Lesson for June 8, 2025

The Book of John

Lesson 18

Chapter 6:16-25

Jesus and Peter Walk on Water

Verses 6:16-25, ^“Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea (Galilee) to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia (3.5 mi.), they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ So, they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. Other small boats came from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So, when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You get here?’

Matthew 14:23-33, “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.) He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter responded and said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are truly God’s Son!’”

This story is about faith versus fear. The story features two main characters, Jesus and Peter. The other disciples make up the “extras” in the story. So, what is the application of this story for us? We see Peter exercising his faith until the storm gets too intense and he begins to be afraid. We also see that Jesus reaches out immediately and rescues him from danger. Here’s what Peter wrote later in his life after being with Jesus for three years and learning at “His feet.” I Peter 3:6-7, ^“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety (fear) on Him, because He cares about you.”

Everyone is susceptible to fear, even spiritually mature believers. Fear is a mental sin that shuts down thinking and makes application of Bible doctrine impossible. When fear catches us off guard, it is important to know the correct recovery procedure. This procedure is the Faith-Rest Technique.

This technique involves claiming a Bible promise, applying a doctrinal rationale, and reaching a doctrinal conclusion. This is the reason it is so important that we all learn Bible doctrine. The nice stories and “Christian principles” preached in many churches will not sustain us in time of extreme difficulty or disaster. We need accurate Bible Doctrine!

We cannot apply what we do not know. Therefore, we need to be consistent in our study and application of God’s Word for the purpose of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth means learning to use the Word of God to control our sin nature and to combat the influences of Satan’s world system. Since fear is a sin, the first step to recovery from fear is to use I John 1:9. By naming “fear” as our sin, we are forgiven, returned to fellowship with God, which results in the filling of the Holy Spirit. We are then in a position to use the Faith-Rest Technique.

The best illustration of the Faith-Rest Technique is Romans 8:28-32. We can easily follow the progression from claiming a promise, to application, to reaching a conclusion. Romans 8:28 says “We know that God works all things together for good for those that love Him, for those that are the called ones according to a predetermined plan.” This is the Biblical promise to those that are maturing in their faith (executing God’s plan for their life). This promise is guaranteed by God, and when a believer claims this promise, it can reduce a very complicated situation into a very simple one. When we claim this promise, that God is working all things for our good, fear is brought under control because we are now thinking, not operating from the emotion of fear.

Once thinking is resumed, we can move on to step two, application. A doctrinal rationale can be any doctrinal truth that you have learned and stored in your memory. In our passage, the doctrinal rationale is a series of five related doctrines: 

1. Foreknowledge – God’s awareness of all the assets that He prepared for believers in eternity-past. This assures us that God was thinking about each of us in eternity past.
2. Predestination – God predesigned a plan for us in eternity-past. That plan calls for us to be set apart unto God.
3. Election – God chose each Church Age believer for a service, as spiritual royalty. Since Jesus Christ was elected, we share in His election because of our union with Him.
4. Justification – God declares believers to be righteous. God actually gives His righteousness to each believer, setting up the potential for divine blessing now and in eternity. 
5. Glorification – God gives believers glorified bodies and eternal rewards, based on the fulfillment of His plan.

These five doctrines in Romans 8:29-30 outline God’s plan for every believer during the Church Age. By recalling these doctrines, believers can remember their place in God’s overall plan, which is another step in driving out fear.

Finally, in Romans 8:31-32, believers are able to reach doctrinal conclusions. This passage says, “To what conclusion are we forced? If God be for us, who shall be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up in behalf of us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?”

Reaching the doctrinal conclusion “that God is for us,” allows us to retake control of our situation and restores confidence in God, and in our ability to make good decisions. If the problem is too overwhelming, and/or beyond our ability to solve, we are still able to cope, by placing ourselves in the mighty hand of God and trusting Him for the solution. (Exodus 14:13)

Utilization of this technique restores the most important ability God has given us: thinking. This technique does not need to be a mechanical, “step one, two, three,” but can be if the situation demands it. The key is to stop fear in its tracks and restore the thinking process. 

There is another way to stop fear in its tracks, according to I John 4:18. This way is called perfect love. The Greek word for “perfect” is “teleios,” which means complete or mature. This is the love that drives out fear and replaces it with faith. What you love the most is what you think about the most. If our love for God has matured into perfect love for Him from the development of divine virtue and integrity, we will not fear anything or anyone. Instead of fear, we will have complete confidence in God and His Word.

Fear causes self-induced misery and carries with it a punishment of its own. For example, believers who succumb to fear have placed themselves in a position of weakness. This weakness causes them to make poor decisions, which results in poor results. These believers become the product of their own bad decisions to disobey God by failing to keep short accounts of their personal sins and naming them immediately and resuming their spiritual lives.

So, to what conclusion are we drawn? Fear can be controlled! It can be controlled by an advancing believer utilizing the Faith-Rest Technique and exhibiting perfect love for God in all circumstances of life!!!

A companion sin to fear is worry. Worry is a result of fear. Worry causes a multitude of problems: spiritual, emotional, and physical. Worry keeps believers from experiencing all that God has designed for them to enjoy. God did not place us on this earth to be miserable and worry about every detail of life. The Word of God says in John 10:10, that God has given us life and gave it more abundantly. God wants us to be free of worry and fear by having a relaxed mental attitude. 

A relaxed mental attitude is possible only when we are executing God’s plan for our lives under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. This means knowing and applying the accurate Bible doctrine that we have stored in our souls. Our relationship with Jesus Christ should cause us to relax and stop worrying. Stop worrying about things over which we have no control, about what others think of us, and about the future. God’s Word commands us to stop worrying and start trusting (that’s faith). Amid the storms of life, we can “walk on water,” if we’ll claim the promises of God and trust Him for the results!!! (Matthew 6:25-33; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:6-9)