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that He never did again. It’s a very strong word in the original
language. Matthew 14:22, “And immediately He made the
disciples get into the boat, and go ahead of Him to the other
side, while He sent the multitudes away.” He made them get
into the boat. He forced them. That’s the word. Maybe they
said, “We’ll help you clean up.” He said, “Get in the boat.”
Maybe they said, “We’ll wait for You.” He said, “GET IN THE
BOAT!” And it was with such a force, that they had no choice.
They had to get into the boat.
Mark 6:45 teaches the same thing. “And immediately
He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to
the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the
multitude away.” Here was the command, “You go in the boat
and I’ll meet you at the other side. I’m going to meet you at
Bethsaida.” Now, these were fishermen. They may have made
that trip many times. It would be easy to obey the Lord. That’s
not difficult to go to the other side. But they were in a test; He
will send a storm.
John 6:18, “And the sea began to be stirred up because
a strong wind was blowing.” I’m going to let the Bible describe
how terrible this storm was. It said that a strong wind was
blowing. Matthew 14:24, “But the boat was already many
stadia away from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind
was contrary.” They are being battered by the waves. Don’t
confuse this storm with the storm when Jesus fell asleep in the
boat. Those are two different storms. When He fell asleep in
the boat it was a matter of life and death. Their lives are not in
danger in this storm. This has to do with their sanity. This is
not about surviving. It’s about overcoming.
John 6:19, “When therefore they had rowed about three
or four miles, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea and drawing
near to the boat; and they were frightened.” They had already
rowed about three or four miles. Scholars tell us that they had
to go seven miles. They are about half way. Matthew 14:25,
“And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking
on the sea.” It was the fourth watch of the night. They divided
their night into four different time periods; six to nine, nine to
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