Not A Ghost Story
March 3, 2024

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Pastor Matt Lewandowski
March 3rd, 2024
John 6:16-21 // Mark 6:45-53


John 6:16–21 ESV

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.

Mark 6:45–53 ESV

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.


1: JESUS MADE THEM GET IN THE BOAT

Mark 6:45 - Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.


2: JESUS SPENT TIME IN PRAYER

Mark 6:46 - And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.


3: THE SEA BECAME ROUGH AND THE WIND WAS AGAINST THEM.

Mark 6:48 - And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.

  • Following Jesus isn’t all sunshine and roses. Sometimes difficulties ARE THE of .
  • We need to embrace difficult moments and seasons in life… because God

    them.

    Romans 5:3–5 - 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

  • We also need to relearn the idea of ditching our safeties and preferences for His call and His plans.

  • God’s plan includes sending us into

    and waters at times. We must remember that we are safest in the center of his will (from an eternal perspective, but not necessarily a temporal, circumstantial one).


4: THOUGH THEY COULDN’T SEE JESUS, THEY WERE NEVER OUT OF HIS SIGHT.

Mark 6:48 - And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

  • The is to his goodness, wisdom, sovereignty… His character… when we find ourselves ‘alone’ on the sea and can’t see what He’s up to.
  • Eventually he decides enough is enough and that he’s going to come to them… no pass by them.


5: DIVINE REVELATION AND THE DISCIPLES’ DOUBT

Mark 6:49-50 - 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”


  • They thought he was a ghost:
  • Here’s what fascinating: the cultural understanding and ancient ghost stories told them it couldn’t have been a ghost.
  • Jesus was revealing his nature to the disciples:

    Job 9:8 - who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;
    Psalm 107:28–30 - 28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.



6: NATURE RESPONDS

Mark 6:51 - And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,
John 6:21 - Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Several miracles in this story:
1: He walked on the water
2: He calmed the wind and the seas
3: He got them suddenly//immediately to their destination

Who can do this, but God alone!?