Faith:Seeing Jesus correctly, Worhsiping Jesus Properly, Obeying Jesus Completley

Sinking Confidence

Early church fathers interpret at a text like Matthew 14:22-33, through the lens of allegory. The disciples in the boat would be the church. The storm would represent the chaotic world working agains the church. As I said before, I don’t think allegory is the proper lens to interpret this text, however, I do see some parallels of between Peter’s weak faith in Jesus and and the church loosing confidence in Jesus Christ to reconcile and restore sinners through His redemption.

Peter is in the boat. He is following Jesus. He even asks Jesus to call him to step out of the boat into storm enduring, wave walking obedience. At some point in Peter’s journey to Jesus, he takes his focus off of Christ and turns it toward the world. By turning it to the world looses confidence in Jesus’ power and desire to sustain him and he begins to sink.

The church is in the boat. We are followers of Jesus. We’ve asked Jesus for revival. We’ve asked him for faith, even wave walking faith. But somewhere in our journey, we have lost sight of Jesus. We’ve turned our eyes toward the world. We put our confidence in worldliness; using the world the reach sinners.

The church needs to be seeker sensitive. Don’t talk about sin. Don’t talk about a need for repentance. Don’t talk about God’s wrath or eternal hell. Don’t teach doctrine or theology. Instead, put together culturally sensitive praise band who will set a mystic tone and atmosphere with smoke and lights, while it plays sets of music that keep the listener at the center of worship, leading them on an emotional roller coaster. Then hire a spiritual motivational speaker who can create short engaging self-help sermonettes that shows how Jesus is your therapist. The speaker will give you three ways Jesus can heal all your emotional problems, fix your bad relationships, appease your inner child, and help you live your best life now. This is what loosing your confidence in Jesus looks like. It is so rampant in the church, that many professing believers are offended when Christ-honoring, God glorifying, Bible saturated, Spirit empowered music and preaching is presented. Its as if they cannot recognize Jesus.

Aside from not being able to recognize Jesus in the church, another consequence of loosing confidence in the power of the gospel of Jesus to reconcile and restore sinners through his redemptive work is apathy for his kingdom. An apathetic heart for joyfully advancing the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus, makes the church apathetic for reaching the lost and it becomes irrelevant to its community. In turn the community becomes apathetic toward the church. Church goers recluse themselves inside the walls of the church Sunday by Sunday loosing more and more confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church, like Peter, begins to sink.

The church’s problem is the same as Peter’s problem. Peter didn’t see Jesus correctly to worship him properly so that he could obey him fully.

Correct seeing. Proper worship. Full obedience.

Peter did not See Jesus Correctly

In Matthew 14:22, Jesus immediately compels his disciples to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. Why did Jesus compel his disciples to get into a boat and leave? It is likely that the crowds were getting stirred up in a Messianic fervor. Israel had been anticipating the Messiah. When Jesus started healing the sick, casting out demons, and teaching with authority, the people begin to think that Jesus was the Messianic king they had been waiting to arrive; the promised prophet of Moses. After Jesus fed over 5,000 people, John says John 6:15 that Jesus knew the people were getting ready to take him by force to make him the king. They thought the Messiah would come as a Warrior King who would overthrow Rome and reestablish Israel as a sovereign nation. They did not understand Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) who would come first as a sacrifice for the iniquities of His people. Jesus’ disciples were likely getting caught up the the Messianic fervor, believing Jesus was the Warrior king. So, Jesus told Peter and the disciples to leave quickly and he would disperse the crowds.

Peter did not worship Jesus Properly

The last time Peter was in a boat during a storm it was with Jesus resting in the stern. After Jesus rebukes the wind and the seas the disciples ask, “Who is this that even the winds and the seas obey him?” To the reader, the answer is a no brainer. Jesus the Son of God. He is the second person of the Holy Trinity. The disciples, however, never answer the question. Yes, their perceptive of Jesus has changed, but it did not move their heart to worship him as the Son of God. At the end of this scene, the disciples worshiped Jesus.

Matthew 14:33 ESV

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When Peter got into the boat, he was following Jesus. He was not, however, worshiping Jesus. Because he did nit see Jesus correctly as the Son of God, he could not worship Jesus properly as the Son of God. This affected his faith and obedience.

