WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.799 All right, our text this morning's Bible study is Matthew chapter 14, verses 22 through 33. 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:08.720 So if you can join me there in your copy of God's Word. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:18.320 And while you're returning there, I want you to remember that we're encouraging each of you to read through the Bible with us using the plan from the Read Scripture app. 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:21.280 And we're doing a couple of things to help you do so. 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:27.539 One of those things is teaching each week from a text from the previous week's reading. 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:32.039 And we're going to kind of be hopping and skipping through the narrative. 00:00:32.519 --> 00:00:39.600 But we're hoping that it'll help tie it together for you, a biblical theology of the large theme of Scripture, 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:45.399 which is the redemptive work of God for his people through the personal work of Jesus Christ. 00:00:45.519 --> 00:00:47.859 And so we're going to kind of be hopping along. 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:49.679 And we just really want you to join us in that. 00:00:49.739 --> 00:00:56.120 We think that you'll be greatly served in doing so, getting that broad narrative clear in your mind. 00:00:56.119 --> 00:01:05.200 And this morning, we're going to consider the story of Jesus walking on water, which is found, as I said, in Matthew chapter 14, beginning in verse 22. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:14.219 Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:18.700 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:21.579 When evening came, he was there alone. 00:01:21.960 --> 00:01:27.200 But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:31.680 And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:36.180 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:37.480 It is a ghost. 00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:39.300 And they cried out in fear. 00:01:39.880 --> 00:01:42.280 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:44.080 Take heart, it is I. 00:01:44.380 --> 00:01:45.480 Do not be afraid. 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:47.360 And Peter answered him, 00:01:47.440 --> 00:01:50.580 Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. 00:01:51.440 --> 00:01:52.780 He said, Come. 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:56.800 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.459 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:02.179 He cried out, Lord, save me. 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:07.060 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:10.139 O you of little faith, why did you doubt? 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:13.519 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:16.599 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.120 Truly, you are the Son of God. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:23.919 So let's first set the stage for this episode in the life of Jesus. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:30.419 Matthew's labor in the writing of this gospel account is to speak to the nature of the kingdom of God 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:33.439 and specifically to the nature of its king. 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:37.619 He wants his readers to worship Jesus as the promised Christ. 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:40.199 So he has been recording the miracles of Jesus 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:44.979 and pointing to his fulfilling of the Old Testament prophecies concerning him. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:50.619 We are to see in the miracles the one who has authority over every disease, 00:02:51.019 --> 00:02:55.419 over demons, over nature, and even over sin itself. 00:02:55.739 --> 00:03:03.799 We are to see Jesus as God and as the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us. 00:03:04.579 --> 00:03:09.519 At the beginning of chapter 14 of Matthew's gospel, we read about the death of John the Baptist. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:13.340 And Jesus has told this news in verse 12. 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:16.219 The beginning part of verse 13 tells us, 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:20.100 Now when Jesus heard this, the news of John the Baptist, 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:25.820 he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. 00:03:26.920 --> 00:03:29.280 Jesus goes off to be alone. 00:03:29.420 --> 00:03:35.280 And I think it is a very safe assumption that he is going to mourn the loss of his cousin, John. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:38.879 The remainder of verse 13, though, says, 00:03:39.539 --> 00:03:44.080 But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 00:03:44.979 --> 00:03:49.120 Jesus goes to be alone, and he is followed. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:54.939 This is a point for myself, as I try to put myself in his shoes, that I feel annoyed. 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:57.280 But he doesn't seem to be. 00:03:57.479 --> 00:03:59.860 Our Lord does not send the crowd away. 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:05.600 But verse 14 tells us that he had compassion on them, and he healed their sick. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:09.500 He also taught them, and then he fed them. 00:04:09.820 --> 00:04:15.400 This is the crowd of about 5,000 men besides women and children. 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:20.840 And it is this moment that our story begins today. 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:25.939 He has been grief-stricken over the loss of John the Baptist. 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:35.120 And then he has turned himself in compassion to this huge crowd of people who's been ministering to them all day long. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.759 And that's where we pick up the story in verse 22. 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:46.259 And we see that he sends the disciples on ahead of him to the other side, and he gets the crowds out of there. 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:51.879 He dismisses them after dinner for them to head home to sleep that night. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:56.519 And he goes up on the mountain, we see in verse 23, to pray. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:02.439 Jesus once again goes to be alone to mourn the loss of John. 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:06.800 But not to sulk in self-pity, but to pray. 00:05:07.219 --> 00:05:10.000 He goes to be with God the Father. 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:17.219 Now, this is not the primary point of today's text, but I want us to note the humanity of Christ. 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:24.980 He needs time to be quiet, to contemplate, and most importantly, to pray. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:33.720 I imagine, the text doesn't tell us, but I imagine his prayer was a pouring out to God concerning his grief for his cousin. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:40.980 And I imagine that he is strengthened in his praying as he is about to do yet another miraculous thing. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:48.060 And in so doing, in his humanity, going up on the mountain, grieving the loss of John, seeing his need for prayer, 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.580 he goes then and does this miracle that declares his divinity. 