WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.020 A pastor attempting to walk on water like Jesus is eaten by crocodiles. 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:14.519 A pastor attempting to demonstrate God's power by walking on water has been eaten by crocodiles. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:22.219 Jonathan Mthethwa was killed by three crocodiles as he carried out a religious demonstration in Zimbabwe. 00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:29.120 Shocked witnesses said the clergyman had prayed the whole week before the stunt went tragically wrong. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:38.460 He had also fasted in the lead up to the attempted miracle, which was inspired by a biblical tale of Jesus walking on water during a storm. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:46.560 Lucky for us and for Pastor Mthethwa, this story isn't true. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:53.120 It's been circulated several times over the last few decades in different fashions. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:57.939 And it's been debunked. You can Google it. It's interesting, but it's been debunked. It's not true. 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:12.939 However, even though I don't know what the motive was for writing this story, I think it's an accurate depiction of what people sometimes think about when they read the story of Jesus walking on water. 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:17.620 It's easy to go, okay, so Jesus walked on water. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:27.140 And since he said that I can do great things, even greater things than him because he's going to the Father, I should be able to walk on water too. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:33.200 And if I don't walk on water, it means that my faith is not enough. Something is wrong with me. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:37.640 But I believe that something else is going on in this passage. 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:43.640 And if we look at it through the eyes of Scripture rather than through the eyes of our own experiences, we'll see what it is. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:45.480 But let's pray together first. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:58.500 Heavenly Father, we ask that you would open up your word to us and that you would speak to us through your Holy Spirit, that we will see Jesus glorified. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:00.960 We pray this in your Son's name. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:01.920 Amen. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:02.020 Amen. 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:06.480 So let's look at Matthew together. 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:10.340 Matthew 14, 22 to 33. 00:02:10.340 --> 00:02:14.439 So first of all, verse 22. 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:22.680 Notice that Jesus sends his disciples to Bethesda by way of the Sea of Galilee. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:31.259 And he does this in a way that seems to imply that his disciples don't want to leave him. 00:02:31.920 --> 00:02:32.900 He urges them. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:34.039 He commands them. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:36.340 He sort of constrains them, makes them go away. 00:02:36.860 --> 00:02:39.319 That's the sense of the verse, verse 22. 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:41.439 Why does he do this? 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:42.939 Well, think about it. 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:45.000 I don't blame them, really. 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:49.819 I mean, up to this point, Jesus has been doing miracles, left, right, and center. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:51.199 He's been doing so many wonderful things. 00:02:51.420 --> 00:02:54.759 And he just fed 5,000 people at a go. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:56.039 Just now. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:58.219 More than 5,000 people, in fact. 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:02.939 And this crowd of people wanted to make him king, wanted to make him prophet. 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:06.420 And rightly so, but Jesus knew it wasn't time. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:13.099 And I'm sure the disciples would buy into the idea that Jesus should be king, should be crowned right now. 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:14.939 But he knew it wasn't time. 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:20.599 And so he sends them away, dismisses the crowds, and goes up to the mountain to pray. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:28.060 Now, the Sea of Galilee, Sea of Tiberias, Sea of Gennesaret, the lake, the sea, take your pick. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:33.879 It's a very important place in Jesus' ministry because he does many miracles around that sea. 00:03:34.419 --> 00:03:37.519 He called his first four disciples around that sea. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:41.579 He gave his disciples breakfast after the resurrection at the sea. 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:47.720 The Sea of Galilee is 700 feet below sea level. 00:03:48.920 --> 00:03:56.420 It is about 12 miles long, north-south, 12 miles long, 8 miles wide at its widest point. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:00.780 It's only 200 feet deep. 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:03.460 So the deepest part of the sea is just 200 feet. 00:04:03.600 --> 00:04:05.820 So it's actually a shallow sea. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:11.419 Surrounding the lake, the sea, is our mountains. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:14.900 They're just rising up to 2,000 feet above sea level, even higher. 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:20.219 So what happens is that when the eastern winds blow over the mountains, they suddenly drop. 00:04:21.159 --> 00:04:25.339 Warm air rises, cold air drops, and you have a storm, and it's always dangerous. 00:04:25.579 --> 00:04:26.899 This was common knowledge. 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:29.199 The fishermen knew this. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:35.959 Jesus knew this, and yet he sends his disciples away by the Sea of Galilee. 