The Gospel of John: Walking on the wet stuff John 6:14-25 · Join the Journey

Walking on the Wet Stuff

John 6:15–25

Have you ever been in a situation where everything felt like it was spinning out of control?

• You did what you were supposed to do

• You made the right decision

• You followed God the best you knew how

…and somehow, you still ended up in a storm.

Not a light rain. I’m talking about howling wind, crashing waves, can’t-see-straight kind of storm.

A while back a buddy Jeremy and I went out drum fishing. We had a blast, but we didn’t know that a storm was rolling in. The wind started picking up, so we decided to head in. But about halfway home the wind was blowing hard, the rain was pelting us, and his 19’ Privateer was rocking and rolling with each wave. I didn’t know if we were going to make it in that dark storm.

That’s exactly where the disciples find themselves in John 6.

But here’s what we’re going to see today:

👉 The storm didn’t mean Jesus was absent.

👉 The storm revealed who Jesus really is.

If you have you bibles…

I. JESUS’ TIME HAD NOT COME

John 6:15

The crowd just saw Jesus feed over 5,000 people. They are amazed. They are full. And now—they’re ready to act. Josh did a great job teaching us on this passage last week.

The Bible says they wanted to take Him by force and make Him king.

They weren’t asking. They were trying to install Him. And on the surface, that sounds like a good thing. I mean… Jesus is King, right?

But here’s the problem: They wanted the right King… for the wrong reasons.

They wanted:

• A political leader

• A provider of bread

• Someone to fix their immediate problems

And if we’re not careful—we’ll do the exact same thing. “Jesus fix my situation” Or “Jesus make my life easier” or “Jesus give me what I want”

But Jesus didn’t come to sit on a temporary throne. He came to go to a cross.

They wanted a king to fix their situation… Jesus came to fix their salvation.

So what does Jesus do? He withdraws.

Why? Because His timing matters.

All throughout John’s Gospel we see this:

• When Mary asks Jesus to help at the wedding, He said “My hour has not yet come” (John 2)

• After Jesus heals the paralytic in John 5 , He slips away from crowds

• He refuses to be rushed

Because Jesus operates on God’s timeline—not human pressure.

Let’s be honest… We don’t like God’s timing.

We want:

• Immediate answers

• Quick fixes

• Clear direction now

We pray like:

• “God, do it today.”

• “God, fix this now.”

• “God, open this door immediately.”

But God is not reacting to your urgency. He is working according to His sovereignty. And just because God isn’t moving on your schedule doesn’t mean He isn’t moving.

Some of you are frustrated right now… Because God hasn’t done what you expected, when you expected. And maybe the issue isn’t God’s delay… Maybe it’s your misunderstanding of His plan.

So Jesus withdraws. He sends the disciples across the sea. And now the scene shifts… From a loud, energized crowd… To a quiet, dark, uncertain night.

II. JESUS WORKS IN THE DARK AND STORMY PLACES

John 6:16–18

It’s evening. It’s dark. The disciples get into a boat. And the sea starts to turn. Wind begins to blow. Waves begin to rise.

And one detail matters: Jesus hadn’t yet come to them.

They are:

• in the dark

• in the storm

• without Jesus (at least visibly)

And here’s what you need to see: They are exactly where Jesus told them to be. And they’re still in a storm. Let that sink in. Obedience does not exempt you from storms.

Some of us think: “If I follow Jesus… everything will smooth out.” But sometimes… Following Jesus puts you right in the middle of difficulty.

Think about working out. Nobody gets stronger by sitting on the couch. Strength comes through resistance. Pain. Strain. Pressure. As my Father in law Jeff used to say, “No Pain, No Gain”

In the same way… Faith is formed in the storm, not in comfort.

James 1:2-5

James 1:2–5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

• Trials produce endurance

• Endurance produces maturity

Storms reveal:

• what you trust

• where your foundation is

• how little control you really have

God will often bring you to the end of yourself… so you can finally depend on Him.

Some of you are in that place right now.

• You feel overwhelmed

• You feel uncertain

• You feel like God is distant

• There is a diagnosis you didn’t expect

• A relationship that’s falling apart

• A financial situation you can’t fix

And you’re asking: “Why is this happening?” But maybe the better question is: “What is God forming in me through this?” Because God does some of His deepest work… in the darkest seasons of your life.

And just when it feels like they can’t take another wave… Jesus shows up. But not how they expected. And shows us that…

III. JESUS IS GREATER THAN NATURE

John 6:19–21

The disciples are rowing. Straining. Fighting the wind. And then they see something…Walking on the water. Let’s not rush past that. Walking. On. Water. The very thing that threatens them… Jesus is standing on. The waves they fear… Are under His feet.

