“Twelve Disciples On the Sea”

(Matthew 14:22-36)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

October 27, 2019

The Passage

Matthew 14:22-36

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.

27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”

29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

34 When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret. 35 When the men of that place recognized him, they alerted the whole vicinity and brought to him all who were sick. 36 They begged him that they might only touch the end of his robe, and as many as touched it were healed.

Introductory Comments:

Have you ever been in a situation where you were doing something that made you proud of yourself? Perhaps you showed courage, or you conquered some difficult task, or you figured something out. You felt proud of the fact that you had achieved something great. Then, it all came crashing down! Maybe you finally finished putting together your child’s new bicycle, only to realize that the pedals are on backwards. Or, you finally finished reading that book for class, only to realize it was the wrong book.

When I think of this, my memory immediately goes back to a Snickers commercial from several years back. I’ve got the clip to show you: [show video clip] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmgice3ieZ4)

Don’t you just feel sorry for that guy? You have a moment of great victory, only to have a moment of great let down.

Well, today, we’re going to learn a little something like that regarding the disciples, particularly Peter as they encounter Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. 

Let’s pray together.

(prayer)

Remember, last week we learned that Jesus was simply seeking some time alone after hearing of the death of John the Baptist. Instead, He ends up miraculously feeding over 5,000 people. 

Well, Jesus finally gets His time alone, which takes us to our first point:

I. The Isolation with the Father (vv. 22-23) [on screen]

Let’s see what Jesus did. Look at verses 22 and 23. 

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.

After the people had eaten and experienced miracles and healings. Jesus sends them away. 

You see, Jesus had come to that region to spend time alone with the Father. Yet, He took time out of His schedule because of His deep compassion for the people, but now it’s time to do what He came to do.

So, Jesus sends the crowds away and He sends the disciples away on a boat. His plan is to catch up with them later after He spends isolated time alone with God. 

Jesus went up on the mountain to pray and we see that He was there, “Well into the night.”

Jesus yearned for time alone with God, His Father. He didn’t do this just to check a box (ok, I prayed today). He