00:04:36.539 --> 00:04:40.240 One wonders why he wouldn't go with them to make sure that they were safe. 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:46.860 Well, the disciples get into the boat, and all is well for a while. 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:52.240 And then right when they're in the middle of the sea, a storm hits, 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:56.939 and they find themselves struggling against the wind and the waves. 00:04:56.939 --> 00:05:00.740 But notice how long it takes them. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:02.219 Their struggle takes. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:07.360 They begin their journey at sunset in the evening. 00:05:08.540 --> 00:05:12.139 But Jesus doesn't come to them until around the fourth watch of the night, 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:14.800 which is between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:19.519 So for maybe 8 to 12 hours between that and that time, 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.560 they were struggling against the waves, fighting to stay alive. 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:25.139 And here's the thing. 00:05:25.139 --> 00:05:26.879 And then Jesus knew. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:31.779 Because when you read the passage in Mark, the same story in Mark, 00:05:32.219 --> 00:05:36.060 it says that Jesus saw that they were making headway painfully, 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:38.120 and yet he did not go to them. 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:39.620 Why not? 00:05:40.599 --> 00:05:42.300 Why not solve their problem immediately? 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:45.539 And then when Jesus finally comes to them, 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:47.719 he does so in a very interesting way. 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:51.560 First of all, he walks on water. 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:53.699 Because, you know, that's what people do. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:55.720 Nobody walks on water. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:56.819 Of course not. 00:05:57.660 --> 00:05:59.899 But why did he walk on water? 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.220 If he was trying to get to them, think about it. 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:03.980 He's Jesus. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:05.920 Why not just simply fly? 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:07.259 First of all, it's faster. 00:06:07.579 --> 00:06:09.319 And it's easier on the knees, definitely. 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:15.420 But then from the mountaintop, he could have simply calmed the sea, 00:06:15.599 --> 00:06:17.459 just calmed it down from the mountaintop. 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:19.899 He did something similar in Matthew chapter 8. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.819 And then he could have floated down to them, you know, 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:26.800 just like Storm from X-Men or Thor from the Avengers or something. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:28.879 And that would have been a sight to see, definitely. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:30.300 But he doesn't do that. 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:32.600 He walks on water to them. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:33.579 Why does he do that? 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:39.560 And then second, he acts like he's going to pass by them, 00:06:39.599 --> 00:06:40.519 and then he keeps going. 00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:43.979 So the book of Mark, that's what Mark says. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:46.019 He acts like he's passing by them. 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:51.019 And Mark uses a language that is reflective of what happened in Exodus 00:06:51.019 --> 00:06:53.599 when God says to Moses, 00:06:53.599 --> 00:06:58.539 I will cause all my glory to pass by you and declare my name. 00:06:59.060 --> 00:06:59.599 I am. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:04.100 And here you have Jesus pretending like he's going to pass by them. 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:06.960 They call out to him, and he says, 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:08.260 Do not be afraid. 00:07:08.820 --> 00:07:09.420 It is I. 00:07:09.640 --> 00:07:11.320 Or in Greek, I am. 00:07:12.840 --> 00:07:13.840 What's going on here? 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:19.340 So to his credit, Peter takes what Jesus said seriously. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.780 He believes it's Jesus on the water, 00:07:20.900 --> 00:07:23.379 but he seems to want more proof. 00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:29.100 Granted that his chosen method of verification raises eyebrows, 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.080 but, you know, he has faith. 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:32.480 He wants to know that it's Jesus. 00:07:33.760 --> 00:07:34.939 And Jesus says to him, 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:36.439 Okay, come to me. 00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:39.400 Now, think about this. 00:07:39.700 --> 00:07:40.500 If you're a disciple, 00:07:42.020 --> 00:07:43.379 maybe not Peter, one of the other disciples, 00:07:43.460 --> 00:07:44.439 and you're sitting in the boat, 00:07:44.760 --> 00:07:45.920 and all this stuff is happening, 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.700 and you're terrified that a ghost is speaking to Peter, 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:50.360 what's going on through your mind? 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.960 Peter, are you nuts? 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:54.780 Are you out of your mind? 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.659 If that is Jesus, 00:07:56.779 --> 00:07:59.279 why don't you ask him to calm the storm, 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.439 to prevent the wind from blowing, 00:08:02.039 --> 00:08:02.799 make everything okay? 00:08:03.479 --> 00:08:04.619 You want to go to him? 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:07.699 You skipped your medication this morning, didn't you? 00:08:07.739 --> 00:08:08.759 You know, I know a psychiatrist 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:11.000 that can help you with your particular faith problem, 00:08:11.299 --> 00:08:11.599 ETC. