Sermon: Sunday, 18th October, 2026
Speaker: John Johnstone
Scripture: John 6:16-24
When was the last time you felt completely overwhelmed? In todays passage, we find the disciples in the middle of a great storm: ‘A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.’ (John 6:18) They’ve been rowing for hours but, because the winds are against them, they’re not getting anywhere and are unable to reach their destination. It’s likely that the disciples, many of whom are experienced fishermen, are exhausted and frustrated and frightened. The Sea of Galilee is a dangerous body of water.
Phillips: ‘It is located in a depression seven hundred feet below sea level and circled by hills, many of which are quite steep. When the cold air descends from Mount Hermon’s summit at 9,200 feet above sea level and crashes down against the warm air at the level of the lake, violent storms suddenly occur.’
Imagine being in a sail boat, in the pitch black, and no matter how much you try and fight against the prevailing winds, your efforts are no match for the strength of the storm. I think the disciples would have also felt all alone, because Jesus is nowhere to be seen.
Why are the disciples in this dangerous predicament? Have they done something wrong? Is it like Jonah, who deserved to be in the storm because he is disobeyed God, and sailed in the opposite direction? No! The parallel passage in Mark’s gospel tells us: ‘Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.’ (Mark 6:5) It is Jesus who instructs his disciples to set sail. They are doing exactly what Jesus asked them to do, and yet, they end up in trouble and danger. The logical question, then, is why does Jesus deliberately send his disciples out onto the lake, knowing full well that they would experience such testing times?
1. Jesus often sends his followers into testing circumstances
If you are a Christian this morning, be assured that again and again, Jesus will send you into stormy circumstances. Perhaps, sometimes this might be to discipline us, like Jonah experienced. However, much of the time the suffering comes to rescue us from pride and self-reliance. In other words, Jesus sends us into storms because he knows that we need to be sent into them. It is in the storms that we are reminded of our own weakness and it is in the storms when we have nothing else to cling onto, save the power, wisdom, love and promises of God. Were it up to me, if I am honest, I am sure I would like my life to be one where I am sailing on calm water every day. But that is not Jesus’ way.
A few weeks ago, I was about to chop up around 1000 apples. Samuel wisely suggested we stop, and get the sharpening stone out before beginning. He sharpened the knives. It made a huge difference. The knives were now fit for purpose.
J.C.Ryle: ‘Affliction and crosses are the grindstones on which God is continually sharpening those instruments which he uses most.’
This truth has been powerfully underlined in our studies in Exodus. As we see the Israelites wandering in the wilderness on route to the promised land, we are given a picture of Christian discipleship as we sojourn to Heaven. Again and again, God leads his people to one test after another. They find themselves in severe danger, hemmed in by the sea on one side and the Egyptian army on the other. It is God who has led them to this exact place. Following God’s pillar of cloud and fire, they find themselves in a place where they lack water. Then they are attacked by the Amalekites. It is all a test, orchestrated by God, to teach them dependence upon him alone for success in life.
Let’s be honest, sometimes when God leads me into a time of testing, I can start to question his goodness and love. Why the sudden death? Why the illness? Why the lack of growth in the church? Why is my work going badly? Why are relationships so hard? Why are my children doing this? Why another family problem to contend with when I already have three other ones loading me down?
Here is a simple but revolutionary way to think about these difficulties: they are orchestrated by God and are given as opportunities for us to learn to trust in him more. Think of what is testing you right now. What might God be teaching you in it? Have you come to an end of your own resources yet? Are you daily depending on God in prayer for what you need?
J.C.Ryle: ‘Trial… is part of the diet which all true Christians must expect. It is one of the means by which their grace is proved, and by which they find out what there is in themselves. Winter as well as summer, cold as well as heat, clouds as well as sunshine – are all necessary to bring the fruit of the Spirit to ripeness and maturity.’
2. Jesus never abandons us in the storm
It is true that Jesus does delay in coming to them. This is something we need to wrestle with. Jesus could have come out to them after just one hour of struggle. Why does he delay? He delays to stretch their faith and so ultimately to strengthen their faith. When Jesus delays coming to us it is not easy at the time, but it is for our good. Faith is like a muscle which needs to be stretched and exercised. We often wish Jesus would change things far sooner than he does and we can even become disillusioned with him when we feel abandoned.
