Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm19990922.htm

JOHN: TRIUMPHING IN LIFE'S MOST CRITICAL ISSUE
Part III: Presentation Of The Messenger Of Salvation
C. Christ's Credentials Revealed In Confrontations With Men
4. Christ's Identity Seen In Overcoming His Disciples' Natural Limitations
(John 6:16-21)
  1. Introduction
    1. God is very great -- infinite in all of His divine attributes.
    2. However, as finite beings, we humans function mostly within the realm of limitations so that when problems arise, our frame of reference causes us to worry that the trouble is too great for any solution.
    3. One of the ways God revealed the identity of Jesus as the Son of God was through troubles for which the disciples were woefully inadequate to address. That lesson provides us a great lesson in trials today:
  2. Christ's Identity Seen In Overcoming His Disciples' Natural Limitations, John 6:16-21.
    1. The event of John 6:16-21 took place under conditions in which the disciples' human ability would most likely have been exposed:
      1. The event involved the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum in a boat, a setting right in line with their profession, John 6:16-17a:
        1. Several of the disciples including Peter and John had been fishermen on Galilee before they became followers of Jesus, cf. Mark 1:16-20.
        2. They had used fishing vessels on that body of water in their profession, so they were profficient in their use and in a knowledge of boatsmanship on that particular body of water, cf. Mark 1:19b-20.
        3. Thus, we would expect the setting to make the disciples most at ease as their skills, experience and knowledge most fully equipped them to deal with any problems they faced in boating on that sea.
      2. In the crossing of the sea, the adverse conditions that arose put to full use the skill, experience and knowledge of these fishermen, John 6:17b-19a:
        1. It was dark by the time the men rowed out onto the lake some ways, so their skills in navigating would have been necessary, John 6:17.
        2. A typically sudden wind storm arose on the Sea, meaning that there was cloud cover in the darkness, making navigation more difficult and making headway a real challenge, John 6:18.
        3. The men rowed 25 or 30 furlongs, or about 3 or 4 miles across open water in this storm, something that would have taken much energy, skill and time, John 6:19a with Ryrie St. Bib., KJV ftn. to 6:19.
    2. However, at the point of their greatest effort in their area of expertise, Jesus revealed His surpassing power and skill unto His disciples, John 6:19b-21:
      1. Jesus revealed His supernatural physical skills as God:
        1. He traversed the sea by walking on it rather than rowing through it as had the disciples, John 6:19b.
        2. He showed His superior balance, walking on top of the waves while his men had to row seated, 19c.
        3. He showed His superior speed, being able to walk and catch up with these rowing men, Jn. 6:19d.
      2. Jesus revealed His supernatural emotional skills: He greeted the fear of his mortal disciples at seeing Him on the water by giving them His calm reassurance, "It is I; be not afraid." (John 6:19e-20).
      3. Jesus showed His supernatural power in enabling the boat to arrive immediately at their desired destination in a time-warp continuum as opposed to the long, arduous, rowing of the disciples, Jn. 6:21.
Lesson: It took Jesus' allowing the disciples to be stretched to the full in expressing their human abilities on the Sea for Him to show them His SURPASSING ability and power as God.

Application: (1) We should expect that those settings where we feel the most competent to be allowed to get into trials that surpass our abilities and strengths that God might teach us not to depend on ourselves, but on Him who is all-powerful, cf. 2 Cor. 1:8-9. (2) When we come under trial in these settings of our greatest self-confidence, instead of being afraid of the circumstances that we cannot any longer sufficiently handle, we are rather to rest in the omnipotence of Christ! He is merely showing us His DEITY for our benefit of shifting our trust from ourselves to trust in Him!