Called On To Water: Matthew 14:22-36

Introduction: Searching for Something Eternal

I am glad you are here because your lives matter and many of you are going to be called on as the builders in our nation and community in time to come.

It is with this in mind that I want to focus on two broad topics tonight: (1) What are you called to? and (2) How do you build something to last?

Our passage for this message comes from Matthew 14:22-36.

The Literal Details

V. 22-23 Jesus sends His disciples ahead of Him in a boat, takes care of the crowds (he just finished feeding the 5,000), and goes off to a mountain to pray and be alone.

V. 24 The boat was a long distance from the land, being tormented (or battered) by the waves and the wind was contrary.

V. 25 Between 3-6 AM, Jesus came to them walking on the sea

V. 26 The disciples are terrified because they thought that Jesus was a ghost; they cried out in fear.

V. 27 Jesus speaks to them saying: Take courage - "I am" - Do not be afraid.

V. 28 Peter asks Jesus to call Him on to the water

V. 29 Jesus commands Peter to "Come!" and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

V. 30 Peter becomes afraid of the wind and starts to sink but calls out to Jesus "Lord save me."

V. 31 Jesus catches Peter and asks "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

V. 32 The wind stops as Jesus and Peter get into the boat

V. 33 The disciples worship Jesus as God's Son

V. 34 They land and the people of Gennesaret come to Jesus to be healed

Observations about the Structure and Language of the Passage

1. Observation - This passage is bookended by two situations where Jesus is healing or providing for groups that are not his disciples. The effect of this passage being spliced between Jesus feeding and healing is that this story telescopes on to Peter (specifically) and the disciples (generally) and how they interact with Jesus.

2. Observation - This passage by itself offers all of the components of a story: Setting, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution - These specific movements integrate KEY PRINCIPLES for us to gather.

3. There are a number of Old Testament texts which are relevant to our reading for this passage: (a) Job 9:8 - God alone stretched out the heavens and trampled on the waves of the sea (only God walks on water) (b) Psalm 107:23-32 - The LORD (Yahweh) is described as raising and calming storms on the sea and delivering fishermen who call to Him in distress. (c) Prov. 30:2-4 - Agur is frustrated because he does not know the Holy One who gathers wind in his fists, wraps the waters in His garment, and established the ends of the earth. He asks: What is His name or His Son's name? (d) Exodus 3:14 - Moses is told that God is "I am who I am" or in Greek "Ego Eimi" -- This is the exact phrase given by Jesus The weight of these things is that if we are informed readers, we can see that Jesus is the Lord God before He is worshiped by His disciples

Principles To Learn From in This Passage

1. You will rise to the level of training that you have given yourself in tough situations. Just as the disciples should have understood the situation when they put eyes on Jesus, you will likely find yourself as a believer in situations where God is very present, but you need to have the poise and peace necessary to hear his voice in storms.

2. Peter exhibits knowledge of one characteristic of Christ which is vital for you to know: The things which Christ commands of us, He also provides the means of doing the things he commands.

Righteousness Verses:

2 Tim. 2:22

Rom. 3:10

2 Co. 5:21

Rom. 4:5

Rom. 10:9-10

[EXAMPLE: 2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness | Romans 3:10 - No person in and of themselves is righteous --> Just as Peter in and of himself was not capable of walking on water, so too are sinful people incapable of being righteous before a perfect God | This is not something to despair over because, again, Paul explains in 2 Co. 5:21 : He became sin who knew no sin so that we would become the righteousness of God. | So how do we become righteous before God? We do what Peter did: We look to Jesus and say: I want to come to you! I don't want to die alone in this sinking ship! I want to be with you! Command me to come out on to the water. Command me to be righteous before you; I believe in my heart that you are the Son of God; I believe that you have paid for my sins on the cross; I believe that you conquered death and were raised to life again. If you believe these things, you will be saved. Romans 4:5 says that to the one who believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, that belief or faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 10:9-10 says that if you confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus was raised to life from the dead, you will be saved.

3. Peter's step of faith was not misguided. Peter's falling through the waves did not negate the goodness of Christ's command or Christ's commitment to Him. Your life begins by taking steps that matter. Do not let fear prevent you from taking the steps necessary to do what is right.

4. Jesus is to be desired and worshiped for who He is over and above what He can do for you.

He is eternal

He is your life - People who are prepared to die are prepared to live.

(Steer back to this idea of desiring something sturdy, eternal, ancient, lasting, etc.)

John 4:13-14 and John 6:26-27 - Apply to the crowds who ate before

The people who were flocking to Jesus were coming for healing and food; this image that we get with the disciples and the storm is possibly different.

One could argue: the disciples just looked to Jesus to save them from disaster the same as the people on the shore. However, the drift of this story is different. Note that none of the disciples but Peter asks Jesus for anything; they simply worship Jesus for being who He is.

Peter's role in this story is also different because He operates with a vision of Lordship that is beautiful.

His first request is for a command. Tell me what to do.

This is because Peter knows the goodness of his Lord.

That is to say that even for Peter in this scene, His worship preceded His requests. Yet, out of Christ's abundant love for His disciples, He is glad to provide for them.

NOTE: Christ cares for His own. You will not regret becoming a disciple of Jesus. What we want to have, however, is a rightly angled view of the preciousness of Jesus. This is to say that when Jesus becomes the treasure of your life, it becomes easier to take steps out onto the water. I have no doubt that even though the boat was spared because of Jesus's goodness, it is broken, rotted, and dust now. When you get a right vision of who Jesus is, He becomes the object of your worship not only because of His goodness and greatness, but because He is the treasure that never perishes.

Calling and Building

Returning to my initial questions:

(1) What is my calling?

(2) How do I build things that last?

You are all called by Christ to place faith in Him. Before you respond to any other call, this is the one you must attend to. Why? Because responding to this call is how you receive eternal life, and become a builder in the eternal kingdom of God.

Healthy individuals, families, communities, and nations rise and fall on exactly this point.

Get a vision for your life that is framed within an eternal plan and your life gets injected with purpose.

How do I respond to the call of this Jesus?

You confess that you are a sinner and in need of forgiveness from him.

You accept his sacrifice on your behalf and take it to be fully sufficient

You believe that Christ was raised from the dead

You confess Christ as your Lord and savior

Begin praying, but ask if people would like to take that first step of faith by raising their hand and praying along.