When Abraham climbs up Mount Moriah, the help comes at the last possible moment, and that is often the way with the LORD as he stretches our faith. It is often right at the point when we feel we cannot go on that he arrives.
However, even before Jesus arrives walking on the water, he has not abandoned his disciples. What has he been doing? He has been on the mountainside praying and I think it is safe to say that he has been interceding for his disciples, as he prays to his Father. He knows exactly where the disciples are, what they are facing, what they need and when they need it. He is in control of all things.
Richard Phillips: ‘They were under his caring eye the whole time, as he measured out the trials that would strengthen their faith…’
The same is true in the storms of your trials. You feel alone, and your circumstances suggest a lack of divine aid. Your former power has dwindled, and perhaps your faith has grown dim. You think of giving up because you doubt the presence of the Lord. But where is Jesus during your trials? He is high above the heavens, at the right hand of God the Father, enthroned with authority and power. And he is looking upon you. He is lifting up nail-scarred hands that suffered for you, praying for you. Though the circumstances suggest that you might truly be lost, there is no real danger to your ultimate well-being.’
Many Christians can have a childish and spiritually damaging understanding of prayer. When they enter tough times and cry out to God, they expect their circumstances to change very quickly. When they do not, they imagine God does not care, and has just left them to suffer for no reason, or that prayer is a waste of time. This whole miracle reminds us that Jesus saw the struggles of his disciples out on the lake and he sees ours too. When he delays answering our prayers or answers them in a way which is different to what we expected or wanted, it is part of his good plan for us. We must trust his goodness and power in the storm. Why should we trust Jesus?
3. Jesus reveals his identity and majesty
‘When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ (John 6:19)
We all know that you cannot walk on water. It is impossible. Does that mean this did not happen? No! it means that Jesus must be the Lord of Creation as only he will not be bound by the laws of creation. Here, Jesus the Creator of all things, reveals that he is God by doing something only God could do in his own strength.
‘He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.’ (Job 9:8:)
‘Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.’ (Psalm 77:19)
And in Psalm 107, we have an amazing prophecy of one day the Messiah coming, calming the storm, and leading his people to the shore: ‘They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.’ (Psalm 107:27-30)
When you are in a storm, your greatest need is not simply for a change in our circumstances but for a right understanding of who Jesus is and just how powerful and loving he is. This will enable us to trust him, even when we cannot see what is going to happen.
That is what faith does – it keeps on trusting when we cannot see the outcome.
This is not blind faith – we cannot see the outcome but we can see the one in control of all things and we rest in him. When we face forces beyond our control, we must remember that they are not beyond his control.
There are echoes of the Exodus story in this chapter. Through Moses, the Lord fed his people with manna from Heaven. Jesus is greater than Moses and comes feeding the 5000 and declaring that he is the bread of life! Moses divided the waters of the Red Sea; Jesus is greater and comes walking on the water. The storm is an enormous barrier to the disciples on the boat but it is nothing to Jesus.
There is another echo to Moses here. Jesus comes into the boat and says: ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ In Greek this is ‘ego eimi’, literally ‘I am’. This reminds us of the Lord revealing his name to Moses at the burning bush. Jesus is not just the greatest prophet – he is the Lord God Almighty.
And that is why he can say to us, whatever circumstances we might be in, ‘Do not be afraid.’ No matter what you are going through, you don’t need to know when the storm will end, or what will happen after the storm, or when the next storm will come. What you need to know is this: Jesus can handle our storms and is with is in them.
‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:5-6)
4. Jesus guarantees our success and security
‘Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.’ (John 6:21)
For hours and hours, the disciples were working so hard in the storm and it felt like they were wasting their time. They were not getting anywhere. Often the work of the church can feel like this. The winds of atheism and pluralism and unbelief batter against us at work and in the media. And then there are the winds of our own sinfulness and the relentless pressures of life. For sure, the Christian life really is tough – we must work in the middle of storms.
But let’s end on a high note of huge encouragement. ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’ (1 Corinthians 15:58)
‘Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.’ (Galatians 6:9)
Friends, our boat shall reach the shore. The disciples’ journey is not governed ultimately by the wind, water or human effort. Christ’s authority is decisive. He took the disciples safely to the shore and surely this speaks to us of the shores of Heaven. Some storms last for years. Some faithful Christians die in the storm. However, the ultimate security of God’s people rests in Christ’s saving purpose, which will be completed in the resurrection and the new creation. :
‘He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 1:8) Our boat shall reach the shore.