That Sinking Feeling

Matthew 14:22-33. "That Sinking Feeling" Sunday March 29th, 2020. Safe Haven Worship Centre. Matthew 14:22-33 [22] Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24] but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. [26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. [27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." [28] And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." [29] He said, "Come." So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" [32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (ESV) This week, New York City EMS is receiving 6,406 medical 911 calls (a day). It was the highest volume ever recorded in the city, surpassing the record that had been set on Sept. 11, 2001. (https://twitter.com/jameshohmann/status/1243353649570603008). Reflecting on that event, in his article, "Ten Years Later", R.C. Sproul said: "A full decade has passed since America suffered the tragedy of 9/11. Ten years ago, I repeatedly heard the question raised: “Where was God in all of this? Where was God on 9/11 when the planes crashed into the twin towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania?” My answer then was the same as it is now: God was in the precise place on 9/11 that He was on the day before and the day after. He was on His throne then and continues to be on His throne now because He is the Lord God omnipotent who reigns. He reigns day in and day out in consistent manifestation of His immutable sovereignty. God is immutable, unchanging, even though people and cultures continually change". (http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/ten-years-later-2/) At a time like this, of social distancing, fear and virus, we don't feel like God loves us. We feel like He has abandoned us. In Matthew 14, we see a storm raging on the sea of Galilee, and the disciples feel abandoned by Jesus, but Peter obeys Christ who was within his reach. He takes a step of obedience. That step meant leaving the apparent safety of the boat, and taking a step of obedience. Within the events of Matthew 14:22–33 are five demonstrations, or proofs, of Jesus’ deity that gave the disciples’ and should give us hope in the midst of the storm. Followers of Jesus can have hope though His divine 1) Authority (Matthew 14:22–23), 2) Knowledge (Matthew 14:24–25), 3) Protection (Matthew 14:26–27), 4) Love (Matthew 14:28-31), and divine 5) Power (Matthew 14:32-33). Followers of Jesus can have: 1) Hope Through His Divine Authority (Matthew 14:22–23) Matthew 14:22-23 [22] Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, (ESV) Jesus demonstrated His divine authority over the multitudes, who, despite their great numbers (probably twenty-five thousand or more), could not make Jesus do anything contrary to His Father’s plan and will. After He sent the disciples on their way to Capernaum, He dismissed the crowds/sent the multitudes away as well. John 6:15: notes that the people “were about to come and take him by force that they might make him king.” Jesus, whose kingdom is spiritual, refuses to become involved in any such definitely earthly, Jewish, political scheme. To prevent that from happening, Jesus “withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone” (Jn. 6:15b). He was indeed the predicted King, but He would not establish His earthly kingdom at that time. In any case, it was not the crowd’s prerogative to crown Him. (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 9: New Testament commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew. New Testament Commentary (598). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.). Please turn to Matthew 28 There is a tendency during momentous times to turn the events for political gain: 9/11 being a prime example. The Kingdom of God is not a political endeavor. We will not achieve the Kingdom through elections. God's righteousness is of the heart and it is the Church's job to proclaim the Kingdom.The proclamation of the Gospel in the Great Commission is the proclamation of Jesus authority: Matthew 28:18-20 [18] And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (ESV) • The Gospel is not in a political savior, but one who truly has all authority. It is a message of obedience to Him. When there is a storm raging, we tend to doubt His presence, but He assures us that He is indeed with us: this is truly a message of hope. John identifies the specific destination for the disciples on the other side as Capernaum (John 6:24) and Mark specifically identifies it as Gennesaret (6:53), a small, fertile plain on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee between Capernaum and Magdala. It was a short trip across the northern tip of the sea, one that most of the disciples had made many times. But they resisted leaving now, not only because of the enthusiasm of the crowd to make Jesus king but also because they did not want to be separated from Jesus. Although they were weak in faith and easily influenced, they nevertheless were deeply devoted to the Lord and felt incomplete and vulnerable when He was not with them. They may also have not wanted to leave then because they could feel the wind starting to blow and were cautious about making even that short trip after dark in bad weather. But regardless of the reasons for their reluctance, the disciples got into the boat and departed. They were under the Lord’s authority, but He did not have to use supernatural force to make them leave. His firm word was enough, and it is to their credit that they obeyed. When He told them to cross over before/ahead of Him to the otherside, that is what they did. The disciples were (reluctant) to depart from Christ: but yet they showed their obedience.