JESUS WALKED ON THE WATER

Transcription

1 THE L.I.F.E. PLAN JESUS WALKED ON THE WATER BLOCK 4 THEME 3 - THE MIRACLE WORKER LESSON 4 (120 of 216)

2 BLOCK 4 THEME 3: THE MIRACLE WORKER LESSON 4 (120 OF 216): JESUS WALKED ON THE WATER LESSON AIM: Show that Jesus performed the miracle of walking on water. SCRIPTURE: (Matthew 14:22-33) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (Matthew 14:25) Water plays a huge part on the earth in the plan of God. Two thirds of the earth s surface is covered by water. This water is carried by air currents, clouds and storms, to water the whole earth. It teems with food of various varieties for man to enjoy. The waters serve as a barrier and separation device between the nations, geographically and politically. We need water to survive. We drink it, cook with it, clean with it, and manufacture our good with it. We cannot do without it. While there are many things we can do with water, there is one thing man cannot do with it and this is to walk upon it. After Jesus had fed the multitudes, he sent them in a ship across the Sea of Galilee. At the same time, he went to a solitary place where he could spend some time alone in prayer. During the trip across the sea, a wind arose and tossed the ship about so that it became hard to maneuver. After a while and early in the morning somewhere between the hours of 3:00 am and 6:00 am, Jesus came to the disciples in the ship walking on the water. Jesus was doing something that was impossible for a man to do. He walked on the water. Jesus was fully man but at the same time, he was fully God. As God, he is sovereign over everything in the universe. According to the laws and principles of physics, man cannot walk on water. By performing this miracle and walking on water, Jesus demonstrated his rule over everything, including the impossible. Have you ever tried to walk on water? You know what an impossibility it is. At the same time, we have never seen anyone walking on water. If we did, we would probably respond in the same way the disciples responded. There are at least three ways they responded to this miracle in the text. Let s take a look at each one of them. The first response of the disciples when they saw Jesus walking on water was to be frightened. Just think of it. They were probably already a little nervous being in a ship that was in a storm and being tossed around on the sea. The wind was blowing. Waves of water were spraying them inside the ship. The ship was hard to handle. The shore was a long way off. Naturally, they would already be in a fearful state, perhaps even wondering if they would make it to the shore or be shipwrecked. Then, on top of this, to see Jesus doing something a man cannot do in the midst of this situation would further frighten them. They were afraid, and even thought what they saw might be a spirit of some kind. This is a natural reaction when the miraculous takes place

3 before our very eyes. We don t understand it. It is something that should not be possible, and yet we see it with our own eyes. Fear may become the first response when we see a miracle, just as it was for the disciples. Jesus, realizing this, spoke to them and to their fear. He told them that it was only him and to not be afraid. His voice and his words comforted them and helped them to calm down in the situation they were in. The next response we may have when a miracle is performed is to have the desire to be brought up into it. We want to experience it for ourselves. Peter saw Jesus walking on the water. He said to Jesus, If it is really you, let me join you on the water. This is also the way the Bible tells us to try the spirits. The Bible says to test the spirits to see if they are of God. The disciples thought what they saw was a spirit so Peter put it to the test. It was in fact Jesus who walked on the water and Peter was able to walk on the water with him. There is a great lesson here in this story about the storms of life that we all face. We all go through various situations that seem like storms in our lives. The winds of life blow. The waves of the sea of life beat against our vessel to the extent that it may seem that we will sink and not survive the storm. We must remember that as the children of God, somewhere nearby is Jesus, walking on the water. He is sovereign over the storms of life which threaten our safety, and the fulfilling of our purpose on earth. We can, in a spiritual sense, walk on top of the storms of life with Jesus if we will keep our eyes upon him. As Peter walked on the water, he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked upon the storm and the waves and began to sink. Jesus admonished him to keep his eyes on him and to keep trusting in him. Peter did so and was saved from sinking. This is one of the keys to surviving in life during the stormy times: keep your eyes on Christ. It is far better to walk on top of the water with Jesus than to be crushed by it as a result of not trusting God to be with us when things are difficult. The third reaction we see in the text is that this miracle caused the disciples to recognize Jesus for who he is and to worship him. They said, Of a truth, you are the Son of God, and they worshipped him. This is the proper response to any miracle that God may perform in our midst or on our behalf. We should let the miracle teach us something of Jesus and who he is, and seeing this, give God the praise and worship he is worthy of receiving. So many things that God does for people go unnoticed, unrecognized, and are met with ingratitude. We should always be quick to recognize the work of God in our lives and situations, and to worship and thank him for what he does for us. You may never see Jesus walking on a lake or and ocean. You may never walk on one yourself. But there will be many times in life when you will see Jesus walking upon the waters of the storms of life. And there will also be times when you will walk out there with him on these waters as you exercise faith and trust in him to be with you and deliver you through these times of life. You will then be able to give testimony that Jesus still walks upon the water today. And, you will be like Peter, walking on the high seas with him.

4 LESSON OUTLINE BLOCK 4 THEME 3: THE MIRACLE WORKER LESSON 4 (120 OF 216): JESUS WALKED ON THE WATER Responses to this miracle: I FEAR A. The disciples responded to this miracle in fear B. Jesus spoke to their fear II THE DESIRE TO JOIN IN A. Peter asked to join Jesus on the water B. Peter walked on water too III SEEING JESUS FOR WHO HE IS A. Recognizing Jesus B. They worshipped him SCRIPTURES TO BROADEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. Try the spirits 1 John 4:1-4 LINES OF THEOLOGICAL CONNECTION 1. CHRISTOLOGY Jesus is sovereign over all Jesus is with us Jesus calms our fears

5 QUESTIONS ANSWER KEY 1. Why is it necessary to keep your cool when you are afraid? Fear can distort your perception (the disciples thought Jesus was a spirit) 2. The voice of God comforts us in our fears. Can you think of a time when God helped you overcome a fear? Student response 3. What does this miracle teach us about the storms of life? We will face storms in life; Jesus is near during the storm; We can walk with Jesus on the stormy waters of life 4. What is the most important thing we can glean from this lesson? Always keep your eyes on Jesus throughout life 5. Are you presently in a storm in your life? Are the waters covering you or are you walking on the waters with Jesus during this storm? What do you have to do to walk on the waters? Student response 6. Share an experience when Jesus brought you through a storm in life. Student response

6 BLOCK 4 THEME 3: THE MIRACLE WORKER LESSON 4 (120 OF 216): JESUS WALKED ON THE WATER QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE THOUGHT 1. Why is it necessary to keep your cool when you are afraid? 2. The voice of God comforts us in our fears. Can you think of a time when God helped you overcome a fear? 3. What does this miracle teach us about the storms of life? 4. What is the most important thing we can glean from this lesson? 5. Are you presently in a storm in your life? Are the waters covering you or are you walking on the waters with Jesus during this storm? What do you have to do to walk on the waters? 6. Share an experience when Jesus brought you through a storm in life.