Learning hard lessons

The Story Matthew 14:22-33

The narrative actually began in Matthew chapter twelve. it was a Sabbath and Jesus and His disciples were walking through a corn field. the disciples broke corn and ate. Apparently, the Pharisees were near-by and that made them upset, and what made it worse Jesus Apparently didn’t see anything wrong with that, and went on to make it clear that the Son of Man (referring to Himself), is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus and His disciples were going to church because this was His custom.

16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. Luke 4:16

Jesus healed a man that had a withered hand on the Sabbath but this time in church now this really infuriated that Pharisees and they questioned the legality of such a thing, and again Jesus justified his action with a question in the form of parable. The Pharisees were ready now to find a way to destroy Jesus. Jesus knew these thoughts were consuming the minds of the Jewish leaders, hence He decided to leave the Synagogue.

Jesus heals a demon possessed person who was both blind and dumb. Now the Pharisees accuses Jesus of being Beelzebub the prince of the devils. now its obvious that the Pharisees didn’t believe in Jesus, my question is, who, did they believe in? you see it is Jesus who is the savior of the world. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Ac 4:12

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 4:12.

A crowd followed Jesus now, and here is we find Jesus and the multitude that gathered about him. tradition says Heptapegon is the place where the multitude gathered.

American Standard Version Chapter 14

13Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food. 16But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat. 17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18And he said, Bring them hither to me. 19And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. 20And they all ate, and were filled:

Desire of Ages Chapter 40—A Night on the Lake

Seated upon the grassy plain, in the twilight of the spring evening, the people ate of the food that Christ had provided. The words they had heard that day had come to them as the voice of God. The works of healing they had witnessed were such as only divine power could perform. But the miracle of the loaves appealed to everyone in that vast multitude. All were sharers in its benefit. In the days of Moses, God had fed Israel with manna in the desert; and who was this that had fed them that day but He whom Moses had foretold? No human power could create from five barley loaves and two small fishes food sufficient to feed thousands of hungry people. And they said one to another, “This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.”

All day the conviction has strengthened. That crowning act is assurance that the long-looked-for Deliverer is among them. The hopes of the people rise higher and higher. This is He who will make Judea an earthly paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. He can satisfy every desire. He can break the power of the hated Romans. He can deliver Judah and Jerusalem. He can heal the soldiers who are wounded in battle. He can supply whole armies with food. He can conquer the nations, and give to Israel the long-sought dominion.

In their enthusiasm the people are ready at once to crown Him king.

But this was not what Jesus was focused on, Jesus had a lesson to teach the twelve disciples. It was going to be a hard test; even though they had ample time to take proper notes. It seemed as if the twelve were distracted, but the Master was doing His best to help them to focus. there was proliferation of noise both from the multitude, and internally because of the potential of worldly attainment. But the disciples had a lesson to learn and it was a hard one and they needed to be prepared because time was immanent, just a few hours away. the master had the classroom prepared.

this was not the time for them to take Jesus by force and make Him King. Jesus was already King of kings and Lord of lords. if they were paying proper attention they would realize that but lets not be too quick criticize the disciples do we realize who Jesus is? you see He’s not just a king, He is King of kings He’s not just a lord, He is Lord of lords. Jesus is the Son of the living God.

Desire of Ages Chapter 40—A Night on the Lake

Calling His disciples, Jesus bids them take the boat and return at once to Capernaum, leaving Him to dismiss the people.

The disciples did not want to do that. but Jesus now spoke with an authority He had never before assumed toward them. They knew that further opposition on their part would be useless, and in silence they turned toward the sea. Then Jesus dispersed the crow. it was test time and they needed to be ready. When left alone, Jesus “went up into a mountain apart to pray.” For hours He continued pleading with God. Not for Himself but for men were those prayers. He prayed for power to reveal to men the divine character of His mission, that Satan might not blind their understanding and pervert their judgment. The Saviour knew that His days of personal ministry on earth were nearly ended, and that few would receive Him as their Redeemer. In travail and conflict of soul He prayed for His disciples. They were to be grievously tried. Their long-cherished hopes, based on a popular delusion, were to be disappointed in a most painful and humiliating manner.

A Storm Was Coming vs. 23

they were now in the middle of sea of Galilee and storm took them by surprise. 24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. A violent tempest had been stealing upon them, and they were unprepared for it. It was a sudden contrast, for the day had been perfect; and when the gale struck them, they were afraid. They forgot their disaffection, their unbelief, their impatience. Everyone worked to keep the boat from sinking. It was but a short distance by sea from Bethsaida to the point where they expected to meet Jesus, and in ordinary weather the journey required but a few hours; but now they were driven farther and farther from the point they sought. Until the fourth watch of the night they toiled at the oars. Then the weary men gave themselves up for lost. In storm and darkness the sea had taught them their own helplessness, and they longed for the presence of their Master. the twelve failed

Jesus walked on the sea vs. 25

the experienced fishermen feared for their lives. but here comes Jesus walking on the sea. there is just no one like Jesus; he heals the sick because he is the great physician there is no one like Jesus ; He gives sight to the blind there is no one like Jesus; He made the dumb man talk and the lame man walk, there is no one like Jesus; He is the Son of man and the Son of God there is no one like Jesus; He is the Lord of the Sabbath there is no one like Jesus as matter of fact He is Lord of time and space, and here He comes walking on the sea; there is a storm, but Jesus is walking through the storm to get to His disciples. they were scared but Jesus said don’t be scared it is I am your shelter in the time of storm. the disciples thought it was a ghost but it was Jesus. Peter said if it is You, bid me to come on the water one more golden opportunity to pass the test up until now they were all failing, so Jesus said come.

Desire of Ages Chapter 40—A Night on the Lake

Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from the Saviour. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high, and come directly between him and the Master; and he is afraid. For a moment Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and fixing them upon Jesus, cries, “Lord, save me.” Immediately Jesus grasps the outstretched hand, saying, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

They all failed. It was a hard test; it was a hard lesson to learn, but Jesus was not done yet. we too have fail God many times, and with world events today, many have doubted God. Even in this corona pandemic and the loss of thousands of lives many of us are fearful. many in the world today are protesting because of racism and have lost hope in the justice system. many are jobless, many are homeless, many are losing their grasp on faith, but Jesus in not done yet.

It’s a Hard Lesson but We Have a Good Teacher.

O ye of little faith, why did you doubt. vs. 31

We must learn that Jesus is the Object of our faith

We must learn that Jesus is the Subject of our fait.

We must learn that Jesus is the Profession of our faith.

and ultimately Jesus is the fulfillment of our faith.

American Standard Version Chapter 11

11 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

It will be by faith that we overcome. it is a hard lesson that we must learn, because without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Faith turns to sight in Jesus.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Heb 11:6.

Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 380–381.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 14:24.

Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 379.

Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 378.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 4:16.