Jesus Demonstrated His Power
Book of Matthew Chapter 14
We know that the Lord Jesus Christ is certainly the Almighty Living God and being God, then He certainly has the power of God, which we know is unlimited power.
In reality, we cannot conceive the amount power God has and it cannot be measured!
In Chapter 13 the Lord Jesus explained the "Kingdom of Heaven" in easy-to-understand parables.
At least these parables were easy if you were a working person. The upper class and the super religious never understood the Messiah!
Most of the Jews in that day were farmers or fishermen.
Chapter 14 takes us deeper into the understanding of our Messiah!
The Lord Jesus proved without a doubt that He was the Messiah by the things that He did in those short three years.
Our lesson today takes place after the first year of His three-year ministry.
We first see what twisted theology does.
Herod was convinced that John the Baptist was the Messiah and he had not intended to murder John, but he did.
We all know the story how he was caught up in the dancing of a minor child along with other men in a drunken party.
He promised this child anything she would ask of him and by her mother's hatred, she chose the head of John the Baptist.
When Herod began to hear all the things of Jesus, he had it his mind that Jesus was the resurrection of John the Baptist, but he did not recognize the "Power of God".
Jesus departed into a desert place, but many followed him and here we see the feeding of the five thousand.
We can understand that the feeding of the 5000 was the greatest work the 12 disciples had seen of the Lord Jesus at this time.
After this Jesus needed some time with His Heavenly Father and He went to pray as He sent the 12 disciples on ahead across the Sea of Galilee.
This is where we pick up our lesson today.
*****Mat 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
In typology we can say we are on our journey to the other side today that place being Heaven.
We should clearly understand that our Lord Jesus knew what was going to happen at any given moment and at all times.
The Lord Jesus had to convince (constrain) the disciples to leave Him, they did not want to do so. There were things they needed to see and feel, and Jesus wanted some time alone.
Most all of us want some time alone at times and we certainly need some time alone with our Heavenly Father.
When we pray, we do not need to be making request at all times, sometimes we just need to sit and talk with our Heavenly Father.
We are always seeking His right arm when more time should be spent seeking His face!
1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Pro 7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
These 12 unwillingly got into the ship and began their journey to the other side.
This is what each of us do once we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior. We begin our journey to the other side.
They were sent out into the sea of troubles.
Remember the Seas represent all the nations of this world.
At this time we are not in the Sea of Tranquility we are in the Sea of Troubles!
The Lord is not with us in His person at this time, but He does live in our hearts.
Once we know the Lord as our Savior then comes the trial of obedience!
Once the disciples had begun their journey to the other side according to the Apostle John, Jesus knew that these over 5000 men would try to make Him to be King and it was not His time to do so.
Joh 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
With the disciples gone and Jesus still with them, these who had been fed were calm while Jesus went up the mountain to be alone.
We need to remain calm today and remain busy in the work the Lord has given us to do.
He may not be with us, but we know He went up unto the Highest mountain (Heaven) and He is there praying for us today.
*****Mat 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
In typology, this is the lesson we are to learn here.
Hos 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Today the Lord Jesus Christ is not only praying for us and for Israel He is also our Intercessor and our Advocate.
This night on the Sea of Galilee, is a picture of the Church Age, while Jesus is absent, the Church is tossed about upon the Sea which we know represents all the wicked and evil nations of this world.
Jesus will always come to the rescue of His Church during the Church Age if we call upon Him with a sincere heart.
Today the Church is not in one accord and departing from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church is in the midst of the sea.
*****Mat 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
What do we find out about the Church?
The Church is tossed around by the waves of this world, but as long as the waves do not enter the ship the ship is safe.
It is the same for the Church today! As long as we do not allow the world into the Church, the Church is safe even in troubled waters.
Even when the winds of change that come from this world, the Church is safe riding above the waters.
We simply cannot allow this world to change the Doctrine of Jesus Christ into some meaningless words.
We must rise above the storms of wickedness.
We must remain in one accord and travel this world in union with Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus is not only praying for us, but He is also watching to see if we need His help, and we always will.
