7 Signs Of The Gospel Of John: Walking On The Water

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7 SIGNS OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: WALKING ON THE WATER

Pastor Mike here.

(This is Part 5 of the seven signs of the Gospel of John where we’re considering the fifth sign: Walking On The Water.)

The Holy Spirit gave to the Apostle John the words of his Gospel account surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

JOHN’S GOSPEL CONSTRUCTED AROUND SEVEN MIRACLES

One of the ways John constructed his Gospel is around seven signs (or miracles) that our Lord performed.

The fifth of the seven signs is found in John chapter 6, verse 16 through 21, where it reads…

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 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.

WALKING ON THE WATER

And so we have the fifth sign of the seven signs of the Gospel of John: Walking On The Water.

And before we dive in to the text, let me just remind you of the main point of the seven signs of the Gospel of John.

John himself gives it to us in John chapter 20, verse 30-31…

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these (the seven signs of the Gospel of John) are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

And so the signs are meant to be convincing proof that Jesus is the Messiah promised from the Garden of Eden that God would send to die in your place on the cross so that you would be saved from your sins and have eternal life.

VERSE 16

Which brings us to the text.

In v. 16 we find out that it’s evening on the day of the feeding of the five thousand.

And Jesus’ disciples, Peter, James, John, Andrew, etc, go down to the sea.

VERSE 17

In v. 17 they get into a boat and start across the sea to Capernaum.

This sea (of Galilee) is about 8 miles across at its widest point.

Verse 17 goes on further that it’s “now dark.”

So it’s night.

And we learn in the parallel account of the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verse 48, that it is in the fourth watch of the night between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. that the actual walking on the water miracle will take place.

Verse 17 concludes, “and Jesus had not yet come to them.”

So the disciples are alone at night without their Master in a boat.

VERSE 18

And the sea becomes rough, v. 18 points out, because a strong wind has started to blow.

The parallel account of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, verse 24, puts it this way, “the boat by this time was a long way from the land beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.”

VERSE 19

And now back in John 6, verse 19, we discover the disciples have rowed approximately three or four miles.

It is at this time that they see Jesus walking on the water (sea) and coming near the boat, v. 19 goes on.

And they are frightened.

Because it’s like seeing a ghost according to the parallel accounts in Mark and Matthew.

The Greek word in both accounts is phantasma.

In Matthew 14:26 it reads, “The disciples were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried in fear.”

In Mark 6:49 it says, “they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified.”

VERSE 20

And now back in John 6, verse 20, we find that Jesus speaks to the disciples at this point.

It reads…

20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

“It is I” here is literally “I am” (Gk. ego eimi) and also in Matthew’s parallel account. (Matthew 14:27)

It is equal to the “I am” of Exodus chapter 3.

The God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush is the God who walks on water.

He comes to the disciples in their distress at sea.

He comes to us (and is with us!) in our distresses.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

VERSE 21

John 6, verse 21, concludes…

21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

DR. PAUL KRETZMANN ON THE WALKING ON THE WATER

In his commentary on the the entire Bible including the Gospel of John, Dr. Paul Kretzmann puts it this way…

…[Jesus] insisted that His disciples should embark and return to the other side of the sea. By this time it was getting dark, and the disciples, having launched forth, set their course toward Capernaum, while Jesus stayed there alone. The voyage proved extremely unpleasant. A deep darkness fell upon them, and a heavy wind arose, causing the waves of the sea to roll in threatening billows. And still Jesus had not joined them, the evangelist remarks. They missed His presence sorely; there was a sense of impending disaster upon them. But handicapped as they were, the disciples nevertheless continued their efforts, rowing in the face of the storm, since it was out of the question to use the sails.

Dr. Kretzmann goes on…

It was long past midnight, and they had covered only about three miles … when they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near to the boat. Since the belief in ghosts was almost universal, the poor disciples could not explain this phenomenon and were filled with fear. But Jesus reassured them with the calm statement: It is I, do not fear. Where Jesus is, there is no need of fear; He has effectually and eternally banished all fear. His voice and His presence filled their hearts with calmness and courage. Now they were eager and willing to take Him into the boat; and no sooner had they done so than they were at the land whither they were bound.

Dr. Kretzmann concludes…

The omnipresent power of Jesus annihilates distances. He here performed another miracle, for He has absolute power over all creatures, over the roaring sea as well as over time and distance. The insignificant man Jesus is the Lord of all creation; He may, at will, abrogate any law of nature. From the distant mountain peak to the midst of the sea and then to the western shore of the lake in but a few moments of time: that is the evidence of His omnipresent power. This fact redounds to the comfort of the believers at all times, Mat 28:20. All Christians should know that their entire life with all its vicissitudes, their work, their eating and drinking, their entire mode of living is in the hands of Jesus. The care of Jesus will provide for them, will defend them against all dangers, and guard and protect them from all evil.

THE SEVEN SIGNS ARE CONVINCING PROOF THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH

And so we have the fifth sign of the seven signs of the Gospel of John: Walking On The Water.

This fifth sign, along with the other six signs of the Gospel of John, are meant to be convincing proof that Jesus is the Messiah promised from the Garden of Eden that God would send to die in your place on the cross so that you would be saved from your sins and have eternal life.