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:58.759 Now, this episode in the life of Jesus is wonderfully structured. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:04.600 It is told by Matthew in two acts, Acts 1 and Act 2. 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:10.000 Each act is concluded with a statement of who Jesus is. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:14.100 The first act ends in verse 27 with the phrase, 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:16.879 Take heart, it is I. 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:18.500 Do not be afraid. 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:22.540 The second act ends in verse 33 with the phrase, 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:25.939 Truly, you are the Son of God. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:29.579 So this will be the simple outline for our study this morning. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:33.740 Number one, Jesus declares, I am. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:38.420 And number two, the disciples declare, you are. 00:06:38.420 --> 00:06:42.600 So first, Jesus declares, I am. 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:49.900 Now notice that by this time, right, the boat is a long way from the land. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:58.120 They have struck out across the Sea of Galilee, and it is being beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:01.939 So the waves are moving in the opposite direction that they are trying to go, right? 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:03.100 The waves are coming at them. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:04.879 The waves aren't propelling them across the Sea. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:09.720 They are working against them, and they are beating against the side of the boat. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:14.259 This particular crossing has been a rough crossing. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:18.379 And don't neglect that it is in the middle of the night that they are doing this very thing, right? 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:25.159 It is dark, it is stormy, and they are fighting against this wind to get to the other side of the sea. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:32.060 And then we see that in the fourth watch of the night, the fourth watch is between 3 and 6 a.m., right? 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:42.360 So the very dark of the night, just before the dawn, Jesus comes to them walking on the sea, right? 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:50.100 And when the disciples see him walking on the sea, they are terrified, understandably, and say it is a ghost. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:52.879 They cry out in fear. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:58.160 But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, take heart, it is I. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:00.500 Do not be afraid. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:02.699 So there's these two phrases, right? 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:03.720 The one, take heart. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:06.779 The second, do not be afraid. 00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:10.620 And they are teaching the same thing, but they're the opposite of one another. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.759 So there's the positive side of it, take heart. 00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:15.339 Or we could say, be of good courage. 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:17.060 Or be courageous. 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:21.959 And then the negative side of what he's teaching them here is, do not be afraid. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.240 So do be courageous. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:25.680 Do not be afraid. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.300 Jesus says to his disciples, and I imagine he yelled it at the disciples, 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:36.799 because of the noise of the storm, have courage and do not fear. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:44.419 He works to reorient their faith, and he grounds this work in his very being. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:52.179 At the center of this positive exhortation to courage and the negative expansion of the exhortation, 00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:57.539 Jesus says, as translated in the ESV, it is I. 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:06.379 In the original, in the Greek, this phrase is two words, and it is quite literally, I am. 00:09:07.459 --> 00:09:09.979 And so listen to the verse read in this way. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:14.980 But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, take heart, I am. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:17.000 Do not be afraid. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:24.180 As a student of the Bible, this declaration should draw your mind to Moses on the mountain, 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:27.519 with God speaking to him from a burning bush. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:33.980 In Exodus chapter 3 and verse 14, God tells Moses to tell the Israelites his name. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:39.759 He says, say to the people of Israel, I am has sent me to you. 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:46.680 Of hopeful note, we see the combination of God exhorting us to fear not, 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:52.980 in conjunction with his declaration of I am, a number of places in the scripture, 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:56.159 and a particular number of places in the book of Isaiah. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:58.460 And I want to share just one with you. 00:09:58.460 --> 00:10:03.580 So listen carefully to this reading of Isaiah chapter 43, verses 1 through 3, 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:06.639 and see if you can pick up the similar theme happening here. 00:10:07.180 --> 00:10:13.500 But now, thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel, 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:16.680 fear not, for I have redeemed you. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.280 I have called you by name. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:19.420 You are mine. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:23.420 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 00:10:23.780 --> 00:10:26.139 And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:30.980 When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:38.139 For, verse 3, I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:43.259 And we see this again and again, the conjunction, these two things being paired up together. 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:51.419 God's declaration that he is, I am, along with this idea of fearing not or being courageous. 00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:56.740 In addition to this text in Isaiah, we also see in numerous places in the Old Testament, 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:01.879 declarations that God is powerful over the sea. 00:11:02.719 --> 00:11:04.819 Here's one example from this morning's Bible reading. 00:11:04.979 --> 00:11:11.199 So just this morning, from our Bible reading plan, Psalm 89, and this is verses 8 and 9. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:18.300 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:22.040 You rule the raging of the sea. 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:26.120 When its waves rise, you still them. 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:31.000 So Jesus declares, I am. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.240 And just in case you think that I'm making too much of this, you thought, what? 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:40.519 It's just him pointing out that he is Jesus and not something else, right? 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:46.200 If you've read past that many times in your life, as I have, that he's just saying, 00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:48.940 no, no, I'm not a ghost, it's me, Jesus. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.700 Allow me to show you one more thing about the structure of this text. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.740 Here at the end of Act 1, Jesus says, 00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:59.039 Take heart, I am. 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:10.840 In Greek, there are 91 words preceding this phrase, and you guessed it, 91 words following this phase, right? 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:16.019 So Matthew places right at the center of this significant episode 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:23.840 Jesus' declaration of who he is and his encouragement to his disciples to respond accordingly, right? 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:29.600 It's smack dab in the middle of these two sides of this story that is going on, right? 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:36.920 It is no coincidence that Matthew places this grand statement at the very heart of this story. 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:45.000 So Jesus declares, I am, with his words, but he also does so with his actions. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:56.139 In the Bible, the sea is often employed to represent evil because it is powerful, it is uncontrollable, and it is deadly. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.220 Let me just give you two examples, right? 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.980 So again, in Isaiah chapter 27 and verse 1, 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:09.560 In that day, the Lord, with his hard and great and strong sword, will punish Leviathan, the fleeing serpent, 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:16.659 Leviathan, the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:23.940 And then in John's vision in Revelation of the new heaven and the new earth, found in Revelation 21, 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:26.340 And I'll just read verse 1. 00:13:26.880 --> 00:13:31.700 Notice what's missing from this new established place. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.140 John records, 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:47.740 So the sea often represents the forces of evil. 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:50.960 What do we note in our text today? 00:13:51.560 --> 00:14:00.600 What is so significant about what Jesus does as he declares, I am, as he walks on the sea? 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:05.620 He shows himself to be Lord of the sea. 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:11.860 In Job chapter 38 and verse 16, God rhetorically asks Job the following, 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:18.820 Have you entered into the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:23.879 Jesus identifies himself as God when he walks on the sea. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.419 He declares, I have. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:31.720 Jesus decides not to take the boat with the disciples to the other side of the sea. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:37.800 He sailed with them many times before, but this time he sends them on and he goes up on a mountain 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:40.039 to spend time with his Father in prayer. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.819 Jesus could have taken another boat. 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:45.219 He could have walked around the sea. 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:54.179 But he decides to walk in the recesses of the deep to be abundantly clear to his disciples 00:14:54.179 --> 00:15:00.919 who was going to hang upon that tree for the remission of their sins and ours. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:07.120 He wanted them to understand that he is the Christ, right? 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:12.720 This promised one, the Messiah, that would come to take away the sins of the world, right? 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:14.299 This is what he's establishing. 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:20.179 And it is significant to their minds that would have been steeped in the Old Testament text, right? 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:27.039 This is a massive way that he declares with his actions that he is, I am. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.240 So that was the first point. 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:31.779 Jesus declares, I am. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:37.679 Secondly, the disciples declare, you are. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:44.539 This episode in the life of Jesus is primarily Christological, right? 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:47.379 Declaring who he is, right? 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:49.759 But it is also about us. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:54.679 What does it mean to follow this Jesus, the great I am? 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:59.679 We can learn this morning something of Christian discipleship. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:06.819 I think we can see two lesser lessons and one main lesson for following Jesus. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:09.980 And first I want to look at the two lesser lessons. 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:16.940 But before we do, I just want to say that I read some ridiculous commentary this week on this passage. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:21.399 Just some bizarre applications. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:28.560 Just a very, very broad over-allegorizing of the text itself. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:31.639 And we want to be really careful not to do that with these passages, right? 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:34.980 They're teaching us a particular and primary thing. 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:40.379 And so with a little hesitation, I even speak of some lesser lessons here. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:43.820 As these are not the driving point of what we're meant to learn. 00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:46.399 But I still think they're worth some mention. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.820 So in brief, I'll mention two lesser lessons. 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:56.019 Number one, if you follow Christ's commands, it does not mean you'll be spared adversity. 00:16:56.680 --> 00:17:01.340 If you follow Christ's commands, it does not mean you will be spared adversity. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:04.160 Notice verse 22, right? 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:11.920 Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:16.360 Following Jesus does not mean easy sailing. 