Good morning, church! How are you all doing? With so much that is happening around the world, it’s natural for us to feel anxious and uncertain. In fact, listening to minute by minute updates of what’s happening can really leave us unsettled, and that’s why we need God’s Word to reveal to us who our God is and how He’s still working out His glorious purposes in the midst of a chaotic world. Even as different nations and businesses and families are figuring out how to deal with the chaos, God’s not confused and neither are His purposes impacted.
That’s why this time of sitting under the preached Word is so important for us because God is feeding us with truths about who He is. And that’s in fact what we’re going to focus on this morning as we ponder on 3 comforting truths about Jesus our Savior.
But before we proceed, I’d love to pray for us.
It was the most amazing revival meeting ever! Not only did the audience listen to the best ever preacher and communicator of God’s Word, but they also witnessed one of the most astonishing miracles right before them where 5 bread loaves and two fish were multiplied and managed to feed 5,000 men (which probably could have been anywhere between 10,000 to 15,000 people). And so abundant was the provision of that miraculous sign that there were still 12 baskets of leftovers.
Then in V14 which we read last week, the crowds who experienced this declared that “this is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world”. What more can you ask for? If something like this happened today, the organizing committee would have published this all over social media announcing the massive success of this revival meeting. They would’ve already started planning for the upcoming event.
Instead what do we see happening here? Jesus withdraws to a mountain by Himself and the disciples take a boat and go to the other side of the sea. It’s like an anti-climax. What we expected to happen, didn’t happen. The opposite did. Because even as the crowds were saying the right things, Jesus knew what was going on in their hearts. He knew their heart motivations weren’t right. He saw their unbelief.
And so that’s the context in which we find ourselves in today’s passage. It’s the aftermath of Jesus’ fourth sign – Jesus feeding the 5000. What we will see in the proceeding 24 verses are 3 comforting truths about Jesus. Let’s remember that even as Jesus is performing these amazing signs, He’s not doing it to “wow the crowd” or create a viral moment. He’s doing these signs to reveal something about who He is to His people. He’s doing this to reveal something about who He is and what He’s come to do.
Let’s get right into it. 3 comforting truths:
1. Jesus our Protector (V16-21)
[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.
After a long day of ministry, these tired disciples get on a boat and intend to cross the sea to go to the other side. V17 tells us that Jesus wasn’t with them (they were by themselves) & it got pretty dark.
And then crisis hits them in V18 when they are hit with a terrible storm. Lake of Galilee was known for having sudden and violent storms due to its geography. Cool, dry air from the surrounding mountains would frequently collide with the warm, semi tropical air of the lake which often resulted in violent storms.
Even though many of these disciples were experienced sailors and fishermen themselves, that in itself doesn’t guarantee safety against forces of nature. V19 says that they rowed 3-4 miles but the same account in Mark 6:48 tells us the disciples were making headway painfully. In other words, they were struggling to row. They were in grave danger because of the storm.
And then they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming toward them and they were frightened. The same account in Mark 6 tells us that they thought that they saw a ghost and so they cried out in fear seeing him. So it’s not just the storm that is frightening them, it is the sight of Jesus who they think is a ghost.
And then in V20, Jesus comforts them by telling them “It is I, do not be afraid”. When we read this, it may seem like Jesus is telling them “It’s me only. Don’t worry”. But it’s much more than that. When Jesus says “It is I”, the Greek word for that could also be translated as “I am”. That’s the name that God used to describe Himself to Moses. “I am who I am”. He is the eternal God. Self-sufficient, self existent and sovereign. He’s the only being in the universe who can claim to have dependency on no one else. The perfect way to describe this God is “I am”.
Now imagine what it must be for these struggling disciples to hear those words? First to recognize that this is their Jesus but also to recognize that He is the I am. Such a comforting truth to know during their moment of distress.
V21 tells us that they were glad and took him on the boat, and then after a few hours the boat reached the land. Is that what it says? No, it says “immediately” the boat was at the land where they had to go. How remarkable?
What was Jesus trying to teach His disciples that evening? By walking on water, He taught them that they have no power to face the forces of nature like the wind and sea but Jesus rules over the forces of nature like wind and sea. By entering the boat and immediately reaching the shore, He’s showing them that though we all find ourselves within the limits of time and space but Jesus operates outside of that. Time and space isn’t a limitation for Him.
Moreover, these Jewish disciples are well acquainted with God’s deeds involving water bodies in Israelites history. They very well know the story of God parting the Red Sea to protect His people from the Egyptians. The same God who parted the Red Sea, walked on water, and safely brought the disciples to the shore. He is our Protector!
With all the crazy things happening in the world around us, how comforting it is to know that Jesus is our Protector! He is powerful and comes to our aid. But more than just the physical safety, how comforting it is to know that Jesus has taken it upon Himself to safely protect us and bring us to our heavenly home.
But not only is He our Protector,
2. Jesus our Satisfier (V22-36)
[22] On the next day, the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. [23] Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. [24] So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
Just imagine this – the crowd that was fed (not just a few people) was desperately seeking Jesus. They conducted a thorough search of the land, and when they couldn’t find him, they hopped onto a boat and went across just to find Jesus. It’s commendable to see the effort that they took just to find Jesus.
[25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
In other words, they are saying, “Jesus, when did you get here? We were looking all over for you.”
[26] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Because Jesus is the Son of God, He knows what’s really going on in our hearts. He didn’t need anyone to bear witness about man because He Himself knew what was in man. (John 2:25) So Jesus diagnoses them immediately and says “You’re coming here not because you saw the signs and want to believe in me, you’re coming to me for free food. You’re here for a happy meal. You’re simply being materialistic”.
