The King Of Life s Storms Matthew 14:22-33 Introduction

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1 Introduction In rapid succession Matthew covers the topics of persecution (vv.1-12); provision (vv.13-21) and now protection (vv.12-36). The murder of John the Baptist; the miracle in the wilderness; and now the miracle on the water. We live in an age of storms. Much of our resources are dedicated to anticipating those storms and surviving those storms. There are a foolish few who believe they have adequate resources to survive anything the devil throws their way. Right now some of you are facing fierce winds. Financial storms, relationship storms, marital storms, health storms. When the storm hits sometimes we go into survival mode. Perhaps God in His grace has given you a period of calm before the storm. Praise God. Your marriage fine. Your business is fine. Your children are fine. But rest assured, like the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean things are heating up and El Nino is brewing. And the gale force wind blows and trouble comes. I once read the story of the Danish King Canute. He felt his power and resources were invincible and inexhaustible. One day members of his inner circle were flattering the pompous King. To demonstrate his power the King ordered his throne be placed next to the seashore. The tide was rolling in and threatened to drown the entourage; and in the most regal voice he could muster he screamed to the waves; Cease and desist. Of course they did not. And the King said to his admirers; Behold how small is the might of kings. Whether we like it or not there are some things that will not yield to our control. The Psalmist wrote (46:10) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. We sometimes simply forget that the Lord is with us, in life s storms. The storm has the capacity to change us. It can make us bitter or better. For the Christian storms can serve to humble us and call on us to depend on the Lord. Storms shatter the illusion that we are in control of our finances, our children, our health, our business, our country, or sometimes our mind! If you want assurance that nothing bad will ever happen to you you must look somewhere else other than the Bible and the promises of Jesus for support. The Bible promises storms. But if you want false promises and false hope look somewhere else. Real hope is in God s Word; and God s Son. In this passage we have five assurances; five key statements that we can embrace when the storm blows and the waters beat down and threaten our very existence. These are the assurances of the King; He set you there. He sees you there. He comes to you in the storm. He speaks to you in the storm. And He will safely deliver you from the storm. He Set You There (vv.22-23) Matthew 14:22 24 (NKJV)22Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 1

2 23And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. The Lord Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side. Jesus set them there. In this window we are given a glimpse of both the Church and the individual believer in our present state. Jesus is on the mountain praying. The disciples are on the lake battling the storm. Jesus is in heaven interceding for us while we fight the storms of sin on this earth (Wiersbe s Expository Outlines of the New Testament; p.58). The disciples are not in the boat and in the storm because they did something wrong but because they did something right! Some storms come because we make bad choices or foolish decisions but Jesus set them in the boat with instructions; go before Him to the other side. The disciples are in the right boat going in the right direction because they made the choice to obey Jesus! Didn t Jesus know a storm was coming? Of course! Storms shouldn t come as a surprise. Jesus said, In the world you will have tribulation. The Christian is promised tribulation, suffering and persecution. But Jesus is praying for us and will soon come to us and speak to us. We learn from John s Gospel (6:15) why Jesus is quick to dismiss the multitudes after the enormous banquet that had so filled their bellies. The crowds wanted to crown Jesus King. But this King will wear a crown of thorns before He allows the crown of David to sit on His head. People are ready willing and able to crown Jesus the King of prosperity but shake and stumble when adversity comes. Jesus sets you in the storm and prays for you. The fact that Jesus sent the disciples into the storm does not imply that Jesus abandons them. Prayer lifts the heart above the battles of life and gives it a glimpse of God s resources which spell victory and hope (C. Neill Strait). Do you pray in the storm? Often we pray for a change in our circumstances rather than a change in our character. Get me out of this marriage. Get me out of this job. Get me out of debt. Get me out of this hospital bed. Rarely do we pray; Change me Lord. Change my hear. Destroy my pride, cleanse my wickedness, remove my bitterness, anger, fear. Create the character of Christ inside me. There seems to be two kinds of storms: Correcting storms...and perfecting storms. The prophet Jonah gives us an example of a correcting storm. God had a job for him to do, but he tried to run away from the will of God, the plan of God, and God blew him back in the right direction. But it would appear that this storm, the one the disciples face, is a perfecting one, the purpose to change hearts, and transform character. 2

