He Meant To Pass Them By

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 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.

I. The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Water is Confirmation of His Divinity.

· Greek ‘ego eimi’ = I Am.

· The real miracle is that the God of the universe could put on flesh and stand in the midst of human beings without them dropping dead. 

· It is possible to doubt God with the very evidence of His power already in your boat. 

II. The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Water Exposes the Condition of the Heart.

· A hard heart is having knowledge without receptiveness.

· A hard heart is unable to understand the revelation of the
 presence of God. 

· A hard heart is unable to remember what God has done. 

III. The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Water Offers Practical Insight for Living.

· It is possible for Jesus to show up in the midst of our storms and not be recognized.

· God often uses recurring issues to draw our attention to His presence. 

· When we acknowledge the presence of the Lord, deeper
understanding of I Am is revealed to us.

· Relying on our own sufficiency in times of trial, only reveals our insufficiency.

· Faith is not blind; faith chooses to see what doubt never will.

· Faith is developed through the storms we endure.