He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them,And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them:
3 sermons cite this verse
… Now, when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land and he saw them straining at rowing for the wind was against them. Now, about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea and would have passed them by. And when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost and cried out for they all saw him and were troubled. But immediately he talked with them and said to them, be of good cheer. It is I do not be afraid. Then he went up into the boat to them and the wind ceased and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled. And I'm going to, I'm going to preach this morning from this text about the storms of life. Specifically, why do they come? Why does God allow storms to come? Because all of us go through storms. Everybody goes through storms. Sometimes it's a storm that hits your family. Sometimes it's a storm that hits your marriage. Sometimes it's a storm that hits you financially, hits your business. It's a storm that hits you with one of your children or some special, and you know, when you get in the storm, you feel like what in the world is going on and God, how much more can I take? And everything is against me. …
… Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night, that's between 3 and 6 a.m., he came to them walking on the sea, and he intended to pass by them. They can handle this. They learned the lesson from the loaves. They're going to trust me in this storm. So he was going to walk on by, taking a stroll there in the deep end. And when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost. They really had been occupied with the Lord, hadn't they? They saw him and they cried out. They were frightened. He spoke to them immediately. He said to them, I'll take courage. It's I don't be afraid. he got into the boat with them and the wind stopped and they were greatly astonished. Verse 52. or they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. Can you believe that verse? Have you gained any insight from the provision of $62,000? …
… He was alone on the land. He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea and would have passed them by. Let me just make a quick comment here. He came to them on the sea and would have passed them by. I frequently notice in believers a self-pity attitude that we just really got to put to death. And that self-pity attitude is this. It's that, well, God knows I'm hungry, and he knows I'm open. And if it's his will for him to heal my body, or it's his will for him to bring our church revival, he knows we're open. No, sometimes he doesn't come to your boat. Sometimes he just walks close enough to scare you. honestly sometimes you have to persuade him to come you say well that's not that's not my loving father yeah it is that's him right there as he didn't intend to come in the boat why faith brings answers but enduring faith brings answers with character and there are some answers you and i can't be trusted with unless there's enduring faith that brings it about why because the character will sustain the answer for long periods of time. In other words, it won't come and then be discarded because of bad stewardship. …