[27] Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
A little bit of context on the Galileans. They were simple people – mostly worked all day in the fields so that they could earn their livelihood and literally put bread on the table. Unlike some of the other groups of people which Jesus interacted, who were more theological and philosophical, the Galileans weren’t like that. They were practical, simple people whose only aim in life was to work and bring food on the table.
And so when they approached Jesus again, let’s think about what was going on in their minds. They saw Jesus as someone who could give them free food without having to spend hours in the field working for it. They saw Jesus as the solution to reduce their toil in life. They saw Jesus as a pathway to an easier, more comfortable life.
So when Jesus tells them “do not work for the food which perishes”, he’s not discouraging them from working in the fields. He’s pointing to the pursuits of their hearts – “Comfort, Easy life, Material things (salary at the end of the month, nice house, nice car, wonderful spouse, beautiful children, investments”. Jesus is telling them that if your life is all about these things, you should know that this pursuit will perish – it’s temporary and short-lived. None of these things that we chase after will matter in eternity.
And so Jesus says rather let your pursuits be for eternal life, which the Son of Man (Jesus) will give us, because on Him is the Father’s seal – God’s approval is upon Him. Let your pursuits, your heart, your focus be on eternal life.
What are you and I pursuing after?
[28] Then they said to him, “What must we do to be doing the works of God?”
They are basically asking Jesus – tell us plainly what should we be pursuing and chasing after?
[29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Believe in Jesus Christ! That word “believe” in Greek isn’t simply referring to believing facts about Jesus. It refers to commitment. It refers to entrusting your life to Jesus. It refers to fully surrendering your life to Jesus.
It’s not just raising your hand or walking down the aisle or praying the sinners prayer. I can pray the sinner’s prayer and yet not be willing to surrender my life to Jesus. That’s not believing. True believing means surrender!
[30] So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? [31] Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Isn’t it amazing the question that they pose to Jesus? Just a day before they themselves witnessed how Jesus miraculously supplied and provided for their need in the middle of nowhere. And yet they are asking for more signs that they can believe!
And then they quote from the OT to show how Moses gave them bread from heaven. They were basically demanding that Jesus do something similar (give them daily manna from heaven everyday) so that they can finally trust in Him.
[32] Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Jesus corrects them and says it wasn’t Moses but the Father who fed the Israelites with manna from heaven. Moreover, the same Father in heaven is now giving you the “True Bread” from heaven who will give you life.
[34] They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
They are still thinking in earthly physical terms. They are not getting it.
[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
This is the first of the seven I am sayings. Again, Jesus uses the name that was used by God to describe Himself to Moses in the burning bush. Jesus is saying that He is the eternal God, self sufficient, self existent and sovereign (to do what He wants to do).
“Bread of life” – bread is not a luxury food. Bread is essential food for daily nourishment and sustenance. We need bread for survival. In the same way, Jesus is saying that we need Him for our eternal survival. Without Jesus we will eternally perish.
“whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” – not only is Jesus saying that He is critical for our spiritual nourishment and sustenance. He’s also saying that when we come to Him, He will fully satisfy us.
And out here, Jesus is making the big claim, that only He can uniquely satisfy us & when we come to Him & believe in Him, we will be satisfied.
Throughout history people have tried doing different things to satisfy human hearts but the truth is that all of it will fail us. Everything else will leave us dry. Everything else will leave us hungry. Everything else will leave us thirsty. Only Jesus can satisfy our hunger and thirst by us coming to Him and entrusting our lives to Him.
Someone may say “I’ve believed in Jesus many years back but I still feel empty and hungry and thirsty in my heart”. The question we need to ask ourselves is this “have I really fully surrendered my life to Jesus or not”? Because either we are lying or Jesus is lying. We know that Jesus cannot lie and He keeps all His promises and so if He’s saying that He will satisfy, that must be true.
[36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
That’s the unfortunate part that despite hearing all of this & seeing Jesus’ unbelievable sign, they still didn’t believe in Him.
Another example of the fact that even if we saw Jesus doing the things that He did up close, that in no way guarantees better or stronger faith.
But not only is He our Protector and Satisfier,
3. Jesus our Preserver (V37-40)
[37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
These verses are super encouraging because it tells us of God’s ownership and control over the life of the believer. It’s a big statement to make where Jesus says that whoever the Father gives to me “will come to me”. Not might come to me or ideally should come to me. Will come me. It is 100% certain. Now this doesn’t mean that there’s no need for repentance and faith from our side as though God is operating us like robots. No that’s absolutely needed which Jesus presses throughout this passage. But this is just to show the kind of favor and hand that God has over those whom He has appointed.
And then Jesus says, whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. Actually the word “never” is translated as “in no way, by no means, never ever”. It’s a way of Jesus saying, once a believer has come to me, I’m not going to let go of him. Never. And Jesus reemphasizes this in V39 where He says that He will not lose nothing of all that has been given to him but all will be raised up. In other words, Jesus is promising a 100 % success rate of bringing believers safely to heaven’s shore.
40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
This is a promise Jesus makes not just to a certain group or community. This is a promise Jesus makes to everyone who looks on the Son and believes (commits, entrust, surrenders) that they will have eternal life and will be raised on the last day.
When you read these verses? Do you think a true believer can lose His salvation? No never. Maybe that person was never a believer in the first place. But if he is a believer and if he’s gone astray, Jesus will do whatever He will either to loving correction of a brother, disciplining or suffering to bring that person back. Why? Because whoever comes to Jesus, He will never cast out. Jesus’ name and character is right behind this promise. How comforting is that?
I just want to end by the wonderful stanza of In Christ Alone which says this:
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.