Cutting Room Floor: Jesus Walking on Water Mentioned in the OT?

We are getting back into the Gospel of John after a break for focusing on Peter’s comments on the cross.

Here’s something I found interesting from the passage of Jesus walking on water (John 6:16-21 - Knowing His Care) that did not make it into the sermon:

Jesus walking on the water seems like a strange miracle. Most of His miracles had a benefit for someone (healing the lame, blind, sick, etc) - but this one doesn’t fit that mold.

BUT - was it prophesied in the OT? Read Psalm 107:23-30, pay attention to the verses I underlined, and consider for yourself:

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,

doing business on the great waters;

24 they saw the deeds of the LORD,

his wondrous works in the deep.

25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,

which lifted up the waves of the sea.

26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;

their courage melted away in their evil plight;

27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men

and were at their wits' end.

28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

29 He made the storm be still,

and the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

—> Was this Psalm about Jesus walking on water, as in John 6? Some of the language seems awfully familiar! Cool stuff.

See you (online) Sunday. You are loved!

pastor jeff

-the Eddie Money song, ironically - not about Jesus

Cutting Room Floor - God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility are Not in Opposition to Each Other!

Cut for time, but this illustrates how God’s sovereign will does NOT negate man’s choices.

God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are not opposites! They somehow work in perfect harmony

The ultimate Biblical example: the cross. Who killed Jesus? Was it the Romans? The Jews? God, according to Isaiah 53?

The answer is: All of the above. It was God's plan from the beginning, but men, by their own choices, carried it out and were guilty of killing the Son of God – as God ordained they would. 

It can give you a headache trying to figure it out, or you can say, “That’s how God says it is, and we can’t fully explain it. So I’ll just believe Him. After all, He is God, and I am… not!”

Cutting Room Floor: What kind of wine did Jesus make out of the water?

This controversial question goes with the sermon “Knowing His Glory”.

There is so much controversy among scholars about what kind of wine Jesus created. Well, obviously, I wasn't there to taste it. All I know is it was the best wine, according to the master of the feast, the headwaiter.

Some scholars say it was just excellent wine, yes it had alcohol in it as all wine does, and

Yes some say it was unfermented, because God wouldn't create something spoiled, that is fermented. –

SO what’s the definitive answer? I really think the debate itself completely misses the point of the passage itself!  

Here’s the point of the text: It was JUST WATER ONE SECOND AGO – now IT'S WINE. And as I pointed out in the sermon, there were many profound reasons that Jesus chose this as His first miracle. Any debate over the alcohol content, pardon the pun, is fruitless.

Cutting Room Floor: Why did Jesus reference angels in His talk with Nathanael?

This goes with the sermon “Making Him Known”, but didn’t make the final cut.

Jesus told Nathanael: And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (1:51). Like Jacob (Israel), Nathanael would eventually come to the same conclusion: “Surely the Lord was in this place, and I did not know it." But why THIS reference? How do angels play into Jesus’ ministry? The reality was that angels WERE there, in so many key moments!

Regarding Jesus’ birth, how was it announced? By angels!

After Jesus’ temptation, who ministered to Him? Angels!

At Jesus’ tomb, who was there? Angels again!

And when Jesus ascended back to the Father in Heaven, who was there to remind the disciples that He would come again? If you guessed an angel, you are a winner!

This helps make sense of why Jesus used that reference with Nathanael, the guileless Israelite!