3 When I read this passage I said to myself; Why didn t the disciples simply turn back? Why row against the wind? Why buck the storm? But they were to go before Him (v.22). Jesus has already gone before us into Heaven. If you are a Christian, if your heart belongs to Jesus, there is no storm, no circumstance no problem that will undo the work of God in Christ in you! He Sees You There (v.24) 24But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. The sea of Galilee is about 7 miles long and 3 miles wide. Matthew places them in the middle of the sea. How far is the nearest shore? In Mark s gospel (6:47-48) When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on the land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them. Jesus saw them from His place of prayer alone. He was miles from the shore. He sees them struggling in the midst of the storm. The Lord sees all. The word used to describe a person who sees all in omnipresent. The word used to describe someone with all power is omnipotent. Jesus is God. Jesus sees you in the storm. And because He has all power He can help you in the storm. We live in a world of storms. The disciples did not choose the storm. The storm chose them. The disciples were not disobedient but obedient. Sometimes you can do what s right and find yourself in the storm. You paid your taxes. You honored your marriage vows. Sometimes obedience can bring about distress, suffering, persecution. Dietrich Bonhoeffer obeyed God, defied Hitler and wound up in a Nazi prison camp. Corrie ten Boom author of the Hiding Place and Dutch patriot lost many people in her family and was herself imprisoned in Ravensbruk concentration camp, because she hid Jews in the Holocaust. Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, young missionaries to the Auca tribe in South America found themselves face down in a muddy river bank with spears in their backs in a foreign jungle because they were obedient to Christ s call. We read in the New Testament of the pain and suffering and hardship and persecution and toy with the idea that we might simply be the generation exempt from trial. We are bombarded with the misguided message that God wants us healthy, trouble free, problem free. But when we read of the storms in the lives of Peter and Paul and James and John we see that suffering and sacrifice were the rule rather than the exception. Paul takes the mystery out of the subject when he writes in Romans 8:17-18; Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 1 Peter 2:21; To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 3

4 Jesus set you there. Jesus sees you there. But he is not a blind uncaring Savior. Jesus loves you. Watch as he comes to the disciples in their storm! He Comes To You In The Storm (vv.25-26) 25Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost! And they cried out for fear. The fourth watch of the night was between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM in the morning. We have all heard the expression It s always darkest before the dawn. Jesus comes in the darkest moment. When all seems hopeless. The Lord shows up and delivers in most remarkable ways. Like the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace or Daniel in the Lion s Den. It is when you can see the flames and smell the smoke and stare into the yellow teeth of a hungry lion. Jesus comes walking on the water. Walking on the very substance that threatens to overtake their boat and drown them in the sea. The disciples at first do not recognize Jesus and wonder whether or not they are seeing a ghost! The text says; they were troubled ; we might more accurately translate this scared out of their wits. The word terrified comes to mind. Their strength is gone. If Jesus set them in the boat and sent them at dusk; they have already been on the lake for some eight hours! They have exhausted their physical resources; the waters are swollen and has been biting on their faces all night. How like Jesus to come when strength fails and hope seems gone. I suspect that the vast majority of the disciples did not have the strength to lift the oars. The disciples at first fear they have seen a spirit. In this impossible situation Jesus does the impossible. He walks on the water. Many of you are familiar with Egyptian hieroglyphs. The ancient Egyptians wrote using pictures to represent ideas. The ancient Egyptians used two symbols to make the word impossible; tiny waves with two little feed walking on the water! Impossible! Jesus comes on the very substance they fear. The waves and the water. It is the water that threatens their life. It is the water that looks like it might prove the source of their death and the destination for their bodies. Jesus comes often on the very object we fear most. Has Jesus come to you in illness? In darkness? In stillness? Has Jesus come to you in financial distress, in loneliness, in failure? What is it that you fear most? The very thing you fear may be the very thing that God uses to comfort you. Jesus comes to the children of Israel in the fiery furnace. Jesus shuts the mouths of the hungry lions! A Christian Captain of a large ocean going vessel was in the midst of a storm. Terrified one of the passengers cried out; What will we do if the ship sinks? The Christian Captain replied, I 4