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:13.779 That's what I think anyway. 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:16.639 So, what's going on? 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:20.199 Now, I've asked some questions, 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:21.300 and I'm going to answer them, 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:21.899 but first of all, 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:23.620 I want us to talk about the sea, 00:08:24.539 --> 00:08:25.519 water, the ocean. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:28.120 I am not a great swimmer, 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:31.379 and so it's not on my bucket list 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:33.759 to go on a Caribbean cruise anytime soon. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:34.740 Don't get me wrong, 00:08:34.819 --> 00:08:36.419 if the opportunity presents itself, 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:36.980 I will go, 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:38.480 so feel free to buy tickets for me. 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:39.399 I'd be grateful. 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:41.419 But no, getting on water 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:43.019 is something that I don't think about too often. 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:44.159 I mean, when you watch movies 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.120 like The Finest Hour or The Perfect Storm, 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:48.899 it takes a certain amount of faith 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:50.059 to still get on the water. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:50.980 It really does. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:55.240 Think about hurricanes, for example. 00:08:56.899 --> 00:09:00.539 1900, a hurricane hit Galveston, Texas. 00:09:01.319 --> 00:09:02.399 8,000 people killed. 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:04.819 Hurricane Katrina, 2005, 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:06.299 1,200 people killed. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:08.740 Last year, Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:10.959 We still don't know how many people died from that. 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:14.139 Estimates range from 3,000 to 45,000. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:15.719 We just don't know yet. 00:09:17.199 --> 00:09:19.000 The sea is a powerful force. 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:20.819 When it gets mad, 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:22.679 it can really get mad. 00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:24.539 And so you see in Scripture, 00:09:24.719 --> 00:09:25.600 over and over again, 00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:28.559 we're told how the sea 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:29.740 is a powerful force, 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:31.679 and only God can control it. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:34.899 Psalm 89 is an example of one of these. 00:09:35.959 --> 00:09:36.980 Psalm 89 says, 00:09:38.839 --> 00:09:39.679 God is faithful. 00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:41.039 He is great. 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:43.439 Then the psalmist goes on to say, 00:09:44.079 --> 00:09:45.699 he will establish his throne. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.579 He will make David his king forever. 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:54.500 And then it explains why we can trust that God can do that. 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.699 It starts talking about his qualities. 00:09:56.700 --> 00:09:59.040 And one of the things it brings out 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:02.259 is that God is powerful 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:04.700 and can control the raging seas. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.800 When he speaks, 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:07.200 he can still the waters, 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:08.620 and everything stops. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:11.540 So that's one of the reasons why we can trust, 00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:12.759 definitely trust, 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.620 that he's going to establish David's throne 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:17.920 and fulfill the promises of the covenant. 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:21.840 Or how about Psalm 107, 00:10:22.280 --> 00:10:23.940 verse 23 to 32. 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:24.620 This is what it says. 00:10:24.880 --> 00:10:28.100 Some went down to the sea in ships, 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:29.960 doing business in the great waters. 00:10:30.640 --> 00:10:32.120 They saw the deeds of the Lord, 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:34.280 his wondrous works in the deep. 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:37.580 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, 00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:39.700 which lifted up the waves of the sea. 00:10:40.280 --> 00:10:41.520 They mounted up to heaven. 00:10:42.400 --> 00:10:43.700 They went down to the depths. 00:10:44.380 --> 00:10:47.400 Their courage melted away in their evil plight. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:50.840 They reeled and staggered like drunken men 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:52.600 and were at their wit's end. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:55.279 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:57.740 and he delivered them from their distress. 00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:59.740 He made the storm be still, 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.740 and the waves of the sea were hushed. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:05.540 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:07.720 and he brought them to their desired haven. