Getting Out Of The Boat

Getting out of the Boat

Matthew 14:22-36

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

The Britannica Dictionary defines risk as doing something that has the potential to have harmful consequences. There are many things in life that many people consider to be too risky in nature. To invest in penny stocks, to walk on a tight rope, to climb a mighty mountain, bungee jump from a high cliff, surf on the waves, go on a first date, share your intimate life stories with another or take on a task that is likely beyond your abilities truly require a boatload of grit and courage. While some people truly love the adrenaline rush of risk-taking others much prefer to carve out routines and live a more simplistic lifestyle. Do Christians in general tend to be risk takers? Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who performed many miracles and having the Holy Spirit living inside of us, you would think believers would be a bold, fierce, unstoppable force in this world. After all, does not the Lord say with faith as tiny as a mustard seed nothing will be impossible for us to achieve (Matthew 17:20-21), and should we ever meet a foe that is too powerful for us to subdue all we need to do is stand still and the Lord will fight for us (Exodus 14:14)? With the belt of truth around our waste, with the breastplate of righteousness on our chests, with helmet of salvation on our heads and the shield of faith in our hand we can be victorious even over the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:1-17)! And yet while we would like to say we live with the holy courage of king David; the truth is that rarely do we run to meet the giant challenges of this fallen world but instead choose to become sleeping giants. Though we have spiritual gifts and are empowered by divine might most Christians tend to live their lives enslaved by sin and complacency!

And as boat of life gets repeatedly struck by incessant waves of both opportunities and tribulations, instead of being more than conquerors we tend to be lulled into a deep sleep of foolishly believing getting out of the boat of our comfortable lives is simply a risk not worth taking. In today’s sermon I am going to review the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-36 in hope that the Scripture might compel you to accept and live the truth, you are who God says and through the power of the Holy Spirit you can do anything He asks!

Priorities in Life

After having heard that John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod (Matthew 14:1-12) and after the dramatic healing of the sick and feeding of the five thousand (14:13-18), Matthew tells us that Jesus made His disciples get into a boat and sail away so that He could dismiss the crowd and go to the mountainside and pray. While Matthew does not state the reason why Jesus commanded the disciples to get into the boat and sail across the Sea of Galilee, it was likely to keep them from being “swept off their feet by the mob psychology,” who after seeing Christ’s power to perform many miracles, desired to make Him king of their political kingdom (John 6:15)! Maybe separation from Christ and the physical work of rowing a boat would get His disciple’s minds off being part of a “political revolution that would defeat all the plans of Jesus about His kingdom!” While Matthew does not reveal the “burden of Jesus’ prayer time,” there are several likely possibilities. For instance, Jesus just heard of John the Baptist’s beheading and likely wanted to be alone to not only reflect on future potential threats from Herod Antipas but also to grieve for his friend as he did when Lazarus died. Also, the mob offering a “smaller version of what the devil offered in the wilderness, all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor (Matthew 4:8),” likely brought to His mind the “the thirty-nine lashes, the crown of thorns, the falling on the road to Golgotha, the nails, the thirst, the laughter at the foot of the cross, the rejection, and the loneliness” that He was about to endure! Whatever the reasons clearly Christ’s prayer in the time of crises teaches us how important it is to take time to be holy by seeking the Father in prayer! It is far from easy to know what to do in good times much less bad ones. Instead of relying on our foolish thoughts and ways, pray to God to reveal His good and perfect will!

Reflection. When we go through difficult times, we often look for our own solutions. It is only when we have exhausted all possibilities that we finally come to the Lord and ask for help. Instead of imaging and even living the worst-case scenarios in our minds, why not give the unknown future to Jesus with the assurance that He works all things for the good of those love Him (Romans 8:28)?