Loyal
Mat 14:22; Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
Mat 14:23; After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Mat 14:24; But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.
Mat 14:25; And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
It's interesting... this story starts off with... "He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side"
It seems it wasn't really the disciples idea to get into the boat and cross the lake. They did this because Jesus "made" them. Now I would suppose this really means He asked them to do this. Of course being His followers, they did what He told them do. Can you really claim to be a "follower" of someone if you don't do what they tell you to do? Why did Jesus tell them to go ahead of Him? For that matter how was He going to get to the other side of the lake?
The obvious answer is... "He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray" ... "He was there alone"
Sometimes even Jesus needed alone time with the Father. If Jesus is our example, maybe we also need some "alone" time with the Father. There is a whole sermon that could be taught on this subject alone.
In verse 24 we see the boat was "already a long distance" from the shore. Now it is being battered by the waves and the wind. Why is it, it seems the storms always come up when we are far from the shore? Have you ever noticed? Now the disciples hadn't done anything wrong here. In fact it was Jesus who "made" them get in the boat and go across the lake. Sometimes... even when we are doing what God tells us to do.. the storms still come. They come for different reasons, and there was a reason for this particular storm as we will see.
I find it interesting, Job wasn't doing anything wrong, the Bible says he was "blameless before the Lord". ..and yet the storms and testing came.
David was picked by God to become king of Israel, and yet... most of the early years of his "kingship" he spent running from Saul and hiding in caves. He was doing what God called him to do... but still the testing and trials came.
Paul was doing what God called him to do... and yet... Paul says...
2 Cor 11:23; Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
2 Cor 11:24; Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
2 Cor 11:25; Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
2 Cor 11:26; I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
2 Cor 11:27; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Sometimes, even when we are doing what God tells us to do... that doesn't mean life will be easy.
Back to the boat. The boat is "far from land". And of course that's when the storm hits. When we are far from a "safe place". The storm usually don't come while we are at home in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. The storm doesn't happen in the middle of the day with the sun shining. It happens at "the fourth watch". This was between 3am and 6am when it's still dark. Was there a full moon that night? I don't know but it could be possible the storm clouds hid it.
... and in the midst of the storm... Jesus comes walking toward the boat.
... to be continued ...
Mat 14:23; After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Mat 14:24; But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.
Mat 14:25; And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
It's interesting... this story starts off with... "He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side"
It seems it wasn't really the disciples idea to get into the boat and cross the lake. They did this because Jesus "made" them. Now I would suppose this really means He asked them to do this. Of course being His followers, they did what He told them do. Can you really claim to be a "follower" of someone if you don't do what they tell you to do? Why did Jesus tell them to go ahead of Him? For that matter how was He going to get to the other side of the lake?
The obvious answer is... "He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray" ... "He was there alone"
Sometimes even Jesus needed alone time with the Father. If Jesus is our example, maybe we also need some "alone" time with the Father. There is a whole sermon that could be taught on this subject alone.
In verse 24 we see the boat was "already a long distance" from the shore. Now it is being battered by the waves and the wind. Why is it, it seems the storms always come up when we are far from the shore? Have you ever noticed? Now the disciples hadn't done anything wrong here. In fact it was Jesus who "made" them get in the boat and go across the lake. Sometimes... even when we are doing what God tells us to do.. the storms still come. They come for different reasons, and there was a reason for this particular storm as we will see.
I find it interesting, Job wasn't doing anything wrong, the Bible says he was "blameless before the Lord". ..and yet the storms and testing came.
David was picked by God to become king of Israel, and yet... most of the early years of his "kingship" he spent running from Saul and hiding in caves. He was doing what God called him to do... but still the testing and trials came.
Paul was doing what God called him to do... and yet... Paul says...
2 Cor 11:23; Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
2 Cor 11:24; Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
2 Cor 11:25; Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
2 Cor 11:26; I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
2 Cor 11:27; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Sometimes, even when we are doing what God tells us to do... that doesn't mean life will be easy.
Back to the boat. The boat is "far from land". And of course that's when the storm hits. When we are far from a "safe place". The storm usually don't come while we are at home in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. The storm doesn't happen in the middle of the day with the sun shining. It happens at "the fourth watch". This was between 3am and 6am when it's still dark. Was there a full moon that night? I don't know but it could be possible the storm clouds hid it.
... and in the midst of the storm... Jesus comes walking toward the boat.
... to be continued ...