John 1 tells us: Jesus is the Creator. And now John 6 shows us: He has authority over creation. This is not a trick. This is not symbolism. This is sovereignty.

The thing that feels out of control to you is completely under His control.

Your storm:

• your situation

• your uncertainty

• your fear

None of it is outside His authority.

Jesus says: “It is I; don’t be afraid.” That phrase—“It is I”—echoes: “I AM”

This is identity language. This is God in the storm. The One who spoke the world into existence… is now speaking peace into their fear.

Notice something: Jesus doesn’t immediately calm the storm. He first reveals His presence. Because what they needed most… Was not calm water. It was Him. Peace is not found in the absence of storms, but in the presence of Jesus.

RESULT

They receive Him into the boat. And everything changes.

Now the story shifts again. The crowd shows up. And they’re confused.

IV. “JESUS, WHERE DID YOU GO?”

John 6:22–25

They start asking questions:

• “How did you get here?”

• “When did you get here?”

They’re trying to figure out the mechanics. But they’re missing the meaning.

We do the same thing.

We ask:

• “God, where are You?”

• “Why aren’t You showing up?”

• “Why does this feel so empty?”

But we aren’t alone in this. The Son’s of Korah lamented.

Psalm 44:23-24

Psalms 44:23–24

Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

They knew all that God had done for Israel in the past. But in that moment it felt like God was far from them. It can feel like God has disappeared… but He hasn’t. Even when you can’t see Him, He hasn’t left you.

Often… God hasn’t moved. We’ve just lost awareness of Him. God didn’t disappear—you lost sight of Him.

Sometimes it takes:

• hitting rock bottom

• walking through darkness

• facing a storm

Before we finally realize…He’s been there all along. And we respond just like the crowd: “Wait… when did You get here?”

Let’s bring it together.

• The crowd tried to control Jesus

• The disciples struggled in the storm

• The people questioned where He went

And through it all, one truth stands: Jesus is present, powerful, and perfectly on time.

Think about a child in a storm at night. Thunder crashes. Lightning flashes. They’re scared… But the moment a parent walks into the room… Nothing about the storm has changed. But everything about their fear does.

Why? Because presence changes everything.

FINAL CALL

Some of you today:

• You’re trying to force God’s timing

• You’re stuck in a storm

• You’re wondering where He is

Here’s the invitation:

👉 Stop trying to control it

👉 Stop running from the storm

👉 Stop ignoring His presence

And instead:

👉 Receive Him.

👉 Trust Him.

👉 Follow Him.

Because the same Jesus… Who walked on the water… is walking into your situation right now.

• Jesus is not on your timeline

• Jesus meets you in the storm

• Jesus has authority over everything

• Jesus is closer than you think

But here’s the most important question…

Not:

• “How did Jesus walk on water?”

• “Why did the storm happen?”

The real question is: Do you know Him?

Because John 6 doesn’t stop with Jesus walking on water… It moves to Jesus saying something even more important.

The Gospel from John 6

Just a few verses later, Jesus says in John 6:35:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

The crowd wanted bread for a day. Jesus came to offer life forever.

They were focused on:

• physical needs

• temporary satisfaction

But Jesus is pointing to:

• a deeper hunger

• a spiritual need

You can have a full life on the outside… and still be empty on the inside.

The Problem (Sin)

Every one of us has a deeper issue than storms.

It’s not just: stress, struggle, circumstances. It’s sin. Sin separates us from God.

And no amount of: success, religion, effort can fix that.

The Solution is Jesus

That’s why Jesus didn’t come just to: feed people, calm storms, perform miracles. He came to give His life.

The same Jesus who walked on water… would walk to the cross.

And on that cross: He took your sin, He paid your debt, He made a way for you to be forgiven

And here’s what Jesus says: “Come to me.” And “Believe in me”

Not: clean yourself up first, figure everything out, fix your life on your own. Just come.

Think about the disciples.

The moment they: received Him into the boat. Everything changed.

And the same is true for you. You can: sit in the storm, keep trying to control your life, keep wondering where God is, Or… You can receive Jesus.

If you’ve never trusted Jesus… Today is your moment. Not next week. Not when life settles down. Not when you “get things together.” Right now.

Turn from your sin. Trust in Jesus. And receive Him as Savior and King Meeting Him in baptism!

The storm may still be around you…but salvation changes what’s inside you.

You don’t just need Jesus to calm your storm—you need Jesus to save your soul.