( Geneva Bible: Notes. (1560). (Vol. 2, p. 9). Geneva: Rovland Hall.) Matthew 14:23 specifies that after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. During his earthly sojourn Jesus spent much time in prayer. He prayed in lonely places, on a hill, in Gethsemane; in the morning, in the evening, sometimes all night (Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:15, 16; 6:12; 9:18; 22:41, 42; Heb. 5:7; etc.) ((Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 9: New Testament commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew. New Testament Commentary (598). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.). When evening came, he was there alone. Jesus had little time to rest or to spend unhurried hours with the disciples. He only had time to pray, after which He would miraculously encounter the disciples in the middle of the furious wind at sea. By this time, it was the second evening of the day, which lasted from six to nine o’clock. The multitudes had been fed during the earlier evening (Matt. 14:15), which was from three to six. And as it became dark, Jesus was there alone in the mountain. Bear in mind here, one ought not pray just during times of crisis (Luke presents Jesus as regularly in prayer—e.g., 5:16; 9:18; 9:28–29; 11:1), but prayer is particularly crucial on such occasions (hence, Matthew and Mark refer to Jesus at prayer only here and in Gethsemane—cf. Matt 26:36–46) (Blomberg, C. (2001). Vol. 22: Matthew (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (234). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.). This entire scene is a dramatic picture of the church and the Lord today. God’s people are on the sea, in the midst of a storm. Yet Jesus Christ is in heaven “making intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34). He saw the disciples and knew their plight (Mark 6:48), just as He sees us and knows our needs. He feels the burdens that we feel and knows what we are going through (Heb. 4:14–16). Jesus was praying for His disciples, that their faith would not fail. If you knew that Jesus Christ was in the next room, praying for you, would it not give you new courage to endure the storm and do His will? Of course it would. He is not in the next room, but He is in heaven interceding for you. He sees your need, He knows your fears, and He is in control of the situation. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 51). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.) Illustration: The way to make progress is not, as we might think, to go easily along a simple pathway. God’s ways are not the same as our ways, as John Newton discovered, as he describes in his hymn: “I asked the Lord that I might grow In faith, and love, and every grace, Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face. ’Twas he who taught me thus to pray, And he, I trust, has answered prayer; But it has been in such a way As almost drove me to despair”. But he reassured himself: “Begone, unbelief; My Saviour is near, And for my relief Will surely appear. His love in time past Forbids me to think He’ll leave me at last In trouble to sink; Each sweet Ebenezer (“stone of help”) I have in review Confirms his good pleasure To help me quite through”. It is as we obey Christ that we can be sure that the storms and trials that (we encounter) are part of his purpose for us and our growth in grace. (John Newton. Christian Hymns #698 as found in Legg, J. (2004). The King and His Kingdom: The Gospel of Matthew Simply Explained (pp. 277–278). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.) Followers of Jesus can have: 2) Hope Through His Divine Knowledge (Matthew 14:24–25) Matthew 14:24-25 [24] but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. (ESV) In obedience to His command the disciples had entered the boat and headed for the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When the disciples started before dark, all was fair and beautiful and, experienced sailors as most of them were, they hoisted sail and expected a pleasant voyage to their destination. But this soon changed. One of those sudden storms, for which this lake is noted, lying, as it does, between high ridges, descended and swept over the water, lashing the waves furiously (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (570). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House). The with eruption of a violent wind they were caught a long way/many stadia away from the land. One stadia/stadium equaled approximately six hundred feet. The disciples are probably about 3 miles (4.8 km) out into the lake (cf. John 6:19), which would have been 4–5 miles (6.4–8.0 km) wide at that point, depending on exactly where they crossed (cf. Matt. 14:34; also John 6:17) (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1851). