We are looking at the private conversations Jesus had with His disciples. They heard everything He said to the crowds of people who followed Him, but they were also blessed to have the Son of God teach them eternal truths in person.

You can read the last part of our special series here where we saw Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower and the Seed to His disciples. Jesus taught many parables to the crowds of people who followed Him, but He explained the deep spiritual meaning of the parables to His disciples privately.

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matthew 13:34-35

‘Road Trips’ with Jesus

Students love to take “road trips” with their teachers. It’s great to get away from the confinements of a classroom and venture out into the world for first-hand learning experiences. While that’s usually a small part of a student’s learning today, it was most of the learning opportunities for the disciples of Jesus. Jesus was always moving from one place to another, preaching and teaching, healing and working other miracles.

Jesus taught the disciples much about the Kingdom of God and their part in it as they were on the road. Sometimes they were literally “on the road.” Other times they were “on the water.” Jesus skillfully wove these important lessons on discipleship and ministry into real-life situations. Here are two examples that happened together: the feeding of the five-thousand and Jesus walking on water. Both demonstrated Jesus’ supernatural power and authority over need and nature. We also learn something important about the disciples at that point in their training.

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.’ But He answered and said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ And they said to Him, ‘Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?’ But He said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go and see.’ And when they found out they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. Mark 6:30-52

We learn several things about Jesus and the disciples from these two encounters “on the road.” The disciples saw challenges through the eyes of human weakness and doubt. Jesus saw challenges through the eyes of sovereign faith. One of the lessons Jesus taught His disciples through these kinds of experiences was to see life’s challenges through His eyes, His purpose and His endless grace. That’s a good lesson for us as well.

We might look at these two encounters as unconnected, but they are connected. That’s the point of Mark 6:52 – “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” The disciples didn’t learn the lesson of the loaves, so they were amazed when they saw the power Jesus had to walk on water and calm the storm. These were not the first lessons where Jesus had demonstrated His supernatural power to the disciples. He had healed the sick and cast out demons. He also sent the disciples out to do the same. Why were they still amazed in themselves beyond measure that Jesus could walk on water and calm a storm? Their heart was hardened.

We learn more from Matthew’s Gospel about what Jesus said and did as He walked on the water:

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’ Matthew 14:27-33

We see here that Peter was trying to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. He struggled with faith, as we all do, but Peter didn’t give up. He tried, failed, tried, failed, and tried again. Peter eventually learned the lesson we all need to learn. Trust Jesus in everything.

On the Boat Again

You may have noticed that Luke’s Gospel doesn’t include the boat scene following the Lord’s feeding of thousands of people. However, Luke does have a different boat scene that’s worth noting:

Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.’ And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him! Luke 8:22-25

In this ‘road trip’ we see Jesus asleep in the boat. A windstorm came down on the lake and began filling the boat with water. The disciples woke Jesus from His sleep and warned Him that they were going to die. Jesus rebuked the win and water and the storm stopped. Jesus asked the disciples a simple question: “Where is your faith?” The disciples were amazed at what Jesus did and wondered how the violent storm obeyed Him.

Luke records this event as preceding the feeding of the thousands in Luke 9:10-17. If this is chronological, it means the disciples had seen Jesus’ power over nature before they saw Him walking on water and calming the storm. It is another demonstration of Jesus’ authority over creation. This is a strong Jesus, not the weak Jesus of liberal and progressive ‘Christianity.’

[Podcast version of this study coming soon.]

Next Time

After seeing Jesus cast out demons, heal and feed thousands, walk on water and calm violent storms, what did the disciples believe about the identity of Jesus? We will look at that in the next part of our special series, And Jesus Said.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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