Did Jesus Really Walk on Water?

Tom:

Dave, I like all the segments that we do, but this one I have a preference for because this is about the gospel.The whole heart of getting into God’s Word is understanding what he’s done for us and growing in our relationship with him.The best way, we’ve been saying it over and over and because it’s true.You read God’s Word—it’s as though he wrote personal love letters to you to get you to grow in your relationship, intimate personal relationship.Some people have a lot of religion in their heads, but that’s not what biblical Christianity is about.It’s about a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe!Think of that for a second!Unbelievable!

Dave:

Fantastic!

Tom:

Fantastic!

Dave:

Absolutely.

Tom:

Now, were in the gospel of John and we are in chapter six and we’re picking up with verse 16, although Gary tells me we ought to go back to 15.

Dave:

I thought we said a bit about 15 but I think it’s very important so why don’t we go back to it.

Tom:

Alright.(John:6:15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
See All...) “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”Now why would that be bad?I mean you know, king.They are offering him a crown.

Dave:

Yeah, but what a contradiction—to force someone to be your king.I thought you were supposed to obey your king so you’ve made him your king on the wrong basis.

Tom:

Right, and what did he just do for them?He fed them.Fed the multitudes.So they were looking a permanent handout here.

Dave:

Right and healing.

Tom:

And I’m not picking on them Dave.That’s in every man’s heart.Self is the problems that we have to deal with day in and day out.

Dave:

We have a lot of Christians today and that’s what mainly they are interested in and they are following Benny Hinn or whatever other miracle worker is out there.Yes, they want signs and wonders.They want a blessing for themselves and that’s understandable.However, they’re trying to force Jesus into being something that he is not.Trying to make him do, always heal, always bless.That is not what he promised.

Tom:

Solve all their problems.

Dave:

That is not what he promised and it’s not the best thing for us because very often it is through problems, it is through trials, and tribulations like with Job that we begin to learn lessons that we otherwise wouldn’t learn.

Tom:

Well it also misses the point.We’re to seek him. If we get our mind on the healing, and God does heal today we’re not denying that at all.We pray for his healing, but if we put our emphasis on the healing rather than the healer; on the miracle rather than the miracle worker himself, we turn to self.

Dave:

Right.And Jesus resisted this and the way he did it [was that] he departed up into the mountain alone and his disciples went down to the sea.John:6:16-17 [16] And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, [17] And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
See All..., “And when even was [now] come, his disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.”So here the disciples, the multitude, those who are still there, they see the disciples get into this boat and Jesus is not among them.

Tom:

(John:6:17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
See All...) “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.” Of course this is the King James English, ship meaning it was fishing boat.

Dave:

It was a boat, yes.I imagine you would be a little bit frightened to see someone walking on the water in a storm, walking through these waves.And I don’t know whether they recognize that—well they think that this is Jesus.That would be a bit frightening.They’ve never seen anything like that before.Now someone says oh come on this is obviously mythology and it didn’t really happen.You know, miracles are essential in Christianity.The miracle of the resurrection of course, that’s a miracle.The miracle that God could take us and make us new creatures; that he would come and live within those who open their hearts to Christ and just give us a whole new outlook on life.You see this is not naturalism, but supernaturalism.Naturalism—well we just have to go by what nature does.Worship nature.God created nature and he can certainly overcome nature and Jesus is showing that he is the creator and in fact, he must be because God in the Old Testament, you say we are talking about the Gospel, the Messiah and so forth.Any Jewish people who are listening, I hope you will check it out from your own scriptures, Isaiah:9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
See All...,7, very clearly says: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: (that’s the eternal Son, the Old Testament talks about the Son).Psalm 2: “Kiss the Son lest he be angry.”What Son is he talking about?Proverbs 30 talks about God.Do you know his name and what is his son’s name?So the Old Testament tells you that God has a Son and says “…unto us a child is born…” that’s the babe born in Bethlehem.“Unto us a son is given…” that’s the Son he’s talks about.

Tom:

Dave, this is not just for Jews, this is for Muslims as well who reject him outright.

