BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS
Matthew 14:22-33
In our message this morning, we will see how three miracles, (Jesus walking on water, Peter walking on water, Storms/winds cease) open our pathways to a bridge over the troubled waters of life.
Jesus has just got done with one of His famous miracles, the feeding of the five thousand from five loaves of bread and two fish. In the Gospel of John (6:15), we see that Jesus was hastily moving away from the crowds because he perceived that they were about to appoint Him king. It wasn’t the peoples place to appoint Jesus king, He was already King of Kings and Lord of Lords - they just didn’t know it yet.
Jesus had business to tend to with His Father so He went up into the hills alone to pray. From supper to the fourth watch is about ten hours. Apparently, Jesus had much to talk to His Father about (ten to twelve hours of prayer!).
The scene where Jesus is away on a hill and the disciples in the lowest part in the seas gives us a picture of how it is with Jesus is today. We are in the lowest depths of this world yet Jesus still intercedes for His followers even today from the heavenly hilltops above.
The disciples had been sent away by Christ. They willingly went out into the sea through obedience. They didn’t know they were headed into a storm, yet Jesus did. When we begin our journey of faith, quite often we don’t see the storms that await us lurking around the corners of life. Jesus used this particular storm to manifest His grace in a miraculous three fold way. The storms that the disciples were in provided a canvas for Jesus to paint a portrait of love, mercy and grace - what a beautiful image!
It’s a good thing that I didn’t know all the storms I’ve faced along my journey of faith. I’m fairly sure that I would have chickened out in those early days of faith if I had a glimpse of the trials and tribulations. Are you in a storm today? If so, cheer up! Jesus wants to show you grace in a miraculous way!
All too often, we stop, turn away or pause on our journey of faith when the storms come against us. The disciples never turned their boat from their appointed direction. They remained obedient in their journey and then Jesus gives them a great blessing. Jesus was aware of their condition and He demonstrated in a very real way just how much He cared. Friend, Jesus cares for you in what ever situation you may find yourself in today.
JESUS ON THE WATER
When the disciples were in the throws of the storm, on the verge of perishing, Jesus arrives on the scene. I can well imagine that the first one to see Jesus didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to tell anyone else what he thought he saw. If you saw a UFO, how many folks would you tell?
Enough of them laid their weary dampened eyes upon this vision they thought was ghost and we hear their initial verbal response in verse 26, “It’s a ghost!” The scriptures tell us that “they cried out in fear.” I think it would be safe to say they were screaming and raising a ruckus on that boat and some probably thought about jumping ship as this “ghost” image came closer. Maybe Peter’s wish to walk in the water came from this natural thought of flight in fear except instead of swimming away, Peter wanted to walk to the Master on the sea.
Jesus knew their screams were fueled by fear and gives them a gentle reassuring command to “Don’t be afraid” and to “be of good cheer.” I’m not sure about you but for me it would take some sure enough convincing that what I saw wasn’t a ghost. I can almost see the faces of those disciples in that troubled boat. Remember the storms had not ceased yet. They were still tossing the boat about like a leaf in the wind. The fear of the storm, the fear of their vision were still fresh in their minds and now Jesus tells them to be of good cheer and not to be afraid. Sounds hard to do doesn’t it?
In the midst of the storms of life we know that deep down in our hearts that God is in control – Amen? Yet we tremble in fear of the unknown. What will the next gust of wind bring? Will it overturn my life and turn me into a mess? At some point, we must connect with what we know is true with the reassuring voice of the Master because He is still the One that calms the storms today!
How can we connect with the Master’s voice today when He is on that hilltop in heaven sitting at the right hand of God? When the storms of live are about to knock us down, we MUST remember that even when it seems hopeless, we can and MUST go to the Master in prayer! It is only through this avenue of communications that we can find help.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NCV)
1 … I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
PETER ON THE TROUBLED WATERS
We come now to the second miracle of the day. Peter seeing His Master calls out to Him with the a two letter word of doubt. “Lord, IF it is you…” Peter uses the word “if.” Apparently, Peter was not truly convinced that it was indeed Jesus. When we see light at the end of our dark tunnels, we also call into question the source of the deliverer. When we don’t acknowledge the Master that healed us or delivered us from that temptation, we in essence are saying the same two letter word of doubt – “IF.”
