Beginning To Sink

Matthew 14:22-32 -- "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away." "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." "But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." "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." "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." "And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." "And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" "And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."

l. THE AREA OF THE TEXT

-Some have stated that on this day that the storm occurred in the life of Jesus was perhaps the most difficult day that Jesus had to live through, excluding Calvary.

-It was on this day that Jesus:

· Had to deal with the death of John the Baptist, his own cousin.

· He had hoped to go to the desert place for a time of solitude but the people appeared and began to clamor for his attention.

· He had to meet the demands of their hunger and multiplied the fish and the loaves.

· He had to contend with the doubt of his closest friends, the disciples.

-Yet, I do not want to focus on the actions of Jesus but rather the steps that Peter took toward the Savior. For one will see in the steps that Peter took the great rewards of reaching for a Savior.

ll. PETER’S WALK TOWARD THE SAVIOR IN THE STORM

-Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation. Generally, faith is the child of fear.

-From the Gospel of John (6:19), we realize that the disciples were several miles out into the Sea of Galilee. The normal trip across the northern end of the Sea of Galilee would not have been more than a mile or two from shore at any point. The storm had obviously carried the boat several miles south, out into the middle of the lake. The disciples and their little craft were being battered by the waves and the wind was pushing them futher and further away from their destination and closer and closer to disaster. Whether or not the boat had a sail, it does not matter, as it would have been useless in the high winds and waves. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 8-15)

-The storm has surrounded Peter, the waves have the boat rolling from side-to-side, a number of the disciples are bailing water. The sails are whipping in the wind and the mast is groaning with the pressure of the storm. The rudder has lost its ability to guide the fishing craft. It seems as if all hope is gone.

-In the interval of the storm there is an apparent delay in deliverance. The delays of God come with a purpose:

· To try our faith for it is by trying of faith that patience is invested in us.

· To bring humility to us. Humility is never more embraced than during suffering.

· To intensify the desire in our hearts toward God.

· To enhance the joy that comes once the answer arrives.

-The delays of God always turn out right. No matter how long that He waits, no matter how grim the situation looks, God is always right on time.

· Consider the love of Jarius, whose daughter was dying, as he tried to get the Lord to his house.

· Consider the cries of Mary and Martha as the Lord waited two days before ever starting for Bethany.

· Consider the three days that Jonah spent in the belly of the fish before God let him out.

· Consider the Apostle Paul who spent a night and a day in the deep.

· Consider Peter in the jail cell having slept much of the night before being released by the angel.

· Consider the Syrophonecian woman who reasoned with the Christ before finally gaining healing for her daughter.