Lodge Service (4)

Walking on water...

Last week, we looked at Jesus feeding the 5000.

We had three points: Jesus cares. He cared that the people were hungry. He meets our needs. Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19 NIV

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

and He uses what we have. All they had was two small fish and 5 barley loaves, but Jesus used that to provide for the vast crowd.

Today, I’d like to continue with the story of what happened shortly after Jesus fed the 5000.

Today we’ll read from Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22–33 NIV

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

After Jesus disciples had gathered up the twelve baskets of food, He sent them away in a boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Some day, I’d l’d like to go to Israel and see what it looks like. I’d like to walk in places where Jesus walked, and see what the Sea of Galilee looked like.

After the crowd had headed home, Jesus went up on a mountainside to pray.

Prayer was important to Him. Jesus wanted to stay in contact with the Father. We, too, can stay in contact with the Father through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died on the cross, we can come into God’s presence with confidence, because He hears us.

Hebrews 4:15–16 NIV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Getting back to our story:

The storm was fierce

The disciples were experienced fishermen, and they were rowing to get to the other side of the lake, but they just didn’t seem to be getting any where.

The wind was against them.

There are times in our life that we go through storms, and it seems like the wind is against us. Life can be hard.

The disciples were in the middle of the lake. It’s dark. They’re probably growing tired. Maybe they are even wishing that Jesus was there.

They sea something on the water. Maybe there was a little light from the moon and they look and there is an image out walking on the water.

They get freaked out. The hair stands up on the back of their necks. They ask each other if it’s a ghost, and Jesus says, “Take courage, It is I. Do not be afraid!”

One thing that we can learn is that even when we are going through the storms in our lives, when we are having hard days, that Jesus is there and He says, “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid,”

He is with us.

Well! Peter is a little more bold or adventuresome that I am, so he asks if it really is Jesus to ask him to come out of the boat and come to Jesus on the water.

I don’t know if Peter hadn’t heard of gravity, but unless it’s winter, and the water is ice, we can’t walk on water.

so Jesus tells Him to come.

Then Peter literally takes a step of faith and climbs out of the boat and starts walking toward Jesus on the water. This is a miracle. We can’t walk on water.

Let’s pay attention to what happened.

Matthew 14:29–31 NIV

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was ok, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid.

In the storms of our life as we trust in Jesus, we overcome. Figuratively, we walk on water. It’s easier to stay positive when we know that God is with us, but when we look at the storm instead of the Lord, it’s not hard to become afraid.

Jesus says to us, don’t be afraid.

Beginning to sink, Peter cried out, “Lord, Save me!”

and Jesus took him by the hand and caught him.

Hebrews 13:5b-6 says,

Hebrews 13:5–6 (NLT)

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

My prayer is that each of us can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper so I will have no fear.”

Just as Jesus grabbed Peter by the hand , He will take us by the hand. He wants nothing more than for us to call to Him in our times of trouble.

Psalm 27:1–2 NIV

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

To close today, we have a promise of God’s love.

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Maybe you haven’t come to the place in your life where you have trusted in Jesus as your Saviour. He stands at our heart’s door and if we invite Him in, He’ll come in and pour His love into our lives.

It’s as simple as saying:

Lord. be merciful to me a sinner. Thank you for dying for me. I ask that you would come into my heart and my life today in Jesus name. Amen

Let’s pray!