IT IS I; DON’T BE AFRAID

John 6:16-24

Key Verse: 6:20

      “But he said to them, ‘It is I; don't be afraid.’”

Yesterday Msn. Isaac delivered the message for Shep. Roman and Shep. Lani from Psalm 99:9, which reads, “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.”  Msn. Isaac shared that God is Holy and this means that God is perfect.  In His perfection, God provides everything that man needs.  In the earlier part of chapter 6 we learned that God provided enough food in order to feed 5,000 people, even though the disciples and Jesus had nothing and even had to take a young boys lunch of 2 fish and 5 small biscuits.  In today’s passage we learn that God provides His hand of protection for His disciples.  But there is more in this passage. This passage tells us that Jesus gives his disciples a storm training so that they might experience victory over the storms of life, so that we would become future spiritual leaders.

I.  Jesus stayed behind, while His disciples went ahead (16-17)

Look at verses 16-17.  “ ¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.”  After feeding the 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of leftovers.  But still, the people didn't want to leave Jesus.  So Jesus, who always set the example and never asked anyone to do more than He Himself did, stayed behind and sent His disciples on ahead.  So Jesus urged his disciples to slip away from the crowd first.  Personally, I could see that it is a senior’s job to set the example for younger disciples.  Yesterday, I was really impressed how the mother of the groom stayed and worked hard to clean up after her son’s wedding yesterday.  I saw how many coworkers worked hard to prepare the wedding so that we could all enjoy.  I didn’t join in saying that I was too busy preparing the message.  But I can see that I need to repent of my lack of a shepherd heart.  I am called a senior shepherd, which means I am supposed to set the example for younger coworkers so that they learn to have a sense of responsibility and ownership in our ministry.  I was really amazed when I heard that several coworkers stayed up till three in the morning to prepare the environment for the wedding.  I also heard that Shep. Christine went early in the morning to get the flowers, like 3 or 4 am.  We used to get flowers that were $3,000 for just the bouquet and the two large flower arrangements, which did not include all the other flowers, but I heard because Shep. Christine went early in the morning to get the best flowers she could, she only paid a couple of hundred dollars for all the flowers and there were even flowers left over.  My point is not to only praise what they did, but to say that they did the right thing in taking ownership of the work that needed to be done.  They took initiative and did a really good job.  Jesus could have left the work to His disciples, but Jesus always is hard at work, He never retired.  As a senior coworker I should have been there to help.  Instead, I said that I needed to prepare this message so I am exempt.  But from this part of the passage I can see that our Lord Jesus did not exempt Himself but had a shepherd’s heart to the very end.  I and all the senior coworkers need to set a good example so that the growing disciples would learn to take initiative and ownership of the work that needs to be done in our ministry.

So the disciples got into the boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. They were sailing toward the seashore of Capernaum, while Jesus was caring for the sheep who were still there. Here we learn that Jesus cares for the flock of God's sheep to the end.  Jesus was very mindful of the flock of God's sheep.  Even though they had eaten their fill of food,  Jesus was greatly concerned about how they would go back to their own places when the sun was setting in the western horizon. Jesus is like a mother who always is concerned about the welfare of her children day and night. Jesus is like the mother who wakes up several times in the night and goes to her children’s bedroom to see that they are fine.  Mark 6:34a says, "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."  Jesus thought that they were in that miserable situation, not because they were wrong, but because they had no shepherd. Of course, they ate a lot through the event of feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish. But Jesus worried again how they would provide the next meal for themselves. Mark 8:3 says, "If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."  

It is indeed amazing that Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people with Andrew's five loaves and two fish. This miracle shows us Jesus' great shepherd heart. He had no bread to feed them, but out of his compassion he fed them because he wanted to feed the flock of God's sheep.  After feeding the crowd of 5,000 people he must have been very tired.  He understood that his disciples were also very tired, so he sent them away by boat. But he remained to take care of the flock of God's sheep.

