1️⃣The classes weren’t held in a traditional classroom. 2️⃣He didn’t use normal pedagogical methods. He didn’t even use a video projector! But... 4️⃣He did use plenty of visual aids. 5️⃣His students were not learned men, but simple fishermen, a tax collector & common workmen. 6️⃣The course He taught was “FAITH 101”!
B. It must have been exciting ✝to go to school w/Jesus as the Teacher! ✝His classroom might be an open field one day, or the Temple court, a hillside & often a boat! That is where we will focus our attention. 💦In fact we will go on board a boat w/the Teacher & His students on 3 different occasions. We will attempt to 🔸examine the lessons He taught, 🔸the environment in which He taught & 🔸attempt to glean some lessons for ourselves from the Master Teacher.
TRANS.: Like all good teachers, Jesus started w/the easiest material first & progressed to the more complex. As we read thru the Gospels we see Him taking His students into greater maturity by the lesson material He used...
I. CALM SEAS IN THE MORNING: Lk.5:1-11 (A LESSON IN LOVE)
A. Jesus On Board – Little Faith Required
ILLUS.: Whether or not these men w/Jesus were saved at this early stage in His ministry is unknown. (Peter had witnessed a miracle Jesus performed on his mother-in-law, but had not yet become a disciple). One thing is sure, they had not yet learned to walk by faith & would not for some time. But faith must start somewhere. And for some it began here in this floating classroom. v.3
1. He had been teaching the Scriptures on board the boat on the beach. 2. Now He has a greater lesson for His future disciples He would teach in private. v.4a (Some of the sweetest times are the private times w/Jesus!) 3. This first lesson only required simple obedience to His command & required only a little faith, but it did require some faith. v.4,5
ILLUS.: Perhaps less faith & more courtesy is shown by Peter in submitting to Jesus’ request. After all, Peter was the fisherman, Jesus was a carpenter!
4. When they responded in obedience they received the blessing & learned the lesson of His omniscience & omnipotence. v.6,7
ILLUS.: This miracle was not a miraculous multiplying of fish as in the feeding of the multitudes on other occasions, but rather a miracle of providence & power where Jesus the Creator controlled the time, place & circumstances to teach a powerful lesson on love to His followers, i.e., He loved them so much that He desired to meet their needs & did so to demonstrate that love.
5. This lesson also taught them of the abundance of His blessings to those who are willing to obey Him. v.6,7 a. This was a humbling experience. v.8
ILLUS.:Peter’s response showed that until now He had an insufficient appreciation for Who Jesus was! The first lesson in the school of faith is to realize His sufficiency for all our needs & our insufficiency & insignificance in His presence. Surely Peter realized his unworthiness that Jesus would condescend to be in His boat, let alone perform this amazing display of His power & love. b. There was wonderful astonishment. v.9,10a
ILLUS.: Do we sometimes respond to the Lord’s daily provision for our needs w/a “ho-hum” just because we don’t witness some miraculous provision. No doubt the disciples should be in awe as to what they had just witnessed, but hadn’t the Lord been lovingly providing for their needs all their lives?!
c. There was deeper lesson being taught: soul-winning! v.10b
d. There was a lifelong ministry begun. v.11
TRANS.: So much for their first lesson taught in the classroom on the sea. But there was more to come.
II. ROUGH SEAS AT NIGHT: Mt.8:23-27 (A LESSON IN TRUST)
A. Jesus Asleep On Board – More Faith Required
ILLUS.: 🔹Jesus had been formally teaching by word & example on the subject of faith & trusting Him, primarily for the benefit of His future Apostles. 🔹He had been teaching multitudes & now is honing in on His inner circle. 🔹He had to prepare them on what it meant to become His follower. 🔹In ch.8 he healed the Gentile centurion’s servant w/out being there, by a simple command & commended the centurion for his faith in believing the power of His word. (v.5-13) 🔹Then He spoke of the cost of discipleship in v.18-22; i.e., deprivation & sacrifice. 🔹Now He had a lesson to teach His would-be followers in private, so He again boarded a boat with them. v.23
1. They had learned to follow Him, but needed to learn to trust Him, even when circumstances weren’t favorable. 2. They needed to learn that His followers were not exempt from trials. v.24a 3. They needed to discover that His presence is enough to sustain them. v.24b,25
QUOTE: 💥His disciples followed him; the twelve kept close to him, when others stayed behind upon the terra firma, where there was sure footing. 💥Note, They, and they only, will be found the true disciples of Christ, that are willing to go to sea with him, to follow him into dangers and difficulties. 💥Many would be content to go the land-way to heaven, that will rather stand still, or go back, than venture upon a dangerous sea; 💥but those that would rest with Christ hereafter must follow him now wherever he leads them, into a ship or into a prison, as well as into a palace. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
4. They needed to learn to trust in Him regardless of the circumstances. & that He is not pleased w/distrust. v.26a 5. They learn more of His power manifested in His word! v.26b.27
TRANS.: So much for boat lesson #2 of the course FAITH 101! 💫But there is more He wanted to teach them, so the scene again shifts to the sea with...
III. THREATENING SEAS AT NIGHT: Jn.6:16-21 (A LESSON IN HOPE)
Rom.8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
A. Jesus Not On Board – Great Faith Required
1. They needed to learn to walk by faith, not sight. v.17 “it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them...”
ILLUS.: Soon He would be crucified & the really dark times would come. But their faith would revive after the resurrection. They after His ascension they would have to learn to walk w/out seeing Him & realize that He is nonetheless w/them, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. 2. They were learning that trials were a normal part of life. v.18
Mt.14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
3. They needed to learn that He is always aware of their circumstances & that He will come to them in the hour of greatest need. v.19
a. Notice that they were doing what they could do (rowing), but failed to do what they should do (trust). b. They also failed to do something else – pray & ask the Lord for help!
4. They finally learned the comfort of His presence. v.20
ILLUS.: Peter not only learned this, but also learned the art of walking by faith on the water!
Mt.14:28-29 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
5. They learned their ultimate destination was guaranteed. v.21
ILLUS.: Not only did Jesus rescue them from their imminent danger, but He safely & instantaneously transported them to their destination!
“Above all that we ask or think...”
CONCL.: Here then are a few classes in FAITH 101 in JESUS’ BIBLE INSTITUTE! The 3 lessons taught there were on Love, Trust & Hope! 🔶Love thru His presence in the quiet times, 🔶Trust in the rough times & 🔶Hope when all is dark & we can’t see Him & only see the turmoil around us. How do you score?!