Reading: Matt 14:21-36
TITLE: "A HEARTILY DESIRE"
This was the second time that Jesus asks his disciples to enter the boat and cross over the lake. In chapter eight in the gospel of Mathew, we read "when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him v.23". But Jesus fell asleep, and a great storm arose. So they were afraid and woke him up saying: "Lord save us we are going to drown" and Mark quotes "Teacher don’t you care if we drown?" He names this reaction "LACK OF FAITH", They doubted that he cares.
But now he asks them to go alone. It is obvious that they were afraid. In fact we read in the K.J.Version "Matt 14:22 and straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away."
DEFENITION of constrain: Constrain means using force or strong persuasion
It sounds like Jesus was forcing them or convincing them to enter. They were not willing to go alone!!!
The disciples hesitation was due to a past experience. The storm they faced the first time was not a usual storm, but rather a spiritual warfare. When the Lord ordered the storm to stop, He was surely addressing the evil spirits that moved the waters at that time, for He was heading to the village of Gadarenes to release the demon possessed man.
That was a spiritual warfare, faced with a lack of faith, but now they are going alone in the deep without Jesus?!?
After this spiritual confrontation they learned how to have faith, holding fast the command of the Lord to cross over. The second time they faced another storm they did not shout in fear anymore, but persevered four watches of the night.
Not only a long period of time, but also the wind was against them.
This, what happens to us when we want to obey the Lord’s command, we face oppositions, a wind which goes against us. Then we have to learn from previous experiences, and stand firm.
This time the Lord frightens them instead, and we read in Mark 6:48 He intended to pass by them, or was about to pass by them.
So they said that’s a ghost! And they were afraid, to the point they shouted!
Peter seemed to be the only one who got the message. The Lord has good intentions. He is asking us to grow in his knowledge. We still don’t know Him as we should. Peter writes to the scattered; saying:" grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." He had already faced the challenge.
Then the Lord assures them: "It is I".
It is as if the Lord was asking:" Don’t you know me?" Or better "do you want to know me more? I walk on the waters, everything is possible to me, and I am who I am."
1- Peter had a heartily desire to know Jesus more
Peter responds to the invitation, by saying "Yes, I want to know you".
Maybe he thought by himself this way: "If this is you Lord, then you can make me do the same. I already know you can. I already confessed that you are the Son of the Living God, but there are still many things I do not know about you.You almost left us alone, for a long period while we were facing difficulties, so I want to be sure Lord that you really care. You gave us a chance to exercise faith, and then you frightened us!!!
I want to put this puzzle together and learn more about you".
A- I want to know you better, by learning.
We should grow in the knowledge of Jesus by learning.
We learn through the Word of God, and from our experiences.
Command me to come to you on the water, then this would be a confirmation for the lesson.
Because:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me".
Phil 4:13 KJV
What a challenge!!! Newton would complain.
B- I want to know you better, because many deceiving spirits came to the world.
Peter didn’t want to trust just any spirit. He wanted to make sure that Jesus is not a mirage, or maybe a hallucination!
"If you are Jesus Christ, then you should be walking on the water. You can change the waters and submit nature to your command. You can’t possibly be an image, a spirit or a ghost. Hence the only proof that it is You, is that the sea has become like a pavement. Then I can walk on waters as well!!!
If we want to experience something similar, just remember this was personal. Peter did not ask the Lord to command all the ones on board to walk on the waters, but only him.
2- Peter had a heartily desire to draw near to Jesus
Peter was not seeking a miracle, or aerobatics. He did not ask to walk on the waters for showing off. He asked to move towards the Lord, "command me to come to you" v.28. A heartily desire to draw near Jesus, with a purpose to make the distance shorter.
To be with Him, and to be like Him.
A- A shorter physical distance for us would be spending time in prayer and meditation.
"Enter your inner room and close your door and pray"Mat.6:6…It is God’s desire too, as Jesus is standing at the gate of each ones heart and knocking, so that if you hear and open the door, He will come in and have fellowship with you and you with him (Rev.3:20)
B- Drawing near to someone means also to resemble Him more.
It is common for a husband and wife to resemble each other in many ways, even their countenance will look alike after being married for a certain time.
When we learn from the Lord and be constantly in fellowship with him, then people will see Jesus in us.
3- A heartily desire put into practice
But Peter did not stop here!!!
Not only did he have a heartily desire to be near to the Lord, but he was also willing to do a step forward.
This reminds me of the prodigal son, who once thought to return back to his father; stood up and turned back!
Luke 15:17-20
17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 "I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."’ 20 "So he got up and came to his father. NASU
Not just mere desires!!
Peter stepped out of the boat, and laid his foot on rigid waters, (believe it or not), and then moved the second. AND WALKED!!!
This is faith in Christ!
Once he heard the command: "COME", he actually moved!
What happens with us? Sometimes we move before hearing the Lord’s command, and some other times we hear and don’t move. Because we don’t have faith enough!
4- A heartily desire that becomes true
A heartily desire that becomes true hears His voice, moves forward watching Him, and then? What is going on? If the waters were calm, it is already a miracle to walk on them. In other words, when Jesus called us, it was already a miracle to believe and follow Him. But now, it is harder because of the trial.
Wind, raging water??? Wow!
We all fall down, and sink.
But it is surprising to me when I hear Peter the fisherman, who later on threw himself in the sea, shouting "Lord help me", John 21:7 NASU:
So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
The New Living Translation puts it this way …
…and swam ashore John 21:7 NLT
He was supposed to swim. But here we see him fully depending on Jesus. You made me walk, and now you lift me up again.
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
Prov 24:16 NASU
Now the Lord rebuked him, and I say He did so we learn that it is a matter of faith
v.31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" NASU
When we fear and then fall, this is a sign that we lack faith, and this is because we are affected by circumstances.
Jesus is above circumstances!
For Peter Jesus was already near, and his wish was true, but he fell never mind, there is more to learn.
What then? They both entered the boat, and the wind stopped.
Imagine if Peter did not enter the boat. See what privilege we have when we are with Jesus.
This reminds me of an old colleague of mine, who when asked about his salary, he used to answer:" Me and the General manager, both cash together an amount of 5000$". His salary never exceeded 400$.
We sometimes believe this, and think we did it, we stopped the wind!
Others convince us we did it, because Jesus is with us and they don’t see Him.
A dream that ’come true, a heartily desire that becomes true.
Do you have such a heartily desire as Peter’s. Do you wish to draw near Jesus, to have a personal experience with Him?
Do you hesitate moving forward? Are you afraid to fall?
Think of the blessings you will receive when they see what Jesus does with you. Not only humans, but also the angels will praise God for the little faith you have, the little faith that made you walk on waters!!!
May God be glorified in our Holy wishes and make them ’come true?!
Pastor Magdi Malky
Preached @ Hadeth CBC-Beirut Lebanon