Peter’s request is built around doubt, yet Jesus shows him favor. Peter is the only disciple that calls out to the Master. Were the others so afraid that they couldn’t even speak? Peter asks Jesus to allow him to come to Him on the water. Notice that Peter didn’t say how he should come to Jesus on the water, only to come to Him.
When we need deliverance from the storms of life, often we give God our advice as to how to bring us out of the storm. “God I need this and that and this other thing.” When instead we should just call out to Him to bring us closer in anyway He chooses. Let us draw close to the Master that knows what is best for us. Let Him be the One that controls the elements that are prevailing against us. If we allow God to move in His way, we just may be amazed at how the Master works! We limit God with our own natural human boundaries. What we cannot do, God CAN! (The impatience of Peter is consistent as we will see when Peter jumps boat after the resurrection of Christ.)
Peter did not say “if it is you, I’ll come to you.” Instead Peter said “if it is you, bid me to come.” There is a BIG difference in the two. We must wait upon the Lord BEFORE we move in the storms of life. Very often there is a tendency to jump ship and we wind up drowning because we didn’t ask God for His will. We impatiently jump overboard and wind up in a big mess. If you are in a storm, please seek God’s counsel through prayer, reading His word, and surrounding yourself with Christian brothers and sisters. Any other way could lead you to perish.
It is very important to note that Peter didn’t try to walk on water. My Bible says he walked on water! Jesus approved of Peter’s affection to draw closer to Him anyway possible and allowed him to overcome the natural laws of the world to accomplish this mission. Those in the boat must be going through an emotional roller coaster about now.
First they are told to depart from their Master, and then they find severe winds that bring them to the point of death. Next they think they see a ghost and discover its Jesus walking on water and now of all things they see Peter walking on water!
When we seek God’s council and ask in faith, He will provide the way. There are some in this world that when God provides the way, they fight against it kicking and struggling all the way.
While at McDonalds this past week I saw a grandmother almost in tears of frustration as she tried to strap her toddler granddaughter into a car seat. They couldn’t leave to go to their next destination until the little girl was safe and secure in the car seat. The little child kicked and screamed to the top of her lungs because that wasn’t her idea of having a safe journey. This little girl wanted to ride down the road and jump around that truck and endanger herself, her grandmother and anyone else they may have met on the road. It took the grandmother, a preacher and another stranger to distract this little girl enough that grandma was able to wrestle her into the car seat!
When we see God’s way of deliverance and if it doesn’t meet our expectations, we commence to kick and scream. Very often during an altar call, I see what is behind the eyes of those sitting in the pews. I see the hurt and pain. I see those struggling in fear and turmoil and I know that the way of deliverance is through Jesus. Yet they don’t come.
They resist out of fear and frustration that they have to get out of their boat, even though it is sinking, and come to Jesus. I have met many a folk that leave services early or even quit coming to church when they know there will be an invitation to a commitment to the Master. They continue to live their stagnant lives kicking and screaming like the little toddler girl resisting the only way to a safe and comfortable pathway to peace and safety. How sad!
We see that Peter is walking towards his Savior and all is fine except one thing – Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and notices the weather. The wind is still howling like crazy but the fact that Jesus had calmed the winds earlier was not on his mind. While Peter’s faith was keeping his head above water, the world of doubt was beginning to cause him to sink. What was Peter thinking? What could have possibly distracted him from this most famous feat of feet! He was defying gravity and walking on water and now he was sinking. Oh no! Now what?
