Introduction: This past month has been a civics lesson to all Americans. We have learned about the electoral college, the rights of state legislatures, and the various courts of our great land. We have been reminded that our federal government has three branches: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. In God’s Kingdom, Jesus embodies all three branches of government. He is the Lawgiver. He is our King. He is the Judge of all the earth. What does this have to do with the Gospel of John, and the story of Jesus walking on the water?

I. This particular story is just one more proof that Jesus is the Divine Lawgiver. This is John’s fifth sign:
1. The water into wine
2. The healing of the nobleman’s son
3. The healing of the lame man by the pool
4. Feeding 15,000 people with 2 fish and 5 pieces of bread
5. Walking on water

All five of these miracles illustrate Jesus’ power of the physical laws of the universe. He can do in an instant what would by natural law take months or years. He can snatch the dying back to life. He can heal that which is unhealable by medical means. He can violate the laws of the conservation of matter and energy by creation ex nihilo. When He walked on water, he showed that He could suspend the law of gravity at will.

In other words, Jesus is the Lawgiver of the universe. He has power to make laws, suspend laws, break laws, and change laws. He can do whatever He wants, because He is the one who makes the rules. He is God in the flesh.

II. The Religions of the World Teach False Doctrines About Jesus.

Islam -- teaches that Jesus was a “great prophet.” But He was inferior to Mohammed, he was not the son of God, and he was not God’s sacrificial lamb to take away your sins. You will find salvation in following Mohammed and Islam.

Buddhism -- teaches that Jesus was probably a “buddha.” He was a man who had reached enlightenment, and so devoted his life to teaching and helping his fellow man. But he was not the creator of all things, and he did not die to take away your sins. You must work out your own salvation by seeking enlightenment, and also becoming a buddha.

Hinduism -- Everything is god, and god is everything. Jesus is god, but you and I are god, too. Everyone is god. Bulls and monkeys and elephants and rats are god. There are 200 million gods, and plenty of room for one more. Maybe in your next incarnation you will be like Jesus, if you have good Karma. May the force be with you!

Judaism -- a total rejection of Jesus. He was not a great prophet. He was a false teacher who fooled a lot of people. Or maybe he was a kind of religious teacher, but his disciples got carried away and made up a lot of lies about him. He is not God, and he is not the savior. He is not the Messiah.

Mormonism -- Jesus was once an ordinary person like you and me, but has evolved into a god, just as you and I will eventually evolve into gods. We will be like him, and we will reign over our own planets, which we will populate with our spirit wives.

III. So what does the Bible tell us about Jesus?

He is the Creator of all things, and the second person of the Trinity (John 1:1-3).
He is the Sustainer of all creation (Colossians 1:16-17).
He is the Lawgiver, i.e. God (Evidenced in the miracles of the Gospels).
He is King (Psalm 2); and Judge of the Earth (John 5:22-30).
Fortunately for us, He is our Savior, and our loving Shepherd.

Conclusion: May the Lord lead all of us to believe in Him as He is presented to us in the Bible, and not by the imaginations of fallen mankind. Amen.