Sermon Notes

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

MARK 6:45-56 //Jesus WALKS ON WATER

HARDHEADED

HARDHEARTED

Mark 6:52 - for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:45-56

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night[a] he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE:

Jesus will go to extreme measures to make sure that we see Him as he truly is, and we become who we are to truly be.

OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CAN LEAD YOU INTO STORMS. 

“he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.”– Mark 6:45-48a

2. STORMS SET THE SCENE FOR YOU TO SEE JESUS’ GLORY

And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. - Job 9:4-8

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” - Exodus 33:18-23

3. JESUS DESIRES TO FORM YOU BEFORE HE CALMS YOUR STORM

“But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

“You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” – Tim Keller

“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages” – Charles Spurgeon

“he got in the boat with them, and the wind ceased” 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23

4. WORSHIP THE MIRACLE WORKER, NOT THE MIRACLE.

“for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts where hardened.” V.52

“So whether the story is about being rescued from hunger by making bread, or being rescued from wind by walking on water, the point is: I don’t just give bread; I am bread. I don’t just make the wind stop; I get into the boat.” - John Piper

Every time Jesus performs a miracle, He is ultimately doing it to demonstrate His Deity. 

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18

5. JESUS’ POWER AND PRESENCE IS FOR EVERYONE WHO WILL COME TO HIM

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. – Mark 6:53-56