about at all. Jesus did not share this sense of excitement and expectancy, for His mission was not that of an earthly kingdom, but of a spiritual. The sign had adequately demonstrated His divinity, and so it is not surprising that we read of His ability to clearly understand just what is going on with the crowd. Rather then seizing on this opportunity to head an army of rebels to throw off the Roman yoke and therefore head a kingdom, He headed for the hills. He wanted no part of this rebellion.
Can you imagine how this would cause the wheels to fall off His following? Can you sense the bitter disappointment in the crowd as it dawned on them that this Jesus was just not interested in their design?
What did Jesus do? He went further up the mountain to be alone, and Matthew 14:23 tells us that ‘And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.’
What a strange reaction to this situation you might think? Why did He do this? What was He thinking? Do the gospels give us any clue or indication as to what was going on here? Well, we will come back to that question in a moment, but let’s follow the disciples for a moment.
What had the disciples come up with as a result of the amazing scenes of Jesus feeding the 5000 plus and of the aftermath of that amazing sign? Had they too been carried along with the crowd’s hysteria? Perhaps they were thinking along the same lines as the people?
‘And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them (6:16,17).’
Jesus sent them off immediately, not even allowing the disciples to wait for Him. Before even the crowd had been dispersed, the disciples had been sent on their way. Was Jesus concerned about the influence of the crowd upon them? I would say that that is the most likely situation, for He sends them away from the volatile crowd. He gets them away from the unhealthy influence as quickly as possible. Matthew tells us that ‘And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away (Mt 14:22).’ ’The word ‘made’ in that verse has the idea of strongly urging the disciples to move on and away from that place.
Clearly Jesus was concerned for the disciples and He wanted them moved away from the peer pressure that was surging through the crowd. The pressure was on to make Jesus king, and Jesus did not want the disciples to be unduly influenced and sucked in by that pressure. So off He sent them.
Now this idea is strengthened by what we read in Mark six, ‘For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened (Mk 6:52).’ The disciples had not yet grasped the significance of the feeding of the 5000 plus, so it was necessary to get them out of that place as soon as possible. So off they head in the boat toward Capernaum.
Now isn’t it remarkable how similar this is to those situations that we find ourselves in with unbelievers. There are so many times when we should flee the scene as Joseph did with Potipher’s wife, when we should get away as quickly as possible from some influence of sin. Perhaps it is evil companions who would have you join in their wickedness, maybe some church goer who would have you become a gossip with them, or even some habit good in itself that would keep us from reading and studying the Word each day as we should. We need to remove ourselves from such influences, lest we be also sucked into ungodly behaviour and sin. What a lesson we could learn from Jesus here.
Picture the scene if you will - the disciples heading off across the lake, it becoming darker as they journeyed and Jesus was not with them. Then a storm of some sort arises while they are out there in the midst of the lake. The picture given in John and the gospels is that of a great tumult and wild storm. The sea was being stirred and whipped up by the wind that was blowing. Matthew tells us ‘the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary (Mt 14:24).’ The wind was against them and they were now caught up in a great tempest.
Again this is very similar to the sort of situations that may develop in our own lives. Remember Paul, he had not sinned but there was this danger of pride in his life. So what happened, the Lord sent a thorn in the flesh that he might not fall into that sin.
We may face some similar situation, where the Lord in order to prevent us from falling into sin has sent some providence to keep us back from sin. Maybe there is some providence sent your way that you might rely on the Lord more fully. It could even be that a providence has been sent your way to get you to turn back from some sin. The point is that the Lord uses His providential dealings to turn believers the way that He wishes them to turn, that they might also learn the right paths to follow and so on.
And this is what I believe is happening in our passage here this morning. A providence has been arranged by God in order to teach the disciples an important lesson that they must all get a hold of.
What a difficult time the disciples were having. They were in danger of their lives weren’t they? The wind howling and the waves crashing against them, surely they were in great trouble? They were in danger of their lives weren’t they? No, no they weren’t in any danger whatsoever. Why do I say that?
Let’s go back to Jesus shall we. What was He doing? Jesus was praying. ‘And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea (Mt 14:23-25).’
There were the disciples struggling at sea and Jesus was still praying by Himself on the mountain. But what was he doing? ‘Well, He was praying,’ you say. True, but hear what Mark tells us.
‘And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them (Mk 6:47,48).’
What was Jesus doing? He was praying - but for what and whom was He praying? Was it not for the disciples? He had sent them on their way to get them away from the influence of the masses. Then He went up the mountain to pray, to pray for His disciples that they might not be sucked in to the error of the people.
Why did He send them to sea? So that He could test them through this storm. He saw His disciples struggling while He was still praying. It was pitch black, so He obviously didn’t see them with His physical eyes. This whole event you see was orchestrated by Jesus in order for the disciples to be taught an important lesson. Do you see that? They needed to recognize just who Jesus was and what His mission was. This experience and providence was a step in that direction.
While the disciples were at sea, there was Jesus on the land praying for them that they might learn from the experience that they were going through on the sea. He is praying that they be kept from error and be able to understand the truth about Him. He is praying that the next sign will make the difference for His disciples, that they might then recognize just who He was, for ‘But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (20:31).’