We often find ourselves distracted by the world. When focusing on Jesus, Satan will do all he can to throw obstacles in our pathways. It is these distractions that cause us to loose focus if we allow them to overtake our concentration. When in worship, we often look around at those sitting around us. At first its only one thought but then another and then the other person pops into our minds. Next thing you know, we are sinking in our worship of Christ!
Many times we find ourselves sinking in life and can’t seem to even hear much less see our Savior because the outside winds of the world have caused us to completely loose focus on the One that can deliver us. We must consider Jesus offer to extend marvelous grace to all that call upon His name. It is grace like rain that falls upon any that draw close to the Master. If we take our eyes off the world, we will find marvelous grace that brings joy unspeakable and full of glory. Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us the remedy – “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Peter has a sure enough dilemma on his hands now. Peter must have been thinking my big fat mouth got me where I am now. If I had only kept quiet and remained patient I wouldn’t be out here about to drown. Peter had to do something and do it quick – he prayed one of the shortest prayers ever mentioned in the Bible – “Lord save me.”
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
Jesus could have let Peter sweat it out a little by giving him a lecture before he saved him but He didn’t. The scriptures tell us at Peter’s most desperate point of need; Christ reached His hand out to Peter. This is exactly where Jesus is today – he is reaching out for all that are in desperate need of a Savior. Jesus doesn’t scold us for being so stupid or ignorant – He simply extends His nail scarred hand of love and says “I’ll save you because I love you!”
The next words of Christ to Peter provide so much insight on the condition of Peter’s heart. I believe Jesus granted Peter his wish to prove a point. Peter was of the opinion that his faith could take him anywhere and do anything. Peter thought of himself as super Christian and Jesus allows him to prove to himself, and the rest of the world, just how weak his faith was. Jesus knew what Peter was going to do and so he uses this situation to give you and I a glimpse of what puffed up faith looks like.
As Peter was being pulled from the depths of the sea, Jesus rebuked him for his lack of faith – “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus was telling Peter that his faith was small and if he hadn’t doubted he could have completed his journey without embarrassment. How many Christians today have began a great journey only to find themselves sunk in failure because of their distracted faith. The numbers are staggering. The destruction is great and many lives lie in ruins.
Jesus didn’t leave Peter there to drown and He doesn’t want anyone to lie in ruins. Jesus is a Savior of new beginnings! You can start a new life today if you are only willing to step out of the sinking boat and come to Jesus. Stop wallowing in self-pity, shame and embarrassment and come to the One that gives peace, joy and love!
CONCLUSION
The last miracle is recorded in verse 32. Jesus hauls Peter into the boat and immediately the winds stop. That is like putting an exclamation at the end of a sentence. In essence, Jesus was telling Peter, “do you see what I mean?” If you only trust me, I can take away EVERYTHING that separates you from Me.
At this point, all the other disciples remark that “wow, this is truly the Son of God!” Had they all forgotten about the five loaves and two fishes that fed the five thousand already? What else was it going to take to prove that Jesus IS who He says He is? There are those today that aren’t completely sold out on Jesus’ claim to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They aren’t ready to trust Him because everything isn’t neatly laid out in order for them to make sense of it all. They want everything to make complete sense and have no questions before they are ready to commit themselves.
Let me ask you a question, what do think you could do for the Kingdom if your faith wasn’t distracted? Could you walk on water? Could you do even greater things? If only we could only find a way to push away the distractions that are desperately trying to sink us. If we could only draw closer to Christ so that we can remain in union with Him and His love – leaving all our cares behind as we get drawn into His marvelous grace. Guess what? We can – we can right here right now!
This world has never seen what God can do with a person that has completely given a committed heart to Christ. I for one would like to find out what a group of folks could do if they commit themselves to the cause of Christ in a sick and dying world; a world where there isn’t much hope. Can you imagine how this community could be shaken for the Kingdom if we here today were to come together in an agreement that focuses our hearts and minds completely on Christ and NOTHING else? If anyone is interested, please meet me at this altar.