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.899 Let them thank you, the Lord, 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.860 for his steadfast love, 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:14.720 for his wondrous works to the children of man. 00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:18.139 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:20.399 and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:24.100 Did you notice how that passage parallels the Matthew passage? 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:30.220 And I think this forms the center of what Matthew's trying to get at. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:34.139 I believe that when Jesus walked on the stormy sea, 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.560 he was declaring that, 00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:36.560 I am God. 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:37.700 I am here. 00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:40.340 I have come to fulfill the promises. 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:45.040 I already mentioned that he just fed more than 5,000 people. 00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:47.220 And when he did that, he was saying, 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:52.480 I am the prophet that Moses was talking about. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:53.980 Listen to me. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.940 Because any good Israelite would see that miracle 00:11:56.940 --> 00:12:00.740 and be thinking about how the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:02.759 and God fed them with manna. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.519 And then now he's walking on water. 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.440 He's telling them, 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:08.399 I don't want you to misunderstand this. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.080 I am God. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.580 I have power over the sea, 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:13.580 and I will fulfill my promises to David. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:14.460 I am king. 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:15.180 I am here. 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:16.000 I'm reigning. 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.700 And that's the point of the story, 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:22.039 to show that Jesus is God and that he is king. 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:26.879 It is not primarily about having faith 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.779 that Jesus will be in the midst of the storm with us, 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:31.519 although that is true. 00:12:32.599 --> 00:12:35.919 It's not primarily about having faith to walk on water, 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:37.759 even though something can be said about that. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:41.019 We should hold on when we're struggling through things. 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:41.559 Definitely. 00:12:42.219 --> 00:12:44.339 Perhaps Jesus will show up and calm the storm, 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.199 or when we enter into glory, 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:49.919 we're given sweet relief. 00:12:50.099 --> 00:12:50.799 It's possible. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:56.019 But the point of the storm is to show Jesus as king. 00:12:57.479 --> 00:13:01.299 And while we are painfully making headway, 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:05.839 I think it's comforting to know that Jesus is watching. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:09.559 The silence doesn't mean that he's abandoned you. 00:13:10.099 --> 00:13:10.240 No. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:11.839 He's watching. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.279 It just means that something greater is going on 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.539 that you are a part of, 00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:18.059 that you may not know about, 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.259 that I may not know about. 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:23.799 And this is not to dismiss the difficulties that we pass through. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:26.879 Only God and the disciples know what they were going through 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.580 for those 8 to 12 hours when they were struggling in the water. 00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:33.720 But it's to give you hope that in the midst of your troubles, 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:35.059 Jesus is watching, 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.340 and something great is going to happen. 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:44.160 And I wonder whether Peter was thinking of Psalm 89, Isaiah 43, 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:45.879 when he made his request to Jesus. 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:48.680 And Jesus grants him the request. 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:51.600 He gets on the water and starts walking. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:54.240 While he's keeping his eyes on Jesus, 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:57.899 that water becomes a solid pathway to his Lord. 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:59.360 But then, 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:01.039 he looks away. 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.500 The wind, 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:03.759 the waves, 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.120 and he starts to sink. 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:05.919 He cries out, 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.120 Lord, save me! 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.100 Jesus reaches out, 00:14:08.199 --> 00:14:08.679 saves him. 00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:10.159 And then he says to him, 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:12.039 Oh, you of little faith, 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.379 why did you doubt? 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:16.100 What was Jesus talking about? 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:19.679 Was he talking about faith to walk on water? 