Peter did not obey Jesus fully

Peter is bold. He sees Jesus and says, “Since it is you Lord, command me to come to you.” Peter had faith and Peter wanted to go to Jesus. Peter wanted to obey Jesus. He stepped out of the boat, which none of the other disciples hurried to do. Peter is to be commended for his faith and initial obedience. That being said, Peter’s faithful obedience got him out of the boat, but it could not get him all the way to Jesus. Once he turned his eyes away from Jesus, he stopped obeying Jesus. That is when he began to sink.

FBCL is in the same boat as Peter.

If we are going to be effective in joyfully advancing the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus until the church, community, and home joyfully abide in Jesus, we must see Jesus correctly to worship him rightly so we can obey him fully.

Four glorious truths of Jesus the Sovereign Son of God

This morning I want to see Jesus as the Son of God through four truths. Imagine you are putting a kaleidoscope to your eyes, and each truth a a click to another picture of His glory. As you see each glorious truth you become more convinced that he is the Son of God and gain a great confidence to live by the four facets of faith he requires of you.

Jesus is the sovereign Son of God who chose to obey His Father’s will than the fear of man.

In Matthew 14:22-23

Matthew 14:22–23 ESV

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

You already know that there was a stir among the crowd to take Jesus by force to make him King in

John 6:15 ESV

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

But Jesus rejected the crowd’s fervor. John already reveled in part why. He says

John 2:23–25 ESV

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knew man’s praise was fickle, like smoke in the wind. it is here in a moment and gone in an instant.

If you think that Jesus’ temptations ceased after his time in the wilderness, you’d be mistaken. We have a High priest who understand completely what it means to be human and can sympathize with our weaknesses in every way (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus had the entire community at his feet wanting to make him king. Any man would’ve given into the fear of man and his vain glory. Jesus, however, did not entrust himself to the crowd but instead, he turned to His Father’s will.

Jesus withdrew and went to the mountain to pray to His Father. Jesus came to glorify His Father by obeying His will. Jesus would not surrender himself to the people until His hour had come. And when he surrendered himself to the people, it was not for them to make him their king, it was to die on a cross so he could be their Savior.

Jesus is the sovereign Son of God who reveals His glory through praying and waiting.

There are two glorious insights to see here.

Jesus prays

When Jesus dismissed the crowds it was likely late evening time. He had already fed them loaves of bread and fish (Matthew 14:15-21). The disciples had rowed 3-4 miles across the lake before the storm hit. Jesus did not come to his disciples until 3am-6am in the morning. Jesus spent the time between the crowds dismissing and coming to his disciples in prayer; several hours.

Although Matthew does not say what Jesus was praying for, we do know how Jesus prayed. Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. However, on this side of the cross we catch a glimpse of his personal prayer to the Father in John 17. Jesus prays for his Father to be glorified in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He also prays that the Father will glorify Him in his hour of need. Jesus also intercedes for his disciples

He prays for the Father to keep them and guard their faith. He prays that the word they received would sanctify them and protect them from the evil one, and that they would persevere and be with them for all eternity (John 17:1-19). Furthermore, the glory of it all is Jesus also spent time praying for you. Listen to how he prayed for you.

John 17:20–24 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

To even more glory, he has not stopped praying for you.

Romans 8:34 (ESV)

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

1 John 2:1 (ESV)

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus was praying for his disciples because that is what Jesus does for all his disciples. As the Son of God, the Savior of sinners, he is the right and the ability to intercede on behalf of his elect. He is now and will always be your advocate and your greatest prayer warrior.

Jesus waits

Matthew does not tell us when the storm came upon the disciples. What we do know is that the boat was getting battered by the waves because the wind was against them. John seems to imply there was some time of struggle.

John 6:17–19 (ESV)

It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.

John gives a timeline. First the disciples were int he boat and things were good. It was dark, but good. Then the sea became rough because of strong wind and they had to row. They rowed about 3-4 miles before Jesus came to them. Jesus waited before he came to them. That is, he let them struggle before he came to their rescue.

Reading this reminds me of the time Jesus waited for Lazarus when he was ill. Jesus was at least a two day walk from Lazarus when he got word that Lazarus was terminally ill. John says once Jesus heard the news, John says

John 11:5–6 ESV

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

That is odd. You’d think that of he loved them he would rush to get there as fast as he could. or, being the Son of God, he would say, “Sickness, be gone” on behalf of Lazarus. Keep in mind John says Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. The word “so” is another way of saying “therefore.” He waited two days for Lazarus to die because he loved them. Why did he do that?