But Jesus also stayed over there in order to pray to God on the mountain during the night (Mk. 6:46). In reality, Jesus had no quiet time to pray, because all day long he had to take care of crowding people. On his way somewhere or during eating time he taught his disciples. So he had no private time to pray to God. But here we see that Jesus prayed. Jesus could do everything, because He is the Almighty God.  In today’s passage we see He even ordered the seas to be calm and they obeyed Him.  So Jesus could have done everything with His power and authority.  But he did not. Jesus did everything by the strength of God through prayer. He prayed, overcoming his exhaustion. Jesus' prayer was the time to report to God what he had done. Jesus' prayer was the time to fill up his spiritual strength in God. Jesus did everything through prayer. Jesus did everything with the strength of God. Jesus did everything for the glory of God through prayer. Jesus did everything in obedience to God through prayer.

Our Summer Bible Conference is not far off and we have a lot of work and tasks to prepare for this Conference and we need to do these things.  But first and foremost we need to pray.  We need God’s strength and power so that this conference would be truly useful and productive for His Kingdom work.  So starting tomorrow we are going to have 5:30 morning prayer for the next 40 days, until the conference.  Even though we are busy, may God help us to gather and follow Jesus’ own good example who prayed even though He was extremely tired and never had personal time.

II.  The storm of life without Jesus. (18-19a)

Look at verses 18-19a.  “¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed three or three and a half miles,”  From one side of the lake to the other was about 4 miles. The disciples had rowed about three quarters of the way across and all looked to be going well.  They could clearly see the other shore by this time.  They must have been so happy that their long day was almost over and they could finally hit a pillow and snuggle up in a blanket and fall into a deep sleep.  They must have been very satisfied with all their hard labor.  They had worked hard.  And the finish line was in front of them.

But at the end of their rowing, a strong wind began to blow and the water grew rough.  Instead of a well-deserved rest, they found themselves in the middle of a storm.  Instead of a warm bed and comfortable pillow and a good shoulder massage  awaiting them, they were being splashed in the face with icy cold water and their clothes were drenched and their muscles ached from all their exertions and straining at the oars.  They must have thought to themselves, “Man are we ever going to catch a break?”  They must have complained and grumbled to themselves.  They had taken care of others, wasn’t it time for them to finally get a break and rest.   But they had no choice they had to keep rowing, because they could not stay in the middle of the lake.  They had to reach the other side.  They could not stop.  So they strained and wrestled with their oars trying to make it to the other side.  The problem was that for every foot they gained the wind blew them back two feet.  They seemed to be going nowhere and if anything the shore looked like it was getting further away, not closer!

But not only was the winds pushing them further backwards away from their destination and goal, the winds and rough waters were so violent that it was threatening to swamp them and drown them.  Several of the disciples including Peter, his brother Andrew and also John and his brother James, were professional fisherman, so they were familiar with such storms and had to fight such storms.  But this storm was extremely powerful.  It was more than all their expertise could handle.  At first when the storm began, those disciples who had never been on the lake, especially at night must have been terrified.  But Peter puffed out his chest and with a reassuring voice told them, “Don’t worry I’ve been through worse.  Me and my guys will get you safely to other side.”  And at first it looked like he and the others would do so.  But the storm continued to worsen and worsen, till finally even Peter and the other fisherman became fearful and terrified that they would drown also.

This is a really good illustration of our lives without Jesus.  As I get a little older, I am learning one thing.  Life does not get easier.  Life comes with more and more challenges and difficulties.  I remember when I was in college that I looked back on High School and wished I was still back in High School, because it was so much easier; when I was in High School I didn’t think that way, but when I was in college I certainly thought that way, especially when I learned I had to read 5 or 6 books for just one class.  But strangely, I also looked forward to finishing college so that I could be done with all the assignments and finals and could concentrate on working and establishing a family.  I realize now that I had a really rose colored view of what my life would be like after I finished college.  Now I have five sons and five disciples and five fish to take care of.  I have a mortgage payment.  I am a messenger.  My life did not get easier; it came with more and more challenges and responsibilities.  And because I’m not the most responsible and disciplined person in the world, it makes it even harder for me to stay on top of everything I am supposed to take care of.