5 don t know about you, but I will be embraced in the ever-loving arms of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He Speaks To You In The Storm (v.27) 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. Don t you see the humor in this? The disciples are exhausted and terrified. Jesus identifies Himself. How could they not recognize Him? Why didn t they recognize Him? Because you don t expect to see your best friend walking on the water! Years ago Rod Serling had a hit TV series called the Twilight Zone. In one episode John Lithgow plays a frightened and nauseated passenger on what appears to be a doomed flight. His worst fears are realized when you peeks out the portal and sees and wild-eyed creature screaming hysterically on the plane s wing. When you are in a terrifying life threatening situation that last thing you want to hear is insane laughter. The words of Jesus bring comfort and hope! The words of Jesus make all the difference! It is not a ghost or an angel sent to escort them to the other side of death. God s word is filled with comfort and hope. Has it been a while since you ve heard Jesus speak to you in the storm? Two Scriptures have served me well over the years in hurting and difficult times. Romans 15:4; For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. And Romans 15:13; Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is the source of hope? The Person of God and The Word of God. God s Word speaks to us like nothing else in life s storms. Sometimes when the wind is howling and the waves are raging we must seek shelter in the Safe Harbor Our Savior. He Safely Delivers You In The Storm (vv.28-33) 28And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. Don t you find it odd that they didn t recognize Jesus? I think there are several reasons why they did not recognize Jesus immediately. Fear and anxiety have a way of clouding our vision! Jesus exhorts them (v.27) and then reveals Himself (v.28). Instead of freaking out maybe it s time to faith out! The citizens of Nazareth failed to recognize their own Savior. Mary Magdalene at first was unable to recognize Jesus her vision blinded by tragedy and tears. And sometimes we fail to recognize our own Savior when He arrives to deliver us in the storm. Why does Peter make such a strange request? Does he want to show up the other disciples? Is he looking to be the first person ever to walk on water other than Jesus? What if the simple answer is the answer he wants to be with Jesus in the storm. Perhaps he wants out of the boat and into the water if that means being with Jesus. 5

6 29So He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. The experience of Peter provides us with a boat-load of application! How in the world is Peter going to walk on the water? In Romans 10:17 Paul writes; Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The secret of surviving the storm and doing the impossible is believing Jesus Word. Jesus says Come. 30But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! When are we most likely to stumble in the storm? When we forget the source of comfort and power; promise and hope; when we take our eyes off of Jesus and turn our attention to the storm! 31And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? But even when we fail; Jesus is never far away. He will stretch out his hand and catch you. Peter s rebuke seems ever so small in light of Peter s rescue. Doubt and fear travel two by two. But so do faith and peace. Faith brings peace and peace travels with faith. No wonder years later Peter could write; Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). I cast all my cares upon You. I lay all of my burdens down at your feet. And anytime I don t know what I should do I cast all my cares upon You. 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. The Lord Jesus comes walking on the water and the moment both Peter and Jesus are back in the boat the storm ceases. John s gospel adds (6:21) Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. Two more miracles! The storm ceases and the boat is supernaturally transported safely to shore. When Jesus delivers in the storm he delivers! 6

7 33Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God. The people in the boat worship Jesus. The Lord Jesus has delivered in the storm and the people in the storm have grown in their understanding of Jesus and enlarged their faith. The sum of all that Jesus had done was adding up; diseases healed, disasters halted, demons cast out, death put on hold. Jesus is more than just a man. Job wrote He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the seas; He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number, If He goes by me, I do not see Him; If He moves past, I do not perceive Him. We believe in order to see. Conclusion The storm has brought a deeper understanding and appreciation for Jesus and a deeper understanding appreciation of themselves. Is that what storms do in your life? Do they increase your understanding of Jesus? Do they lead you to greater dependence and commitment towards Christ? Do they bring you a deeper assurance of God s love for you? Deliverance may not always take the form you desire but Jesus will deliver you on His terms and in His timing. Kent Hughes sums it up; If we are obedient to Christ, there will be plenty of storms. There will be danger and difficulty and weariness and exposure and anxiety and dread and sadness. We will be open to an index of sorrows and stresses which are unknown to the uncommitted heart. But take cheer: Christ sees all and knows when we feel alone and fear that no one knows or cares. He prays for us, even while we are in the storm, He comes to us in the midst of the gale, treading across the problems that afflict us. What a blessing! We learn, we grow, we worship like never before! 7