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.739 I don't think so. 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:23.239 I think it was about faith. 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:27.979 Why did Peter doubt that Jesus was who he says he is? 00:14:28.859 --> 00:14:31.719 See, the faith of Peter isn't faith to walk on water. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:34.219 It's faith to go to Jesus, 00:14:34.359 --> 00:14:35.399 wherever Jesus is. 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:37.359 That's the faith that's important. 00:14:38.079 --> 00:14:39.139 It's not about miracles. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.519 It's about going to Jesus. 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:41.399 Look at Jesus. 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:42.779 That's the faith that's important. 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:44.759 And that's the faith that we want to emphasize, 00:14:45.219 --> 00:14:47.079 that sees Jesus as king. 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.379 And you know, 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:52.480 when he was looking at Jesus, 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:54.200 when Peter was looking at Jesus, 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:56.900 it wasn't that the storm stilled. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.240 It wasn't that the waves quieted down. 00:14:59.300 --> 00:15:00.240 The storm was still going on. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.720 But when he was looking at Jesus, 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:04.940 the storm became to him 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:06.320 what it was to Jesus. 00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:09.879 Jesus was walking in the storm. 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:13.759 He wasn't struggling against the wind. 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.759 He wasn't trying to keep himself dry. 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.480 He was walking. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.920 It was like he was taking a stroll. 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:18.560 And he was like, 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.720 hey guys, how are you doing? 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.200 He was walking. 00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:23.019 It was not a problem to him. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:25.300 When we focus on Jesus Christ, 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.659 that's what happens to our problems. 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.180 We see it the way he sees it. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.759 One last thought. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.700 For those of us who have surrendered ourselves 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:37.139 to the kingship of Jesus Christ, 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:39.620 we've become his ambassadors. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:47.000 And we have the opportunity to walk on water every day. 00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:48.779 Now let me explain that. 00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:53.820 What I mean by this is that there are so many man-made storms, 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:58.200 whether it's immigration issues or terrorism here and overseas, 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.820 famine and drought in Africa, 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.240 persecution of Christians everywhere, 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.399 oppression of people. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.419 There are storms everywhere. 00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.980 And you and I, 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.419 as ambassadors of Christ, 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:10.659 can walk in the middle of those storms, 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.919 not to take credit for anything that we do, 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.079 but to tell people, 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:17.159 Jesus is king in the middle of all this thing. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.000 He's going, 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.740 he's here. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.720 He's king. 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:21.220 And he will bring it all together, 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.980 reconciling all things to himself. 00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:24.360 That is what we do 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:26.279 when we are feeding the hungry, 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:28.179 when we are helping the poor, 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.579 when we visit people in prison. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.679 We're trying to show people Jesus is king. 00:16:33.079 --> 00:16:35.159 We don't take credit for it. 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:35.859 No. 00:16:36.739 --> 00:16:38.819 Jesus takes all the credit. 00:16:39.339 --> 00:16:41.359 He gets all the glory. 00:16:42.099 --> 00:16:43.319 So you can walk on water, 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:45.419 but please don't do that in the sea with alligators. 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:48.019 Rather, do it where Jesus can shine. 00:16:48.239 --> 00:16:50.579 His glory is exalted through you. 00:16:51.719 --> 00:16:52.459 Let us pray. 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:57.240 We ask, Father, 00:16:57.280 --> 00:17:00.480 that you will help us to exalt Christ in our lives. 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:02.740 And in the midst of our storms, 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:04.700 as we hold on and wait for you, 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.019 to see what he's doing 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:08.360 and be to other people, 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.000 signs to Christ. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.299 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.500 Amen. 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:13.600 Amen.