Sermon Outline:
His Divine Position (v. 15)
His Divine Providence (v. 16-18; Matt. 14:22-24; Mark 6:45-48a)
His Divine Protection (v. 19-20; Matt. 14:25-27; Mark 6:48b-50)
His Divine Purpose (Matt. 14:28-32; Mark 6:51-52)
His Divine Power (v. 21; Matt. 14:33)
Sermon Text:
John 6:15-21
Lord of the Storm
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 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. (cf, Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52)
The storms of this life can be devastating. Being tossed to and fro by the waves that drain us, exhaust us, overpower us and almost drown us is wearying. Our own frailty, even of the feebleness of the boat which we find ourselves in, can leave us in despair and seemingly without any hope.
Such is the comfort we can find in this familiar story of our Lord Jesus walking on the water. In John 6:15-21 we read of this narrative where Jesus’ power and protection are put on glorious display to build within us an eternal trust that He is truly sovereign and in control of our lives. More than that, that He is in control of the waves, the wind, the driving rains, and all that is in the tumultuous tempest around us. He walks upon it. He is not engulfed by it. He is above it and in command of it. He is… Lord of the storm. It is a tremendous insight into God’s care for you and for me as His children. And as Christians, we need to know that – and know it with certainty.
We get ourselves into difficulties in life, and into places in life where we exhibit little faith. We fear that God has abandoned us, and wonder whether we can ever get out of it, and this is a great text to encourage our hearts that if we are moving in the road of obedience, walking in the way of obedience, we are in the way where God protects and cares for His own. Do you realize that if you never have a storm, you’d never know that He could handle a storm? You never really understand the power of God in your behalf until you are strung out to the limit.
With Christ, beloved, we need not fear any storm because He is God who protects His own. May our hearts be strengthened this morning to trust afresh “the Lord of the storm” through every trial we face!