Dave:

Muslims and even people, who call themselves Christians, but deny that Jesus is God.Do you remember when we get to it two chapters later, Jesus says if you don’t believe that I AM, and that’s God’s name, I AM that I AM.If you don’t believe that I AM, you will die in your sins and where you go I can not come.But anyway, Isaiah:9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
See All..., “For unto us a child is born, (that’s the babe born to Mary) unto us a son is given: (that’s the eternal God, THE Son, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, this person of the Trinity comes to this earth) and the government shall be upon his shoulder:...(Now no Jewish person can deny that’s speaking of the Messiah, this is the one who will rule.The government will be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, (Whenever I say that, I always remind Christians out there that’s one of Christ’s names, Counselor.Don’t go to some Christian psychologist.Jesus is the best counselor.Go to him and his Word), his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, (So the Son, who is born, who is given to us is the everlasting Father.When Jesus said I and my Father are one, he was in absolute harmony with the Old Testament scriptures and the rabbis should have recognized it.But then it goes on, “…the everlasting Father, and of his kingdom and peace, there shall be no end.”Now that’s the Messiah and it very clearly says the Messiah is the everlasting Father.Okay, now that’s who Jesus is and he’s demonstrating that walking on the water.

Tom:

Dave, can I just go back a little bit for something you said?

Dave:

Alright.

Tom:

You said don’t go to some Christian counselor.

Dave:

No I didn’t say—don’t misquote me.I said don’t go to a—

Tom:

Well some people may have heard that.

Dave:

I said don’t go to a Christian psychologist.Oh a Christian counselor who’s counseling you from the Bible—I’m glad you straightened that out Tom, we might have a misunderstanding about that.We go to God’s Word.God’s Word is the manufacturer’s handbook.

Tom:

Yes, we want people to ministered to by those who know God’s Word and are ministering from God’s Word, not someone who’s integrating Freud and Maslow and all of that which—

Dave:

If they do that Tom it indicates that the Bible is incomplete.It’s not sufficient.

Tom:

Okay, well I didn’t want to get off on a tangent, but I just—

Dave:

Well I’m glad you straightened that out.

Tom:

Okay, so verse 20—now Jesus is walking on the water, “But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.”

Dave:

That’s wonderful.We don’t need to be afraid of Jesus.He’s the one who loves us and died for us.

Tom:

And whatever our circumstances are that bring fear, God has not given us a spirit of fear.

Dave:

We can trust Him.

Tom:

Absolutely.

Dave:

Unfortunately you know it’s in our minds—we quoted in the first program we referred to, Abu Bakr.He was the first caliph who succeeded Muhammad.Muhammad’s father-in-law, one of ten to whom Muhammad had promised Paradise, in fact he was the first.He said, “Even if I had one foot inside Paradise, I couldn’t trust Allah.”He might not let me in.You can trust Jesus, “It is I, be not afraid.”Those are comforting words.And he said, “I give my sheep eternal life and they will never perish.”So we trust him.

Tom:

Dave this is the—as you know, as our listeners know, this is the Gospel of John.In the other gospels, we have Peter stepping out of the boat to walk toward Jesus.Now I think that’s an incredible example of what Christianity is all about.You were talking about it has to be miraculous or you know, there’s no resurrection.There’s so many things.

Dave:

This is the Christian life.

Tom:

One of the examples I like to give is that Christianity is as easy as walking on water.To the degree that Peter kept his eyes on Jesus he was doing fine.But when he took his eyes off our Lord and Savior he sank.That’s the way it is for us.

Dave:

That’s right.He became afraid of the wind and the waves.“How in the world could I possibly be doing this?

Tom:

He became self-conscious.

Dave:

Right and [he] thought that he was the one that was doing it.

Tom:

Yes, I don’t want to make a big thing of that, but to me it’s an interesting analogy.

Dave:

“Then they willingly received him into the ship and immediately the ship was at the land wither they went.”There are miracles.Tom, I could recite miracles that God has done in my life and you could in yours and many of our listeners out there.It is wonderful to see how God has guided us, how he has provided.Now he doesn’t always do it the way we want.

Tom:

Which is a good thing most of the time.

Dave:

That’s right.But praise God we have evidence that he has really worked in our hearts and in our lives and I would just recommend him to anyone out there.If you haven’t believed that Christ is God who became a man to die for your sins, paid the penalty you could never pay, and he rose from the dead and he offers you pardon and eternal life as a free gift, why don’t you accept that from him now?