What Old Testament events parallel the disciples' journey in John 6:17? Setting the Scene in John 6:17 “they got into a boat and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.” Echoes of the Exodus Crossing (Exodus 14) • “all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind… So the waters were divided” (vv. 21–22) • Parallels: – Both journeys begin in darkness. – God’s people move forward across water before seeing the visible deliverer. – The Lord reveals His mastery over the sea at just the right moment. • Takeaway: The disciples’ wait for Jesus echoes Israel’s wait for the LORD to open the sea—deliverance may start in the dark, but God is already at work. Crossing the Jordan with Joshua (Joshua 3) • The ark—symbolizing God’s presence—steps into the river first, yet the people still have to wade in before the waters stop (vv. 13–17). • Parallels: – Obedient movement into uncertain waters. – God’s presence meets them mid-journey, not before they start. • Takeaway: Faith requires launching out; the miracle often meets us en route. Jonah: A Prophet on a Stormy Sea (Jonah 1) • “the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea” (v. 4) … “the raging sea grew calm” (v. 15). • Parallels: – Violent storm while God’s servant is absent or asleep. – Divine authority over wind and waves demonstrates sovereignty. • Takeaway: Whether through judgment (Jonah) or care (disciples), the storm is under God’s hand. Psalm 107: Sailors Cry Out • “He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” (vv. 29–30) • Parallels: – Human helplessness at sea. – Immediate calm when the LORD intervenes. • Takeaway: The psalm foreshadows the peace Jesus brings when He steps into the situation. Noah: Salvation Through Waters (Genesis 7–8) • The ark lifts above chaotic floods until God remembers Noah and causes the waters to recede (8:1). • Parallels: – Preservation inside a vessel while waters rage outside. – Divine timing governs both the storm’s rise and its end. • Takeaway: From global flood to Galilee waves, God governs chaos for redemptive purposes. Lessons Drawn from the Parallels • Darkness or delay never equals abandonment; God is present before He is perceived. • Steps of faith often precede signs of deliverance. • The Old Testament consistently shows the LORD mastering chaotic waters—John 6 reveals the same LORD embodied in Jesus. |
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