Get Out of the Boat

Matthew 14:22-33 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

Continuing, Retired Pastor Willie Nolte preached  a sermon about “God the Son” Jesus Christ, pointing out that in John 6:15-21, Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-51 all recount the complete story of Jesus walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee. Outside of the awe-factor of, the physically impossible, defying physics and natural laws, miraculously standing and walking on water in the middle of the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world (after the Dead Sea, a salt lake), at levels between 215 meters (705 ft) and 209 meters (686 ft) below sea level. It is approximately 53 km (33 mi) in circumference, about 21 km (13 mi) long, and 13 km (8.1 mi) wide. Its area is 166.7 km2 (64.4 sq. mi) at its fullest, and its maximum depth is approximately 43 meters (141 ft). No little lake and no little feat, except for the Creator of creation itself. But, why and what are we to learn by this?

 

Pastor Willie gave us seven gold nuggets of truth to take home from this incident on the high seas. (1) Jesus did it and what He did, He still does. Romans 8:34-35 “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (2) Jesus saw them struggling and He sees us, knowing us intimately. In John 10:14  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (3) Jesus came to them and Jesus comes to you. Jesus promised in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (4) Jesus assured them and Jesus assures us. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (5) Jesus invites them and Jesus invites us. Matthew 25:23 invites us, “Enter into the joy of your lord.” (6) Jesus displays His Lordship and power. Colossians 1:16 proclaims, “For by Him[the Lord – Jesus Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (7) When you seek, accept and join Jesus, then He will join you in your lifeboat. Invite Him in. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

 

A boat and a life without Jesus is going nowhere. Jesus says; “Come”. Like Peter, get out of the boat and join Jesus. Jesus turns the boat in peril into a safe and secure boat; a sinking ship into a life boat. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

In Christ, Brian