Jesus Favorite Word

TITLE: JESUS FAVORITE WORD

SCRIPTURE: ST. MATTHEW 14:22-33

I want to share with us this morning what I believe to be ‘Jesus Favorite Word.’ We find this word throughout the Old as well as the New Testament. I lift up for your consideration Jesus Favorite Word was and is “COME.”

• In ST MATTHEW 4:19 - Jesus told the disciples, “COME FOLLOW ME”

• In ST. MARK 10:14 - Jesus told the little children “SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME”

• In ISAIAH 55:1 / ST. JOHN 7:37 - Jesus says to ALL THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTY ARE TOLD TO “COME”

• ST. MATTHEW 11:28 - Jesus tells ALL WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED ARE TOLD TO “COME”

• ST. LUKE 14:17 - Jesus tells ALL THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY TOLD TO “COME TO THE BANQUETING TABLE”

• ST. MARK 6:31 - Jesus invites ALL THOSE WHO NEED REST ARE INVITED TO “COME”

• ST. MATTHEW 14:28-29 - When Peter wondered if he could walk on water, Jesus said, “COME”

• ST. LUKE 19:5 - When ZACCHAEUS had climbed up in the Sycamore Tree, Jesus said, “COME DOWN MAKE HASTE”

• REVELATION 22:17 - The Bible ends with an invitation to “COME!” FOR “THE FREE GIFT OF THE WATER OF LIFE”

In our text we find Jesus had just fed five thousand. MATTHEW as well as JOHN in their Gospel writings begin telling this narrative, they tell us after Jesus feeds the people, they want to make Him king, this is why Jesus made the disciples enter into the boat and head to the other side.

• Some of the most important lessons that you will learn in this life will come after a mountain top experience, or after a great victory

• You remember Elijah on the mountain one minute, the next minute he is running from Jezebel

• Oftentimes we too after a Spiritual Mountain Top Experience it is followed by a Crash in the Valley

Let’s piece together what was taking place in this scene that unfolds in front of us by comparing what MATTHEW – MARK – JOHN record in relation to this exciting event.

• MATTHEW wrote in VS. 24-25 -- “the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea”

• MARK wrote in 6:48 --Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them

• JOHN wrote in 6:19 -- So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid

These three accounts put side by side help us get the picture -- IT’S LATE - IT’S DARK - IT’S STORMY -- and Jesus is not with them. Remember with me - The last time they had a storm of this magnitude while they were in a boat, Jesus was with them – remember He was in the hinder part of the boat at that time sleeping. I am sure at this point in our text they must be asking -- “Where Is He?”

• That’s what Satan says to us, “Where is Jesus in your storm?”

• “He said, He would never leave you nor forsake you, but where is He?”

• Satan is saying “Looks like you are going through some hard, rough, and difficult times – and where is Jesus in all of this?”

• The devil wants to make us think Jesus has abandoned us during the storms and trials in our lives

Jesus is going to teach Peter and us a valuable lesson.

• Whether we can see Him or Not

• Whether we can sense His presence or Not

• Nevertheless He is always with us!

Jesus already knew they were struggling, trying to row in the storm. Matter of fact, Truth be Told, JESUS IS THE ONE WHO SENT THEM INTO THE STORM. Jesus is always interested in revealing more about Himself to us, and for Him to do that He has to put us in situations that are not comfortable.

• We cannot know He is the Great Physician -- until we need Healing!

• We cannot know He is the Great Provider -- until we are in Need!

• We cannot know He is the Great Redeemer -- until we realized we need to be Rescued!

• We cannot know He is the Great Comforter -- until we have Turmoil in our life!

The text tells us - Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to Pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.