Anywhere With Jesus
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A dying man was fearful, even though he was a born-again Christian. He expressed his feelings to his Christian doctor. The physician was silent, not knowing what to say. Just then a whining and scratching was heard at the door. When the doctor opened it, in bounded his big beautiful dog, who often went with him as he made house calls. The dog was glad to see his master. Sensing an opportunity to comfort his troubled patient, the doctor said, “My dog has never been in your room before, so he didn’t know what it was like in here. But he knew I was in here, and that was enough. In the same way, I’m looking forward to heaven. I don’t know much about it, but I know my Savior is there. And that’s all I need to know!”2971
1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 94.
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It seems like 2020 is the Storm that just won’t go away. The COVID fiasco, socio/economic collapse, civil unrest, and political ineptitude invade our news feed, our conversations, and even our thoughts. On top of all that, several of our folks have lost work, lost health, and buried loved ones. During storms like this it is natural to fear. We can fear the clouds we see. We can fear the possibilities of what may come next. This natural fear can paralyze us so that we freeze in place and make no move whatsoever.
2020 has brought no shortage of things to be afraid of. We can fear the ‘Rona. We can fear getting it, or passing it on. We can fear displeasing a government official who is spewing out random rules faster than snot slinging from a sneeze. We fear the police. We fear the protesters. We fear murder hornets. And now, in case you are starting to feel better, we are supposed to fear the Black Death, bubonic plague.
As a response, some believers have quit doing what believers are supposed to do. We have quit fellowship all together. If we do venture out we arm ourselves with every precautionary tool known to man… hand sanitizer, bleach, masks, toilet paper and fire arms.
Our passage this morning is about a storm and about two very different mindsets during the storm. On one hand we have the huddled disciples hoping the boat and their collective sailing skills will get them through. On the other hand we have a wild eyed zealot named Peter that will do anything to be with Jesus, even if it means to leave the boat. Peter could have said...
“Jesus if it is really you calm the Storm!”
But instead he asked for Jesus to ask Peter to come to Him. Peter was learning the lesson of seeking the presence of Christ. No matter the victory or the trial, no matter the prosperity or peril, no matter the calm or the storm it is always better to be anywhere with Jesus.
Storms Are Terrifying When Jesus Seems Afar Off.
Storms Are Terrifying When Jesus Seems Afar Off.
This is happening right after the death of John the Baptist and the feeding of the 5000.
As soon as they were fed, Jesus hustled the disciples off into a boat while he went apart to pray. The Boat and the storm was all part of His plan. They were right were they were supposed to be even though they were in the middle of a storm.
The boat was in the midst of the sea tossed with the waves… the wind was contrary. It had to be a terrifying experience.
They had already been rescued by Jesus in a storm
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
In the fourth watch ( 3:00 am ) they saw a figure through the lightening flashes, walking on the sea… hair and clothes blowing… but the body walking or perhaps appearing to float on top of the water… looks like a ghost
But soon they were in a storm. Somewhere between 3 and 6 in the morning (the fourth watch of the night), Jesus joined them, walking on the lake to their boat—a distance of “three or three and a half miles” (John 6:19). His power over the elements was obvious, but there was also a lesson in faith for the disciples in this experience.1
1 Louis A. Barbieri, Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 54.
WHEN YOU COWER IN FEAR IT IS HARD TO SEE JESUS
Disciples saw Jesus
Didn’t recognize Him
Jumped to worst case conclusion
Jesus told them not to be afraid… it was Him.
We have no indication that they were relieved yet.
If your devotion life, prayer life, and church life is slacking, Jesus will seem afar off during these storms.
It will be natural to cower in the boat .
If you do see Jesus coming to make His way to be with you, because your heart has become distanced, you may not recognize Him right away.
In the absence of truth, your imagination will come up with a scary possibility rather than a sober truth.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Closeness is Better Than Calm.
Closeness is Better Than Calm.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Peter Saw and heard Jesus, but wanted confirmation it was Jesus not a demon
Peter said if it is you bid me come with you.
That Jesus has authority to share with someone else his miraculous ability to walk on the water adds a further dimension to the supernatural power he has already displayed. But the focus of this story is on Peter, who displays a characteristic mixture of attitudes: he will not attempt the walk without Jesus’ direct instruction, but given that instruction he is unable to carry it through because he lacks the necessary faith. Desire to emulate Jesus’ miracle conflicts with the experienced fisherman’s realistic assessment of the risk (“when he saw the strong wind”).1
1 R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 570.
Standing for Christ is tougher during these stormy days.
It is natural to cower, quake and complain.
Jesus may be prompting you do share the Gospel, do a ministry, increase your church commitment or some other thing. To get closer to Him may require you getting out of the boat.
Closeness Involves Risk and Reward.
Closeness Involves Risk and Reward.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
WHEN YOU DESIRE TO BE WITH JESUS< YOU ARE BOLD ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT
Peter already had an established relationship with Jesus during storms
Peter knew if it was Jesus, he was safest with Him, even if he had to get out of the boat to be with him.
Peter had the faith to take the risk because the risk would bring him closer to Jesus.
Peter could have said if it is you, calm the storm, but instead he said, bid me come to you.
Being with Jesus in the midst of the storm is better than being apart from Jesus when the storm ends.
Peter came out in order to be closer to Jesus, but he got his eyes off Jesus and onto the storm and began to sink.
He cried out and Jesus Saved Him…
but he was the only one who walked on water
He was the only one who drew closer to Jesus during the storm
He was the only one to take the risk
He was the only one to be personally rescued
He was the only one to have his faith expanded by that experience.
Jesus could have calmed the 2020 storms.
He has not done so yet.
He is trying to show you that He not only the one that can calm the storm, He is the one that walks on water.
He is not only the one that walks on water, but also the One that bids you to walk on water with Him!
Closeness May Involve an Occasional Rescue.
Closeness May Involve an Occasional Rescue.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Jesus is all about helping you grow in your faith.
Every storm has God’s perfect design behind it.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Closeness Results in Calm
Closeness Results in Calm
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus and Peter reached the ship.
Jesus had been heading for the ship all along
Jesus was planning to teach them something during the storm.
Once Jesus made it all the way to the ship it was calm
Once Jesus made it to the ship, the lesson was over
The lesson was not only that Jesus can calm the storm, but that Jesus doesn’t need a boat or any other human means to rescue you.
The lesson is that it is better to get out of the boat and take a risk with shaky faith (little faith) than to stay huddled in darkness seeing ghosts and having no faith.
The lesson is truly this is the Son of God
A dying man was fearful, even though he was a born-again Christian. He expressed his feelings to his Christian doctor. The physician was silent, not knowing what to say. Just then a whining and scratching was heard at the door. When the doctor opened it, in bounded his big beautiful dog, who often went with him as he made house calls. The dog was glad to see his master. Sensing an opportunity to comfort his troubled patient, the doctor said, “My dog has never been in your room before, so he didn’t know what it was like in here. But he knew I was in here, and that was enough. In the same way, I’m looking forward to heaven. I don’t know much about it, but I know my Savior is there. And that’s all I need to know!”2971
1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 94.
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No matter the storms that are or that are yet to come it is always safest to be anywhere with Jesus.