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.). Because in a normal trip across the northern end of the Sea of Galilee the boat would not have traveled more than a mile or two from shore at any point, the storm had obviously carried it several miles south, out into the middle of the lake. The disciples and their little craft were being beaten/battered by the waves, and the wind was against/contrary to them, pushing them farther and farther away from their destination and closer and closer to disaster. Whether or not the boat had a sail, it would have been useless in the high winds and tossing waves. The only means of movement was rowing, and they were desperately “straining at the oars” (Mark 6:48) for their very lives. Matthew does not say how long they had been in making the crossing, but they had started right after the meal finished (v. 22), so they had been battling against the elements all night. They must have been very weary. The disciples were already confused, frustrated, disillusioned, and disappointed that Jesus had sent them away. Though they must have wondered why He sent them to certain death, the twelve are to be admired for their obedience and perseverance. Although the night was dark, the sea stormy, and the situation apparently hopeless, they were doing their best to do what the Lord commanded. The worst part was that Jesus was not with them. During a similar storm, they had awakened Him and He “rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm” (Matt. 8:26). But now He was miles away. He probably heard the storm and was aware of their plight; but there seemed no way He could get to them. If all the disciples together could not row against the wind and waves, it seemed, like one man could never do it. (Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 381). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.) There are two kinds of storms: storms of correction, when God disciplines us; and storms of perfection, when God helps us to grow. Jonah was in a storm because he disobeyed God and had to be corrected. The disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Christ and had to be perfected. Jesus had tested them in a storm before, when He was in the boat with them (Matt. 8:23–27). But now He tested them by being out of the boat. Many Christians have the mistaken idea that obedience to God’s will produces “smooth sailing.” But this is not true. “In the world you shall have tribulation,” Jesus promised (John 16:33). When we find ourselves in the storm because we have obeyed the Lord, we must remember that He brought us here and He can care for us. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 51). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.) • When God allows us to suffer in difficulties, He is preparing us, and strengthening us. Only when tested, is faith necessary. Only when all seems hopeless, is hope a sure anchor for the soul. Only when facing discouragement, do we truly seek biblical joy and only when facing resistance, do we need to persevere. To understand when this occurred, we must understand the watches. The Romans divided the night (between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.) into four watches. The first was from six to nine, the second from nine to twelve, the third from twelve to three, and the fourth “watch” (φυλακῇ) was accordingly between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. The fourth watch of the night at Matthew 14:25 therefore included the time just before dawn, indicating the disciples had been at sea for at least nine hours, most of the time battling the wind storm (Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (423). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.). Jesus waited a long time before He came to them, but Jesus had not forgotten the disciples, and He came to them through the very danger that threatened to destroy them, walking on the sea. We are often storm-tossed, perplexed, in despair. The Savior seems far away. But all the time He is praying for us. When the night seems darkest, He is near at hand. We often mistake Him even then and push the panic button. Then we hear His comforting voice and remember that the waves that caused us to fear are under His feet (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997). Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (Mt 14:24–27). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.). Jesus has power over the sea: he walks upon the deep as God alone does, and the sea respects His wishes. If the Israelites regarded the sea as the domain of evil powers (8:23–27), then the terrifying experience of a storm at sea in the dead of night becomes even more symbolic of the human experience of evil (cf Ps 69:15–16) (Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (425). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.). Jesus used the trial as His footpath. He could not physically see them from the mountain or through the stormy darkness, but He knew exactly where they were. God’s vision is not like ours, because: Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV) Illustration: Faith liberates him from fear, from the confines of the boat, from the limitations of prior human experience. When President Franklin Roosevelt addressed a panicky, depression-paralyzed nation on Inauguration Day, March 4, 1933, the polio-crippled leader brought new hope to his eager constituents when he asserted his “firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” A nation afraid was a nation shackled. The new President’s first priority was to inject new courage into the American heart. (Lawson, L. (1986). Matthew: Unlocking the Scriptures for You (p. 190). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.) • We can have courage in the face of fear because our situation is not hidden from the eyes of God. He knows and He cares for His saints. That care may be hidden at times, but nonetheless, it will become manifest in God’s timing. Followers of Jesus can have: 3) Hope through His Divine Protection (Matthew 14:26–27) Matthew 14:26-27 [26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. [27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (ESV) By treading on the sea, Jesus now takes a role that the Hebrew Bible had reserved for God alone (Job 9:8; see also Ps 77:19; Hab 3:15;). Nevertheless, as in an earlier storm scene, Matthew is interested here in teaching us not only Christology (about Jesus) but also about the requisite faith for disciples (Mt 8:26) (Keener, C. S. (1997). Vol. 1: Matthew. The IVP New Testament commentary series (Mt 14:22). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.). As Jesus first approached the disciples they thought they were getting anything but help, because, when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified/frightened, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. Theōreō (from which saw is derived) means to look intently, indicating that the disciples’ gaze was transfixed on the apparition before them. At first Jesus did not walk directly toward the boat but appeared to be passing by (Mark 6:48); but that made little difference to the disciples. For a ghost to be anywhere near them was enough to make them terrified/frightened almost out of their senses. The fear of the disciples is like the fear of all who are threatened by insecurity in the face of the unknown. But when Jesus appears to those in extreme need, it is as one who has sovereign power, not only over the forces of nature but over evil itself (Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (425). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.). The term ghost is the Greek phantasma, which refers to an apparition, a creature of the imagination, and is the word from which come the English phantom and phantasm. Because of the darkness, the mist from the wind and waves, the fatigue from rowing, and the fear that already gripped them because of the storm, they did not recognize Jesus when He appeared to them. Mark reports that “they all saw Him” (Mark 6:50), but none of them suspected it was Jesus. And their fear instantly turned into abject terror as they beheld the form they thought was a ghost come to add to their torment. In the dark before the dawn, hopelessness turned to utter horror and despair. In their panic they could not help but cry out in fear. Of how God, works, F.B. Meyer said: ``He uses the element we dread as the path for his approach. The waves were endangering the boat, but Jesus walked on them. In our lives are people and circumstances we dread, but it is through these that the greatest blessing of our lives will come, if we look through them to Christ``. (F. B. Meyer as quoted in Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (294–295). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.) Although Jesus was (using this circumstance to strengthen) the disciples’ faith, He understood their frailty. He calmed their fear as it is recorded in Matthew 14:27 by commanding, Take heart/courage. Take courage and do not be afraid are both imperatives, or commands (Mills, M. (1999). The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record (Mt 14:24–Jn 6:21). Dallas, TX: 3E Ministries.). • Because we naturally stagnate, and then recess in fear when facing challenges, everyone has a responsibility, a ministry to encourage others to take heart, take courage in the face of challenges. Don`t ignore them. Don`t avoid them. Look directly to Christ and walk through them. To point to the source of courage, Jesus identifies himself: it is I; literally, I am. This is not bad grammar but a conscious echo of the divine name of Yahweh (egō eimi), as in Ex. 3:14. Though still somewhat veiled, this is perhaps Jesus’ clearest self-revelation of his divinity to date (A. M. Denis, “La marche de Jésus sur les eaux,” in De Jésus aux Évangiles, ed. I. de la Potterie (Gembloux: Duculot, 1967), 238, 244. Cf. Lane, Mark, 237–38). It is I,” hence, it is the very Lord who has chosen you as his disciples, has been guiding you step by step, and has already given you so many proofs of his power and love. So, do not be afraid (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 9: New Testament commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew. New Testament Commentary (601). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.). Jesus’ first words to them were “do not/Stop being afraid” (is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE with the NEGATIVE PARTICLE. These words of encouragement are repeated so often by Jesus (cf. Matt. 14:27; 17:7; 28:19; Mark 6:50; Luke 5:10; 12:32; Jn. 6:20; Rev. 1:17).( Utley, R. J. (2000). The First Christian Primer: Matthew (Vol. Volume 9, p. 128). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.) • Because of Jesus—all He taught, all he did—your life is different now! You’re not alone, and you’re not lost. You have a heavenly Father, a living Savior, and a present helper, the Holy Spirit. (Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (295). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.) Jesus did not walk on the water to teach the disciples how to do it. Peter tried and failed; and there is no record of any of the others ever doing it at all. The Lord’s purpose was to demonstrate His loving willingness to do whatever is necessary to rescue His children. He did not have to walk on the water to save them, but His doing so gave them an unforgettable reminder of the power and extent of His divine protection. It was not to teach them to walk on water but to teach them that God can and will act on behalf of His own. We will never find ourselves in a place where Christ cannot find us; and no storm is too severe for Him to save us from it. He protects His own, whom He will never fail or forsake (Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5). The lesson for the disciples is the lesson for us: There is no reason for God’s people to