Matthew 14:22-33-Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But 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. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Jesus had just fed five thousand, and when John is telling this story, he says that after Jesus feeds the people, they want to make Him king, this is why Jesus made the disciples get 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. (Elijah on the mountain one minute, the next minute he is running from Jezebel).
Verse 24-25-But 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 6:48-Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them
John 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.
Lets get the picture, it’s late, it’s dark, it’s stormy and Jesus is not with them.
The last time they had a storm while they were in a boat, He was with them, they got to 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?”
Jesus is going to teach Peter and us a valuable lesson…Whether we can see or not see Him, whether we can sense or not sense His presents, nevertheless He is always with us!!
He already knew they were struggling, trying to row in the storm.
Verse 26-“It is a ghost!”
They did not recognize who this was!
They had seen Him do other miracles, but this was something new, not only could He make the winds and sea obey Him, but He could walk on water, just like it was dry ground!
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 can not know…He is the Great Physician, until we need healing!
We can not know…He is the Great Provider, until we are in need!
We can not know…He is the Great Redeemer, until we realized we need rescued!
We can not know…He is the Great Comforter, until we have turmoil in our life!
Verse 27-“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Isn’t it wonderful when Jesus says, in your situation…-“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Have you ever had Jesus say or reveal to you….-“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
I believe that’s why you’re here today, to here Him say, -“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Verse 28-“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Oh, that we would get to the point in our Christian walk (You noticed I said walk, that’s what Peter is fixing to do, walk on the water, not calm water, but stormy waters) that we would be willing to get out of the boat!
That we would be willing get out of our comfort zone, that we would be willing to take a chance on the Lord!
To be willing to follow Him anywhere…(There were 11 other disciples who had seen Jesus do all these great miracles and yet they are all still sitting in the boat!)
Peter asked to get out of the boat! When is the last time you asked Jesus if you could do something for Him? Are you just complaining about what you have to do for Him?
We are always asking Him to do something! Isn’t about time we ask Jesus, “What can I do for You?”
Verse 29-30-So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
A lesson that Jesus is trying to teach Peter and us is…We have to keep our eyes on Him and not on the storm!!
Get this picture…He looked at Jesus, he looked at the storm.
He looked at Jesus, he looked at the storm.
He looked at Jesus, he looked at the storm.
Most of the time we are going to go where we are looking. (If you are driving and you are looking at a field on your right side, you will began to veer to the right).
Verse 33-“Truly You are the Son of God.”
The last time we seen them in a boat, they were amazed that the wind and sea obeyed Him, now they are amazed at who He is.
There are a lot of people who are amazed at what Jesus can do, but there is some who are amazed at who Jesus is!
