The Gospels Matthew

Walking On Water

Discover Jesus as: King Matthew 14 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 124 of 730
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INTRO

When we look for King Jesus in this chapter, it’s a little hard. The first section of the chapter covers John the Baptist’s beheading, with the final verse recording that his disciples came to Jesus to tell Him what had happened (Matthew 14:1-12). It’s like the end of an era. Then, the account of the miraculous feeding of 5,000 men is given (Matthew 14:13-21). This was one of many of Jesus’ profound miracles that is recorded.

TEACHING

Matthew 14:22: After experiencing food multiplying, the disciples must have been excited for what they had seen Jesus do. Immediately after this miracle, Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side” (v. 22). Wiersbe gives an outline of 5 statements of how Jesus interacted with His disciples in the context of walking on the water.1Wiersbe’s Statement 1: “He brought me here.” God put us in this position. The obvious takeaway here is that when King Jesus puts us in a situation, we cannot expect smooth sailing (John 16:33). Jesus is constantly refining us to test us to look more like Him. Wiersbe says there are two kinds of storms that we could engage in––“storms of correction, when God disciplines, and storms of perfection, when God helps us grow.”2

Matthew 14:23-24: Wiersbe’s Statement 2: “He is praying for me” (Mark 6:48; Romans 8:34). Jesus knew their situation in the storm, and He interceded for them as He prayed on the mountain alone. The disciples were “over a mile from shore, battered by the waves” (v. 24).

Matthew 14:25: Wiersbe’s Statement 3: “He will come to me.” About 3 in the morning, Jesus came walking to where the disciples were. Jesus will show up in our lives when we need Him. Since He’s already been praying for us, He’ll walk in knowing everything that is needed (2 Corinthians 1:8). Jesus will be our strength when we have nothing (Isaiah 43:2). Jesus will come at the right time. We have to receive Him.

Matthew 14:26-27: The disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus approach and thought He was a ghost (v. 26). Wiersbe’s Statement 4: “He will help me grow.” Jesus responded, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (v. 27).

Matthew 14:28-31: Peter immediately said to Jesus, “Tell me to come to You” (v. 27). Jesus told him to come (v. 28). Wiersbe’s Statement 5: “He will see me through.” When Peter became overwhelmed with what he was doing, he started to sink and cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus immediately grabbed Peter’s hand and asked, “You of little faith, why did you doubt” (vv. 29-31)?

Matthew 14:32-33: When Jesus and Peter climbed in the boat, the winds ceased, and “those in the boat worshiped Him and said, ‘Truly You are the Son of God!’” The disciples worshiped Him, because they saw that He had come to them during this time. Maybe, they recognized the whole process unfolding.

Matthew 14:34-36: They landed at Gennesaret. The men there recognized Jesus and brought all the sick to Him. “They were begging Him that they might only touch the tassel on His robe. And as many as touched it were perfectly well” (v. 36).

Leon Morris suggests several lessons can be learned from this3:

  1. If you follow Christ’s commands (get in the boat), it doesn’t mean you’ll avoid the storms. In fact, in verse 24, the disciples were a long way from land, so they couldn’t go back, and the wind was against them. They had to depend upon Jesus to carry them through.
  2. Jesus knows the trouble (emotional, physical, spiritual), and because of that He knows how to rescue us.

CLOSING

Where is King Jesus in all of this? He’s in charge. The minute we try to take care of ourselves, we refuse to allow King Jesus to be in charge and take care of us.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary(Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 1989), pp. 51-52. (All 5 statements provided are from these pages.)

  2. Wiersbe, p. 51.

  3. Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, rev. ed., The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995).

Questions

  1. In Matthew 14:1-12, why was John the Baptist beheaded? Do you think that John lived and died in vain? Why do you think that Jesus did not save him?
  2. In Matthew 14:14, Jesus had compassion toward the group and healed their sick. What were the circumstances that caused Jesus to feel this way? Have you faced something and felt Jesus’ compassion in your life?
  3. Jesus fed the multitude of 5,000+ men, not counting women and children. Do you believe Jesus only wanted to give them physical food? Spiritual food? Why or why not? (Matthew 14:16-21)
  4. There are rough patches in our lives called storms. In the storm of Matthew 14:24, Jesus was walking towards them. At one point, Jesus got in the boat and the storm calmed. Can you think of a time in your life where Jesus calmed you or your storm?
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Matthew 14 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Matthew 14:31-32

“Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”

The story of Jesus walking on water in the middle of a storm and calling out to Peter to join Him powerfully illustrates Jesus as King. Jesus had control and authority, even over the wind and the waves. As the storms began, Jesus was praying alone on the mountain. However, just when the disciples needed help, Jesus appeared to them walking on the water, telling them to take courage and not be afraid. Jesus reached out his hand to Peter and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Just like the disciples, you will find yourself in the middle of a storm in life. Maybe even today, the winds of your storm are swirling around you. Jesus promises He is interceding for you. He will reach out His hand to help you. Today, take courage. Have the faith to walk out of the boat, trusting the Lord will be with you and will help you. Do not walk in doubt. Grab hold of the hand of Jesus and confidently walk in faith that He is with you!

“Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”

— Matthew 14:31-32

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Isaiah 43:2 – “I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.”
  • 2 Corinthians 1:8 – “For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life.”
  • 1 Timothy 6:15 – “God will bring this about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.”