Story of Faith
I. Matt. 14:22-33/Mk. 6:30-52/Luke 9:10-17/Jo. 6:1-15
A. Prelude to The Story
1. Prior to Jesus coming to His own hometown Mark tells us He had cast out the demon, Legion and raised a little girl from the dead. Upon arrival to Nazareth He teaches in the synagogue and is promptly rejected.
Matt. 13:57 “Only is his own hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” Can you imagine the feelings this must have invoked?
a. Reminds me of the reception many of the Viet Nam war veterans received when they returned. They did not get the ticker tape parades the veterans in past wars had received.
b. Vs. 58 tells us that He did not do many miracles because of their lack of faith. From a human standpoint, this went against Jesus’ nature of wanting to help others and it did nothing to further His cause in a place
He loved and held dear to his heart. Did you ever have good news to share and no one wanted to hear it?
2. Jesus sends out the 12. Mk. 6:7-13. Can you imagine how Jesus felt when He heard the stories about the exorcisms and the healings?
a. The highs and lows of being a Christian-he had not long been rejected in Nazareth.
b. The lives of God’s children on earth, including Christ’s have always been rollercoaster rides.
1. Remember Paul in Acts 17 on Mars Hill? In the chapters preceding 17 his life was pretty rocky but he still proclaimed the gospel.
2. What about John, even though he was the only Apostle to die a natural death he still suffered.
3. Jesus had the Civil and the Spiritual leaders in a stir.
a. Herod – thought he was John the Baptist resurrected.
b. Others thought he was Elijah.
c. Like the prophets of old.
d. Matt. 14: 34-36 – People came from everywhere to experience Jesus.
e. Jesus hears about John the Baptist and has removed himself from the masses.
II. The Story
A. Story-Part One
1. Read Matt.14:13-21
2. Jesus removes himself from Herod the Tetrarch’s territory. This happens four times in Jesus’ ministry.
a. You have to read the different Gospels to get the whole picture.
b. Luke’s account tells us He went to Bethsaida.
1. Jesus and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee (4 other names)
a. OT-Lake Chennerith, Lake Chenneroth
b. NT-Lake Gennesaret, Sea of Tiberius
2. In the mountains at the northeast corner of Galilee.
3. Jesus saw them coming and went to them. Christ met the multitude in the area between the foot of the mountain and the sea. Jesus meets us today the same way.
c. These people had followed on foot to catch Him. Why in the boat?
Solitude is why Jesus got in the boat.
3. Timing
a. This happened during the Passover so there were many people moving.
b. God leaves no detail unattended. Not only did God provide Jesus; He provided the crowds.
c. God let civilization evolve before he brought the gospel to the world.
d. If the word was to be spread to the entire world, then the entire world had to be accessible. The Romans did a lot of that.
4. Jesus feeds the five thousand.
a. The apostle solution was to dismiss them so that they could find food.
1. They find themselves in an all to familiar circumstances – short on money and short on faith. Would have taken eight mo. wages
2. Jesus didn’t miss this opportunity to glorify God.
3. Jo. 6:5-6 – Read - Jesus was a step ahead of them.
b. Jesus performs the miracle.
c. Twelve baskets of broken pieces.
1. There was superstition of the day that had folks believing that demons were found in the crumbs of food.
2. This also signifies Jesus’ power over the demons to the people even though it was just superstition.
3. What happened to the twelve leftovers? Apostles gathered them but did they keep them for themselves? Some scholars believe that the baskets may have gone to the little boy.
5. Jesus dismisses the crowd. If you only read one or two accounts you may miss a key factor that explains Jesus’ behavior.
a. Read Mat. 14:22 & Mk. 6:35
b. Gr. word for “made” is “anankazo” which means to compel or constrain with authority.
c. Why would Jesus do this?
1. Jo. 6:14-15 – Read
2. Jesus wanted to keep them from siding with the multitude in forcing Him to be the King. Many Jews didn’t grasp the concept of Jesus as the king. This is further evidenced in Mk. 11- Triumphant Entry.
3. God’s plan wasn’t man’s plan. Jesus didn’t take the short cut to the throne. Jesus had to protect Himself from His closest friends.
6. Returns to the mountain to pray.
a. Satan tempted Jesus many times.
b. Jesus overcame it by prayer and meditation.
B. Story-Part II
1. Read – Matt. 14:22-36
a. John tells us they were driven out three to three and one half miles due to the storm.
b. Is there any significance to the storm?
1. Satan may deserve credit.
2. He failed at tempting Jesus with the earthly king idea, so maybe he’s trying to fight back at the one’s Jesus loves.
3. A test of the apostles’ faith.
4. Jesus took every advantage to teach no matter the circumstances.
2. The fourth watch
a. Between 3 pm and 6 pm
b. Darkest time of the night – this gives credence to the old saying, “It’s darkest just before the dawn”.
c. Satan does his best work in the dark. He does not like the light.
d. He succeeded in terrifying them.
e. He never let’s God’s children rest.
3. “Take courage, it is I. Be not afraid.”
a. Luke is the only writer that does not recount this portion of the story.
b. Jesus speaks to us that way today.
1. Phil. 4:6-7 - Read
2. We sing, “Be not dismayed what e’er be tide.” Why? God will take care!
c. Mk. 6: 51-52 – Read – Faith and forgetfulness are not friends. Faith is the basic building block of Christianity.
1. Heb. 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
2. Eph. 2:8 - Read
2. How may times have we – just like Peter – taken our eyes off God? The results have always been the same. We sink.
4. Jesus and the Apostles leave Bethsaida and go to Bethsaida.
a. Huh? LOL
b. On the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee is Bethsaida Julias.
c. Northwest side was Bethsaida of Galilee - Gennesaret
d. Bethsaida – “house of fishing”
III. Closing
A. Have you ever wondered how the Apostle’s could not comprehend Jesus?
1. I have often thought, if I had been alive then I wouldn’t have done this or that. How could you not have faith?
2. Here’s the question?
a. Has Jesus worked in your life?
b. One better, has Jesus worked in your life and you can’t deny it was Him and not some coincident.
1. Gibbs’ rule # 39 is that there is no such thing as coincident.
2. Investigator on the TV show NCIS.
3. God orchestrates our lives; faith allows us to let Him.
B. Like the Apostle’s we too forget.
1. Who hasn’t forgotten about these times?
2. We all are weak and we are all human.
3. God has a way of letting us sink just like He did Peter.
a. Losing faith doesn’t always come with hopelessness of a situation.
b. Sometime it comes when things are great.
c. Sometime we focus on what we think is good and lose sight of Christ.
* Personal experience – never take your faith for grant it.
d. We have to admit where we are, ask forgiveness, and trust.
C. Just like the Apostles, Jesus will help us restore our faith.
1. Not only did He save Peter, he helped him back in the boat.
2. He didn’t say, “Get in the boat and then I’ll save you.”
3. Jesus saved all that were in the boat.
4. Don’t give up on God because God won’t give up on you.