In reality it is more than I can handle on my own.  For some when the storms and challenges of life become overwhelming they cannot deal with it so they drown under it.  They shut down; while others even want to end their lives.

Jesus had chosen His Twelve in order to raise them up to positions of spiritual leadership.  To serve the work of God after He went back to Heaven.  But they were still very young and not ready.  On their own they could not overcome all the storms of life.  And this is where they remained, out in the middle of the lake straining at the oars and not going anywhere and perhaps even going backwards.

III.  The storm of life with Jesus (19b-21)

Look at verses 19b-20. "[T]hey saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, 'It is I; don't be afraid.'" After prayer, Jesus came to his disciples, walking on the water. The disciples were still struggling to save themselves from the turmoil of the lake. They were terrified at first.  They did not recognize that it was really Jesus, they thought it was a ghost, which made the whole matter even more frightening.

This was because they did not realize that Jesus could do such a thing as walk on the water.  No one can do such a thing.  So they could only think they were seeing a ghost.  Even though Jesus was with them, they still were terrified.  They did not realize that Jesus is the Almighty God who has all power and authority in Heaven and earth.  They thought they were all alone and they were powerless and frightened to death.

So Jesus said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  When Jesus said, “It is I,” Jesus was telling them who He was.  He helped them to see that Jesus could do the impossible and that they were not alone.  Jesus is the Holy God, the God who provides everything for man.  Jesus is the One who calls us to serve Him and is with us to help us to accomplish every task He gives to us.  Jesus said to His disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations…  And surely I am with you…”

We just celebrated the 50^th anniversary of our ministry in Korea.  And God has blessed us sooo much.  But there is still so much work to be done.  It seems that the work is becoming greater.  We now have to think about the health of our senior coworkers, who gave their whole lives to build up God’s work and did not think about themselves.  We have to provide for them.  We are building up a hospital in Uganda, this takes a lot of resources and expertise.  We have web services to think about.  And all the while most importantly we need to raise up disciples.  We need to train and raise up committed disciples who will transform this nation America into a missionary sending nation once again.  Humanly, it looks impossible.  When I think about myself, I easily become discouraged.  My strength is not unlimited.  

But Jesus says, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  We need to know that Jesus is with us.  We have nothing to be afraid.  It may not look possible that Jesus is with us.  It may appear that we are all alone and have to take care of everything on our own.  But this is not true.  Jesus tells us today, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  Jesus wants us to stop thinking we see ghosts and to realize that He is truly with us.

Look at verse 21.  "Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading." When the disciples listened to Jesus’ Words and overcame their unbelief they could see that it truly was Jesus and not a ghost (Mk. 6:47).  When they repented their unbelief, they could see Jesus who walked on the water was their master.  So all their fright disappeared like a vapor and they were happy and welcomed him.  Immediately, the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 

From this event we can see that this storm was not an accident; it was the Holy God’s provision to raise and train them to become the future disciples of Jesus.  They needed this kind of training. With their own strength they were only perishing.  But when they welcomed Jesus, everything went well. We cannot escape the storms of life.  At the time of a storm of life, we must hear Jesus' voice, "It is I; don't be afraid."

IV - Those who overcame the storm of life in Jesus. (22-24)

Look at verses 22-24.  “²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. ²³ Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴ Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.”  From these verses we can clearly see why Jesus trained His disciples in this way.  Even though Jesus and the Twelve had worked hard to serve the people, there was still many more needs that needed to be met.  The people were surely like sheep without a shepherd.  When they lost track of Jesus, the crowd ‘went in search of Jesus.”  