These disciples were in no danger whatsoever, for God was working through the storm to teach the disciples an important lesson. Indeed, the storm and sea was the classroom, God the teacher and Jesus the lesson. What was the lesson - Jesus is God and is not concerned so much with the mundane and temporal problems of Israel, for He had a bigger fish to fry - that of sin.
Note also that Jesus didn’t go to them immediately and neither did He leave them out there too long, for He doesn’t allow His elect to suffer more than they can cope with. Matthew tells us that ‘And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea (Mt 14:25).’ He left them out there until a time between the hours of 3 am to 6 am, struggling with the stormy sea. But did He really leave them?
No, His eye was on them. Jesus saw them there struggling with the storm that He had raised up for them. They were in the boat on the sea, yet Jesus was on the land interceding for them. He was praying that the lesson He sought for them to understand would be learnt and picked up by the disciples. Not unto the right time, that according to His purpose, did Jesus actually head out to the boat.
These disciples needed to understand who Jesus was and that He was no earthly ruler come to get a kingdom. He is the heavenly ruler, sovereign over all and come to establish a heavenly kingdom, thereby saving His people from their sin. He needs no earthly throne, for He has a heavenly throne and already rules this world, including both Rome and Palestine.
Do you see that in this experience of the disciples? Now cross over to your own lives and recognize that the Lord is sovereign over all that happens in your life. Perhaps at this point in time the Lord is using some providence in your life to teach you a lesson that you need to learn. Have you considered that about any perceived difficulties or troubles you may presently be having? I would consider that if I were you - ‘what is God trying to tell me by this?’
But the other thing I want you to carefully consider this morning is the fact that you are not alone at any time in your Christian life. The Lord is always with you through His Spirit I know, but more than this as well - He is actively praying for you, interceding on your behalf. Do you know that? He sends the lesson and sets up the class room, but he also prays for the success of the lesson and for your Christian perseverance through that lesson, ‘seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb 7:25),’ ‘For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb 9:24).’ ‘It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Rom 8:34).’
Jesus is actively praying for you in every situation that you face, that your faith will not fail and that you will stand firm, that you will endure and persevere. You are never alone in the moment of trial and difficulty. Remember that believer, be encouraged by that believer and be stirred by that believer.
Suddenly the disciples see something heading toward them, a figure coming across the sea in their direction, right through the midst of all the turmoil with which they were struggling. Now Mark tells us an interesting thing at this point.
‘And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled (Mk 6:48-50a).’
He didn’t go straight to the disciples, but made it appear as though He was going to go pass them by. He waited for all of them to see Him that they might then cry out to Him for help. Perhaps the disciples would recognize their need here and cry out to Jesus for deliverance from the storm. Perhaps they would recognize who it was out there on this storm night.
But Mark tells us that they were fearful and cried out, for ‘they supposed it had been a spirit (Mk 6:49).’ Being fearful they cried out, and then Jesus comforted them.
‘But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went (Jn 6:20,21).’
‘Don’t be afraid fellas, it is I - I who performed the miracles you have been witnessing, I who the masses would take and make an earthly king. Do I look like a mere earthly king now? No, my kingdom is clearly that of another realm.’
Matthew 14:32 tells us that when Jesus and Peter got into the boat, ‘the wind ceased.’ But not only that, they were also at their destination immediately. What an amazing night the disciples had that night. Do you think it was the storm that stuck in their minds, their heroic effort to get to the other side? No, but what would have stuck with them was Jesus. This night really did point them in the right direction of just who Jesus was.
Surely Jesus was demonstrating the reality of His claims, for He piles up sign upon sign here to prove to His disciples that He was indeed who He claimed to be. Here Jesus demonstrated a sovereign rule that extended over all creation, time and space.
Here is the One that the disciples needed to believe in, and this is the One that we need to believe in this morning. Who is the Jesus that you believe in? Is He some weakling that depends on man to give Him direction, that needs man to carry out tasks for Him; or is He the sovereign Lord who rules over all, who is able to command creation to do His bidding in order to teach His people vital lessons. Is He God, or is he not?
Well for me, according to the Scriptures He is God and He controls all. He controls the winds and the sea and the storms, He controls the nations and their kings and rulers, He controls wicked men and rules over all their schemes, and He controls salvation, actually bringing it to pass through His sovereign choice, purpose and power.
I know who my God is; I fight not against what He reveals of Himself in Scripture. The biblical view is nothing to be scared of, but is something to be rock solid in.
Each and every event that occurs in my life is by the hands of an all wise providence and is for my good, why should I fear it? He brings the event to pass and to bear upon me, He has a purpose for me in it and He is watching over me and praying for me in it - I praise God for such a deliverer as this, who cares not only for my salvation, but everything about me.
What sort of Jesus do you believe in? Is it the Biblical Jesus, or is some figment of your own making? Let me tell you something with all seriousness brethren, if you do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible, who is God in the sense that I have been explaining to you over history of our church, then you have a Jesus who will be unable to help you in your times of trouble and difficulty - But my Jesus, the Bible’s Jesus, He rules over all and can therefore bring about your actual salvation and good. Praise God for such a Saviour! Amen.
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