Jesus loved them enough to let them suffer death so that he could show them he is the resurrection and the life. he let them struggle so that he could reveal of his glorious self to them; namely that death did not have the final say concerning Jesus. Jesus had the power to conquering death, and he did by raising Lazarus from the dead. And he did again on Easter morning when he arose from the grave once and for all.

Jesus did the same thing for his disciples. He let them get 3-4 miles away from land. He let a storm come down on them. He let the wind blow and the waves batter their boat until they could row no more. And just when they thought the chaos of the sea was going to consume them, Jesus, being the Son of God, he knew exactly where they were and walked on water, doing only what God can do, to come in their hour of need. Jesus waited so he could open their eyes and their hearts to see that he is more than their rabbi. He is their Messiah, Savior, the Son of God. When Jesus approaches them he says, “Do not fear. for it is.” Another way you can translate that sentence is, “Do not fear. I AM is hear.” Jesus echoes the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:19). Jesus says, “I Am” is here. That is, the sovereign LORD of the heavens and earth is standing on top of this water right here with you.

Jesus is the sovereign Son of God who sustains His disciples in every circumstance.

Jesus has already proven he is sovereign over his creation. In Luke 8:22-25, Jesus rebuked the raging winds and chaotic seas. There was never a time while Jesus was praying and waiting that his disciples were ever out of his sovereign reach. He came to them by walking on water, another sign of his sovereignty over creation.

When Peter asked to come out of the boat and Jesus said come, peter had to depend on Jesus to sustain him above the waves. The moment Peter stepped out and stood on top of the water, peter and the disciples got a glimpse of what what Paul reveals of Jesus in

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Christ sustains everything. The boat is held together because Jesus holds it together. The waves go this far and no further because Jesus commands them to go this far and not further. The wind blows this hard and no more because Jesus commands the wind to blow this hard and no more. Peter stood on top of the water because Jesus held him there on top of the water. Even when he doubted and began to sink, Jesus was right there to save him. Peter was never out of Jesus’ reach, no matter what Peter believed about his circumstance. The sovereignty of Jesus does not change because our faith is weak.

The truth is, there is not a day that goes by that you can claim that you held it together on your own. Jesus has the whole world in his hands and he has your world in his hands. Your heart does not beat apart from his command. Your lungs do not inhale and exhale apart from his sovereign grace. There is not a circumstance in your life, whether it is in a stormy boat or a mountain peak, that Jesus is not sovereignly holding it together.

Jesus is the sovereign Son of God who brings His disciples to where they need to be.

The boat set out toward Capernaum. The storm pushed the boat south. Matthew says when Jesu got into the boat the wind ceased. John’s account says,

John 6:21 ESV

Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Jesus brought the boat safely to where they were going.

Peter’s faith teaches us...

Faith that is Confident in Christ (Matthew 14:28-29)

Peter asked Jesus to command him to come. Peter’s faith expressed confidence in Jesus to bring Peter to his side.

Faith that is Courageous for Christ (Matthew 14:29-30)

Peter’s faith had the courage to step out in wave-walking obedience.

Faith that is Convictional about Christ (Matthew 14:30-31)

Peter’s faith cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me.” That was a convictional statement. Peter professed Jesus as his Lord, his master, his sovereign. He also professed Jesus as his Savior. Jesus demands that your faith rests on the conviction that he is Lord and Savior of your life. He is your sovereign King.

Faith that Cherishes Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 14:33)

To cherish Jesus is to worship Jesus. Jesus says where your treasure is, there your heart will be. Jesus must be your treasure if you are going to cherish him. Once the disciples saw jesus as the Son of God, they worshiped him, they cherished him. Two chapters later, Peter would go on to confess that Jesus is the true Messiah, and his confession is what Jesus is building his church upon.

God is calling FBCL to exercise great faith in 2023. We cannot have a faith that merely gets us out of the boat. We need a faith that carries us the entire journey to Jesus’ side. Faithful wave-walking obedience requires the proper worship of Jesus. If we are going to worship Jesus properly, we must see him correctly as the sovereign Son of God.