When Jesus began his earthly messianic ministry, he was mainly healing the sick and preaching the kingdom of God. And at the same time, from the beginning, he chose his disciples as future leaders and successors of his ministry.  He could not remain.  And Jesus could not finish the work by Himself.  The needs of the flock would continue on and on to the very end.  People to this very day are searching for their True Shepherd.  But they don’t know where He is or where He can be found.  So Jesus raised up Twelve men who had Jesus’ compassionate heart and faith in Holy Jesus to provide everything they need to serve the flock of God.

Once there was a man named Mark. He was a city man, and a man from a well-to-do family. He was an intellectual hedonist. He loved the truth but could not practice it. He wanted to commit his life in God, but he always did something undesirable.  Once, he was a disciple of Paul during the time of Paul's missionary journey. Journey means travel. The word "travel" came from the word "trouble." Paul's journey was full of hardships and sufferings. So Mark left Paul in Perga in Pamphylia to return to Jerusalem where his mommy was (Ac. 13:13). He was a man of uncommitment. He was literally an intellectual hedonist. He wanted to do many good things each day. But to the contrary, he was directed by his own sinful desires. He was like a spoiled boy from a rich family. But he met Peter and learned how to serve God from Peter. His life was changed from an intellectual hedonist to a servant of Jesus Christ. His storm of life was his intellectual hedonism. But he wrote Mark's gospel, which is the shortest but includes the most events. In his gospel he emphasized that Jesus is the servant (Mk. 10:45). In the storm of life of his intellectual hedonism he came to God. He became the most beautiful servant of Jesus Christ. He summarized the life of Jesus in Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Luke was a Gentile. He was not one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He was a physician and historian. He was introduced to Jesus by St. Paul. He lived as a personal physician to St. Paul.  He was with St. Paul when he was in a Roman prison. He was also a secretary to St. Paul. Luke's gospel describes the perfect man and perfect God, Jesus. Luke's gospel explains why Jesus is the Savior of the world. Gentiles were mostly eating and drinking, and died when they were old. Luke's storm of life was meaninglessness. But in his storm of meaninglessness, he was saved when he met Jesus through Paul.

John was one of Jesus' disciples. John and James were brothers and sons of one mother.  They were fishermen. But they were very ambitious, and fire was burning in their hearts. Once, Jesus was passing by the people of Samaria. The people of Samaria didn't accept Jesus and his company. Then John asked Jesus, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" (Lk 9:54) John also persuaded his mother to help them obtain the seats of Prime Minister in the messianic kingdom he thought Jesus would establish (Mt 20:20). He was a

politically-minded person. In short, he was a very harmful person and a first-class liar. But he was changed after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. His storm of life was political ambition. When he was changed, he could see the divinity of Jesus. He also saw the broken shepherd heart of Jesus. So he described Jesus in John 10:11. "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." He also received eternal life from Jesus and said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Such a corrupted, politically-minded John was changed into a most excellent spiritual man who wrote John's gospel.

There was a little girl who looked like a Sharon Rose. She was loved by all her village people, even by many barking dogs. The village people all wanted to have sons. But since a girl like a Sharon Rose was born and grew among them, they all wanted to have daughters. But one day, something bad happened to her. Suddenly she became blind. She was no more a beautiful Sharon Rose to the village people. Her two eyes seemed to be only holes to shed many tears because of her sorrows in being a blind woman. One day she heard the story of Jesus from her mother. Her mother told her that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, but he came to this world to become the Lamb of God to die on a cross for the sin of the world.  Then she saw the light of life. After that, she began to write hymn songs. There are several tens of thousands of hymns. But her hymns have been most widely accepted. Among them, "I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice, And it told thy love to me," is the most famous. Her storm of life was her sudden blindness. But when she was with Jesus, she became a hymn writer.

Thank God who gave the disciples storm training on the way to a vacation spot. We don't know if they had a good vacation after storm training. But God wants us to receive storm training and become changed servants of God.  To grow as His spiritual coworkers and servants in our generation.

One Word: It is I; don’t be afraid.

 PAGE   \* MERGEFORMAT 1