WALKING WITH JESUS THROUGH THE STORM
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And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
WALKING WITH JESUS THROUGH THE STORM
The Master immediately constrained His disciples to leave .
The verb is a strong one, meaning “compel, force.
“He made the disciples .” Go on board a ship and take off.
John gives the answer:
“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone”.
He did not want His disciples staying around in such a revolutionary atmosphere, nor did He wish by His presence to stir such a movement.
He was not there to set up a political kingdom in opposition to Roman rule but to establish His spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men.
Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you. America will probably never be a Godly nation, only Heaven will truly be that place.
Jesus sensed the fact that these volatile Galileans were ready to launch another revolt against Rome.
So He instructed His disciples to leave, dismissed the crowd, and went off to pray alone.
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
The word for evening is translated literally “Late”.
As darkness came on, Jesus was alone on the mountain. Meanwhile the boat was in the midst of the sea.
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
About halfway across the lake the boat begin to be tossed with waves.
The Lake of Galilee is no-tor-ious for its sudden, severe storms.
So are the storms of life itself.
Illustration:
The writer will never forget being in a storm on the same lake in 1953.
It seemed that the fishing boat would certainly go to the bottom every time it plunged down into the deep trough between gigantic waves.
But creaking, groaning, shuddering all over, each time it came up through the next waves, while torrents of water poured over its bow.
The powerful motor in this modern fishing boat kept it moving ahead.
But the disciples could only struggle vainly with their oars as they faced a strong headwind from the north.
When things were at their worst, in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.)
All of us have been there and some of you are at this very moment are at your worst.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
A better word for trouble here is terrified....
The most difficult moments of your life to see Jesus are during times like this.
We often mistaken God and his voice for that of the enemy.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Cried out - scream or shriek.
Immediately Jesus reassured them with the words:
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Literally the Greek says: “Have courage; it is I; stop being afraid.” That is still Christ's message to His own in the midst of the storms of life.
This is a unique incident, found only in Matthew. Peter was so challenged by seeing Jesus walking on the water that he said: Lord, if it be thou—or, “since it is You”—bid me come unto thee on the water (28).
Are their any Peter’s in the house....
Confidently Peter responded to his Master's Come
What are you waiting for.