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.920 Jesus knew the storm was coming. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:22.200 He knew that the wind would be against them. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:26.660 And he knew that the waves would beat against that boat. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:31.279 All the same, he made the disciples get into the boat and go. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:34.519 Beloved God's commands are good. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:43.819 And we, at some point in our Christian maturing, will have to allow God to define what is good and what isn't. 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:48.799 And if you find yourself this morning constantly fighting against that, I just would encourage you to stop. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.059 Stop thinking you know what's best. 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:55.779 And start believing that God does in fact know what's best. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:58.200 That he's always working for your good. 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.759 In your favor. 00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:02.740 To the end that he is glorified. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.039 You stop defining what is good. 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:07.619 And let him define what is good. 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:13.019 Your life may be full of adversity for your good. 00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:17.459 God asks us to follow him into the storm. 00:18:18.719 --> 00:18:21.079 Secondly, Jesus knows our adversities. 00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:23.939 And he knows how to rescue us. 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:26.259 Jesus knows our adversities. 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:29.739 And he knows how to rescue us. 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:32.479 Just notice in brief verse 32. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:38.360 And when they got into the boat, he and Peter, the wind ceased. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:43.500 So all this, this whole episode, this storm is raging on around them. 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:46.940 And in verse 32, the storm stops. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:50.940 We don't read exactly how Jesus stopped the wind. 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.940 But just that he stopped it. 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:56.799 I imagine that he whispered to it. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.579 Too low for Matthew to hear him. 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:05.179 And I'm reminded of an episode from Jesus' life just a few chapters prior to our text today. 00:19:05.179 --> 00:19:09.679 Where he vocally, loudly rebukes the wind. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:14.699 Back in Matthew chapter 8, something not unsimilar has happened. 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:19.500 Beginning in verse 23, when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:24.859 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.679 But he was asleep. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:32.940 This picture of courage and not fear. 00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:39.320 He knew he was secure, even in a boat being rocked by a storm. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:41.900 But they don't feel this way, the disciples. 00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:43.880 Verse 25, they went and woke him saying, 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:45.539 Save us, Lord, we are perishing. 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.560 And he said to them, 00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:50.920 Why are you afraid, O you of little faith? 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:57.580 Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.840 Verse 27 tells us, 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.319 And the men marveled, saying, 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:07.279 What sort of man is this that even the winds and sea obey him? 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:16.919 And we'll see in this text, the second time that Jesus calms a storm, that they come to understand what sort of man this is. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:21.900 The rescue of Jesus is clear in these two stories, right? 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.340 In both cases, he stops the storm. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:29.039 But rescue doesn't always look like this. 00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:33.519 Sometimes as we follow God into the storm, he stills the storm. 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:38.519 Sometimes he gives us the strength to weather the storm. 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:42.059 So these are some lesser lessons. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:47.559 I think that we are, as a church, fairly familiar with this lesson. 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:52.079 But it seems especially worth mentioning in a difficult time that we walk through right now. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:21:00.700 The main lesson, however, for us in this text is about the nature of Christian faith. 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.960 And that is this. 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:06.039 Christian faith is courageous. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:08.379 Christian faith is courageous. 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:11.660 Or Christian faith does not fear. 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:19.579 And I want to suggest to you that anxiety and fear are synonymous. 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:27.420 Anxiety seems to be kind of a brooding fear, a subliminal fear. 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:30.639 Fear is the crying out. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.539 Like, we're being destroyed. 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:36.339 Our boat is being broken to pieces by these waves. 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:40.579 Anxiety works in kind of underneath. 00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:48.099 And I can imagine that many of us may feel that kind of fear even this morning. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:52.759 So Christian faith does not fear, but it is courageous. 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:56.019 I do not think that I was planning to ignore Peter. 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.819 I was not. 00:21:57.220 --> 00:22:04.460 Peter's part in the story shows us both the positive and the negative of the lesson in just a few verses. 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:07.000 At the end of Acts 1, Jesus says, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.000 Take heart, it is I. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.359 It is I. 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.599 Do not be afraid. 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:09.859 Right? 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:14.460 He says, in essence, because I am, be courageous. 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:18.119 Then Matthew begins Act 2 immediately. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.859 And Peter answered him. 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.220 Right? 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:27.660 So in response to what Jesus has said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:30.000 And he said, come. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:35.039 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:41.440 So we see first the courage of Peter, the positive of the lesson. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.759 Right? 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:47.039 If it is you, you are the I am, then command me to come to you and I will. 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:49.000 I will be courageous. 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:52.740 In response to Jesus' statement, take heart, it is I. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.320 Do not be afraid. 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:59.820 Peter says, you have told us to be courageous, so I will be courageous. 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:08.380 Some have suggested and respected commentators have suggested that Peter was asking outside his station. 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:14.920 That he should have recognized that his place was on the boat and not out in the water. 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.580 But I just disagree. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:18.840 I just flatly disagree with this estimation. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:25.180 Because Jesus does not hesitate to reward his courage with a beckon to join him on the water. 00:23:25.760 --> 00:23:30.660 There is no reason to think that Jesus didn't want him to come out with him. 00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:35.360 Second, we see the negative or the opposite of the lesson. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:43.339 So Peter is initially courageous, but verse 30 tells us, when he saw the wind, he was afraid. 00:23:44.219 --> 00:23:48.199 And beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me. 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:56.659 And then Jesus immediately reached out his hand, takes hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? 00:23:56.660 --> 00:24:04.920 If we are not courageous, if we fear, Jesus says to us that we are doubting. 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:10.460 That we have little faith or are faithless. 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:15.920 We find ourselves in fear, in having anxious hearts. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:23.920 It's because we have failed to believe something he has said about himself or something that he has said he is doing in the world. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:30.259 Peter takes his eyes off Jesus, the great I am. 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:35.660 He allows the adversity of his circumstance to strike fear in him. 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.900 He stops looking to Jesus. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:40.380 He starts looking to the things that are going on around him. 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:45.720 Note that when he is afraid, he cries out to Jesus in faith. 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:48.680 He knows that Jesus can save him. 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:52.660 It seems like suddenly his attention gets brought back to the Christ. 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:55.860 And Jesus is not slow to do so. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:25:00.600 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him. 00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:03.940 Jesus rescues us from our fears. 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:07.240 And he does so with immediacy. 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:12.380 Beloved, none of us are sinking in the sea in the midst of a storm, literally. 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:20.080 But we often find ourselves sinking in the sea in the midst of a storm, metaphorically. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:26.360 And Jesus will calm our fears and grant us courage with immediacy. 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.620 Not metaphorically. 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:32.440 Actually, but he'll do so by his word. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:38.040 He has spoken about who he is and what he is doing. 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:41.000 And Jesus is quick to speak. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:46.579 The problem is that we are too often really, really slow to hear. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:51.039 So, Christian fear... 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.779 Excuse me. 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.460 That's a mistype. 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.879 So, Christian faith is courageous. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.379 Christian fear is not courageous. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.639 That's not right. 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:02.359 Christian faith is courageous. 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:07.779 In this episode of Jesus' life, he declares, I am. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:13.359 And the disciples declare, you are and they worshiped. 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:22.359 So, once he and Peter rejoin them on the boat and the storm is calmed, verse 33 tells us, 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:29.139 those in the boat worshiped him, saying, truly, you are the Son of God. 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:37.960 So, we have that very opportunity this morning to recognize that whatever we may be going through in our life, 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:42.100 the storms that tend to toss our little boats. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:48.660 If we are in Christ, we are secure in him because he is the great I am. 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:55.000 And we have an opportunity to lay down our fears and anxieties and say to him, 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.380 you are. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:58.019 You are the Son of God. 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:01.160 You are the one who came and died to take away the sins of the world. 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:06.859 You are the King of the kingdom in which we are citizens. 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:10.119 So, I pray that will be the case for us this morning. 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:12.239 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:12.239 --> 00:27:14.419 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.039 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.199 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:16.199 --> 00:27:18.139 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.219 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:19.219 --> 00:27:19.219 00:27:19.219 --> 00:27:20.219 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:20.219 --> 00:27:22.219 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:22.219 --> 00:27:22.219 00:27:22.219 --> 00:27:24.219 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:24.219 --> 00:27:25.299 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.299 You are the one who died to종 the brothers in theует.