but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
3 sermons cite this verse
… 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. …
… 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? you want to gain insight? Look back. Pick a month where God did something incredible. The problem is we remember the wrong things and we forget the right ones. Remember, when God manifested himself in a beautiful fashion, Barclay says their heart was obtuse, blunt, dull. You know what I believe? …
… All right, verse 49. They saw him walking on the sea. They supposed it was a ghost and cried out. They all saw him. They were troubled. I love when the Bible says they were troubled. Interpreted meaning in the Greek language, it means they needed pampers. No, that's a stretch on my part. I'm sorry. I'm not sorry, but it is a stretch. I'm confessing. All right. But immediately he talked with them and said, be of good cheer. It is I do not be afraid. That's interesting, isn't it? He didn't just say, don't be afraid. He said, be of good cheer. In other words, get happy. Then he went up into the boat to them. The wind ceased. They greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled. Here's our key verse. Verse 52, for they had not understood about the loaves because the heart was still hard. Here's the point. They had a loaves and fishes experience in which God revealed the nature of his kingdom to them, and they didn't get it. …