fear. There is no reason for anxiety, no matter how seemly hopeless and threatening our problems seem to be. Life is often stormy and painful, often threatening and frightening. Some believers suffer more than others, but all suffer at some time and in some way. In spite of that, the storm is never so severe, the night never so black, and the boat never so frail that we risk danger beyond our Father’s care. Please turn to Acts 27 When Paul was on the ship taking him to Rome to appear before Caesar, it encountered an exceptionally violent storm in the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Crete. After the crew had thrown all the cargo, tackle, supplies, and food overboard, the ship was still in danger of foundering on the rocks. Paul, unlike the fearful disciples, was at perfect peace and offered encouragement to those on the ship: Acts 27:21-25 [21]Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. [22] Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. [23]For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, [24]and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' [25] So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. (ESV) So, the disciples back in Matthew 14:27, who were reluctant to leave Jesus and go to Capernaum obeyed by rowing out into the storm they knew was coming, and Jesus honored their faithfulness. When believers are in the place of obedience they are in the place of safety, no matter what the circumstances. The place of security is not the place of favorable circumstance but the place of obedience to God’s will. Illustration: Were there time to hold a conference in the boat before Peter steps overboard, the majority decision would be for him to remain. Timidity controls most human behavior. Peter’s boldness in this instance expresses the combination of faith, impulsiveness, and courage that makes him the leader to whom the Lord can entrust the leadership of the newly forming church. A much later leader, Ulysses S. Grant, discovered in the midst of America’s Civil War that he did not need to be afraid of the enemy. After one battle that never took place because the Confederates under Colonel Thomas Harris had retreated from Grant (who was fearfully dreading the contest), Grant recalled in his Memoirs, “It occurred to me at once that Harris had been as much afraid of me as I had been of him. This was a view I had never taken before: but was one I never forgot afterwards. From that event to the close of the war, I never experienced trepidation upon confronting an enemy, though I always felt more or less anxiety. I never forgot that he had as much reason to fear my forces as I had his. The lesson was valuable.” With Peter’s confidence in the Lord who had told him to venture out onto the water, he, too, has no reason to fear the doubts of the timid ones who would have persuaded him not to try it.(Lawson, L. (1986). Matthew: Unlocking the Scriptures for You (pp. 189–190). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.) Let’s see Peter’s actions now and the lesson for us that Followers of Jesus can have: 4) Hope through His Divine Love (Matthew 14:28–31) Matthew 14:28-31 [28] And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." [29] He said, "Come." So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (ESV) Although Mark and John report Jesus’ walking on the water, only Matthew tells of this incident concerning Peter. It seems that Peter was overjoyed to see Jesus and that his supreme concern was to be safely with Him. Mere impetuosity might have caused him to jump out of the boat, expecting Jesus somehow to come to his rescue. But he knew better, and he therefore asked the Lord, Command me to come to You on the water. He knew Jesus had the power to enable him to walk on the water, but he did not presume to attempt the feat without His express instruction. Peter’s request was an act of affection built on confident faith. He did not ask to walk on water for the sake of doing something spectacular, but because it was the way to get to Jesus. William Carey said, “Expect great things of God, and attempt great things for God.” Certainly, Peter did that! I am afraid that most of us are satisfied with little things from God. Notice that Jesus did not rebuke Peter for asking (McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 14-28) (electronic ed., Vol. 35, p. 30). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.) • Our requests of God must never be to affirm, after the fact, our presumptions. We often get into trouble by acting first, and then asking permission or affirmation later. Yet God is delighted in asking Him to accomplish great things and to do it though bold people of faith. Jesus’ telling in Peter in Matthew 14:29 to come confirms the disciple’s right motive. Jesus never invites, much less commands, a person to do anything sinful. Nor is He ever a party to pride or presumption. With the greatest of compassion, Jesus told Peter to come, highly pleased that he wanted to be with his Lord. We usually remember that Peter’s faith failed and that Jesus drew attention to this. But we should bear in mind that it took courage for the apostle to venture on the water at all. (Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 383). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.) • Fear can paralyze necessary action. Faith focuses on the one who can overcome our fears. Although Peter was sincere, he did not comprehend the reality or the extremity of what he was asking to do. From the relative safety of the boat the feat did not seem so terrifying; but once Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus, the situation appeared radically different. Peter temporarily took His eyes off the Lord and Matthew 14:30 tells us that Peter: saw the wind, he was afraid. Peter had not overestimated his faith, nor had he wanted to show it off; nor did Jesus want to teach him a lesson by properly humbling him. Jesus never humbles faith but always encourages it. He encouraged that of Peter mightily when He told him to come. (Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (575). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House.). Peter’s lack of faith is caused by a failure of concentration: he is distracted by the fierce wind. His mind became more affected by the circumstances than by faith in the power of Jesus, and once again he became filled with fear (Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (424). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.) Peter’s experience is not uncommon in the modern era. Too much aware of the elements around him and the dangers which they imposed, Peter forgot to continue trusting the Christ who (called) him (to) come. (Criswell, W. A., Patterson, P., Clendenen, E. R., Akin, D. L., Chamberlin, M., Patterson, D. K., & Pogue, J. (Eds.). (1991). Believer’s Study Bible (electronic ed., Mt 14:30). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.) • The solution to dealing with fear is not to better understand the fear, but get back to faith. Take your concentration and thoughts off everything than can go wrong, and back onto Christ. Now, “beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” His faith was enough to get him out of the boat, but it was not enough to carry him across the water. The Lord loves that kind of cry, because it is a sign that the person has come to the end of self-reliance and realizes there is nowhere else to turn but to the Lord. Whether from the unbeliever who knows he is helpless on his own or from the believer who has been self-striving for years and has only met with frustration and failure the simple cry, “Save me!” is music to the Father’s ears (cf. Pss. 18:16; 69:1–3; 144:7) (Weber, S. K. (2000). Vol. 1: Matthew. Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference (222). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.). • Before we simply take this as a lesson to not take our eyes off Jesus, realize the first fact that Peter got out of the boat. How many of us don't even take the first step? Are we willing to leave behind the relative safety of where we are to be obedience to Jesus? Will we leave our front door, our cubicle, our classroom, to approach another person to tell them of Jesus? Faith is strengthened by its being taken to extremities it has never faced before. Such strengthening is basic to Christian growth and maturity. The Lord takes us as far as our faith will go, and when it ends we begin to sink. It is then that we call out to Him and He again demonstrates His faithfulness and His power, and our faith learns to extend that much further. As we trust God in the faith we have, we discover its limitations; but we also discover what it can yet become. Charles Spurgeon said, “To walk [on] the water is not an essential characteristic of faith, but to pray when you begin to sink is.” (As quoted in Butler, J. G. (2008). Analytical Bible Expositor: Matthew (253). Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.) When Peter was beginning to sink, he was probably fully clothed and would have had great difficulty swimming through the high waves. And in his fright he (probably) could think of nothing but drowning. But as soon as he cried out … “Lord, save me,” he was safe, because, as Matthew 14:31 says, Jesus immediately reached/stretched out His hand and took hold of him. Fear is unwarranted where Jesus is present. If in circumstances of personal need, one responds in faith and, like Peter, steps out into the unknown but begins to submerge again through doubt under the all-too-real presence of evil, then at the cry, “Lord, save me,” Jesus is immediately there to deliver the believer (cf Ps 18:16–17) (Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (425). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.). When Jesus rebuked him, saying, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? Peter must have wondered at the question. The reason for his doubt seemed obvious. He was bone weary from rowing most of the night, scared to death by the storm and then by what he thought was a ghost, and now it seemed he was about to drown before he could reach the Lord. He had never been in such a situation before, and it may be that his actually walking a few feet on the water added to his shock. The issue here was not the amount of Peter’s faith, but Peter’s culpability. The smallest faith in the right object is effective. Jesus was (rebuking) Peter, not his faith. The problem was that his faith was (displaced) by doubt. In all this time, even Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, had not learned to trust the king fully (Weber, S. K. (2000). Vol. 1: Matthew. Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference (222–223). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.). • What is looming larger before you: Jesus or a virus? Focus on Jesus, not the news. Focus on trusting Him, not the WHO. Put your trust in Him and not government, supplies or sheer good luck. Please turn to 1 Peter 1 Jesus came directly to Peter's aid in the storm. The Lord goes before us and He goes with us. When we get frustrated, anxious, bewildered, and frightened, Satan and our weak flesh tempts us to wonder why God allows such things to happen to his children. And if we keep our attention on those things we will begin to sink just as surely as Peter did. But if we cry out to the Lord for help, He will come to our rescue just as surely as He did to Peter’s. Perhaps it was the experience that Peter learned from Matthew 14 that would enable him to later write: 1 Peter 1:6-7 [6]In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, [7]so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV) Illustration: ‘It is usual in some swimming schools to teach beginners by sending them into the water with a belt around their waist, to which is attached a rope, which again is connected with an over-reaching arm of wood. As the learner gains confidence the rope is slackened, and (they are) left to support (themselves) by (their) own efforts. The master stands by, watching the (the young swimmers) struggles, ready to note any sign of real danger. When danger is seen, the rope is again tightened—at the right moment, not before—and the (young swimmer) is taken out of the water. Jesus knows how long to withhold help and when to bring it. He came to the struggling disciples in the fourth watch of the night.’ (The Church Pulpit Commentary: St. Matthew. (1908). (p. 267). London: J. Nisbet & Co.) • Jesus has hold of His saints. Nothing with snatch them out of His hand. We may feel that He has let go, but that is just the way it seems sometimes from our perspective. He is strengthening us through trials that we may learn to rely on Him more and when we respond in faith, this brings Him glory and Honor. Finally, followers of Jesus can have: 5) Hope through His Divine Power (Matthew 14:32-33) Matthew 14:32-33 [32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (ESV) The most spectacular miracle was accomplished without Jesus saying a word or raising a hand. The moment He and Peter got into the boat with the other disciples, the wind ceased/stopped. It was as if the wind was simply waiting for the miracle to be finished; and when it had served its purpose, it ceased/stopped. Christ’s presence conquers nature. He is the Messiah, the Sovereign Lord over all. He demonstrated His Messiahship, adding proof upon proof to this handful of believers to whom He was to entrust His cause. He brought peace to a sea that reeled to and fro for their sake. He would always be present to help them no matter the severity of trial. They must know this, and they must learn that He could bring peace to any reeling and hopeless soul that will call upon Him (Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to Matthew: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (Vol. 1, p. 346). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.) Please turn to Mark 6 Just as instantaneously John reports that: “the boat was at the land to which they were going” (John 6:21). They had been three or four miles out to sea and the storm was still raging as fiercely as ever; but in an instant it stopped and the boat was at its destination. On the basis of normal human experience, Mark 6 records the disciples reaction: Mark 6:51-52 [51] And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, [52] for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (ESV) Yet in that moment those same hearts were softened and those eyes opened as they had never been before; Matthew 14:33 concludes with their reaction: and those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly/Certainly you are the Son of God/God’s Son!” They were now more than simply amazed, as the crowds and they themselves had always been. They were taken past amazement to worship, which is what Jesus’ signs and miracles were intended to produce. This miracle, combined with seeing Jesus’ supernatural mastery of the water, brought the disciples to their knees. They worshiped Him and confessed Him to be the Son of God (Sproul, R. C. (2013). Matthew (p. 466). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.) Quotation: Where is God in the midst of the storm? One author answered that question with this incident: "In Washington and Chicago, as I talked about the special edition of Where Is God When It Hurts?, inevitably the interviewer would turn the question back on me. "Well, where is God at a time like this?" Sometimes I countered some of the harmful things other Christian spokesmen had said, bringing guilt and judgment to a time that begged for comfort and grace. I talked of Jesus' response to tragedies, especially in Luke 13. And then I told of a man who came up to me one time and said, "Sorry, I don't have time to read your book. Can you just answer that question for me in a sentence or two?" I thought for a moment and said, "I guess the answer to that question is another question. Where is the church when it hurts? If the church is doing its job—binding wounds, comforting the grieving, offering food to the hungry—I don't think people will wonder so much where God is when it hurts. They'll know where God is: in the presence of his people on earth." (Philip Yancey from http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/octoberweb-only/10-22-21.0.html?start=8) (Format Note: Outline & some base commentary from MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew (441). Chicago: Moody Press.) Closing Hymn - Love Lifted Me (3v) 107 Benediction May He Who is your light, your strength, your song and cornerstone, Prepare you for the fiercest drought and storm; Quiet your fears and cease your strivings; That you may know the heights of His love And the depths of His peace. In Christ we Pray: AMEN (Reference: A benediction after a chapel message by David B. Calhoun)