02/10/2025 – Day 225 – John – Chapters 5 & 6 / Chapter 6: 16 – 20 – “Jesus Walks on Water”
FYI: If you logon and use the search tool on “Day 225”, you will see two prior cycle posts on 12/28/20 and 10/10/22. Also, if you use the filter tool on category: “Gospel of John – 21 chapters in 21 days”, you will see posts for both chapter five and six. The Gospel of John posts are probably better summaries of the chapter. I encourage y’all to post your own questions and/or reflections to the group. But if you post a “comment” on any prior post, no matter how dated, the original author will receive a notification of that post. So, a blog not only has a global reach, it is not bound by time!
For yesterday’s reading, I am going to share a commentary excerpt from 6: 16-20 – “Jesus Walks on Water” , by way of “The Matthew Henry Commentary”:
“… (v. 20), ‘It is I, be not afraid!’ Nothing more whom thou lovest: be not afraid of me, nor of the storm. When trouble is nigh Christ is nigh. 4. Here is their speedy arrival at the port they were bound for, v. 17. They welcomed Christ into the ship; they willingly received him. Christ’s absenting himself for a time is but so much the more to endear himself, at his return, to his disciples. Christ brought them safely to the shore: Immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The ship of the church may be much shattered and distressed, yet it shall come safe to the harbour at last. The disciples had rowed hard, but could make their point till they had got Christ in the ship, and then the work was done suddenly. If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark and wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves with this, that we shall be at shore shortly, and are nearer to it than we think we are.”
Comment insert: Again, not about the messenger but: The “Matthew Henry Commentary” has nearly 2,000 pages. This commentary on just 5 verses carries so much sublime truth that I have skipped over so many times without so much as a reflection. John Gill’s free online commentary covers each single verse of the Bible. John was a preacher in an England baptist church for over 50 years. He was also a life long learner, mastering latin classics and Greek language in grammar school, along with extensive self study through the years in logic and the Hebrew language.
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Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.