This reflects upon the Second Coming of the Lord.
*****Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Mat 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
We should understand the panic of these disciples. Most of these men were experienced fishermen who had sailed and fished the Sea of Galilee all their life, so this was not a common storm, this was a Satan sent storm in an attempt to kill these men who would be the beginning of the Church.
As Christians no matter how much we have grown in the Lord, there will never be a day that we do not need Him.
These 12 men were expecting at any time for the Sea to swallow them up, but low and behold our Lord also travels above the stormy waters and He simply walks on the storm just as easily as He walks upon the calm.
We can just see these 12 men as they portray types of true believers who hold the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit.
We too are above the storms of life when we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is why we need that "faith"!
The storms of life may toss us around and those waves are getting higher, and the wind is even more contrary.
We know the god of this age, and darkness continues to grow in our world, but it is relief to see that the Lord Jesus walks upon the storm because He is the Master of the storm!
If we expect peace and calm in this world, then our thinker is not thinking straight!
Satan has no power over the love of our Savior for us!
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What does the ship mean?
In type, it could be the Church as the Church tries to obey the Lord in this wicked world, but we know the true Church rises above the storms of this world and the Church is to have no fear and Jesus said for us not to worry.
These things being true, in type it this ship represents the Jewish people.
The Lord is absent from the Jewish people because He is a rejected Savior.
We must face reality, if Jesus is asked to leave, He will certainly leave!
Our Lord will not push Himself upon anyone.
We know the "seas" represent the nations of this world.
The waves and the wind represent the persecutions and the distress as we know this nation still faces today.
These things will remain true until the descendants of Jacob recognize King Jesus!
We already know that there will be no peace to these children of Israel until the King of Peace, the Son of David returns.
These disciples represent the Jewish people at this time because the death and resurrection of Christ has not taken place.
Think upon this. When the Lord ascended into Heaven, He did not leave the Church behind because there was no Church at that time, it was just beginning with the Apostles beginning their work.
When the Lord returns, He will not find the Church here on earth, because He will have already removed the Church.
Jesus will return to this earth to receive the remnant of the Jews. That hidden treasure from the parables.
It is the fourth watch of the night when Jesus is spotted walking on top of the storm.
It is the dawning before the morning when Jesus is seen.
The darkness of sin has been erased and the Lord of Glory returns.
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
It is the fourth watch when the Lord leaves His place in Heaven and returns to this earth.
First, He will leave His place and come with a shout and the Church will meet Him in the air.
Second, He will return to this earth to put an end to sin and again deal with backsliding Israel.
So this fourth watch is then the Church Age the gradual approaching of the Lord.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The Church does not fear this fourth watch of the night!
The Church is not troubled, we know our ending!
The Jews in the time of Jacob's trouble will show great fright!
Then King Jesus will say: "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid".
Then our favorite Apostle speaks up.
*****Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Do you know what hinders our relationship with God the most? It is doubt.
Thank goodness our God has almost as much "patience" as He has "Grace".
The Lord Jesus will always speak to us in our times of doubt, but we must be listening.
Remember what Jesus says:
Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
We do not know about the others, but we know for certain that Peter knew this man "walking upon the water" was the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus was walking upon the storm, and we will see the Peter thought he was also ready to walk upon the storm.
Peter got one thing right. You cannot come unless you are called!
We also see the Lord is willing to receive all those that He has called!
Luk 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luk 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luk 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
If you reject the call of the Lord, you will not be at the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb"!
Peter jumped out of that little ship and the water felt like pavement as solid as "Rock" and he began walking just as the Lord Jesus was walking.
Remember what Jesus says:
Mat_16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
I just wonder if Peter remembered this day walking upon the Sea of Galilee when the Lord said these words?
You see "faith" is that Rock that is needed for the Church.
What or who is this "Rock"?
Mar_1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Joh_20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Act_8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
But what has happened to our Jewish friends?
Peter showed that it took an act of faith while turning of his back upon Judaism, that would allow him to walk upon the storms of this world to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter faltered when the storms overcame his faith unlike the Apostle Paul who led an entire ship to safety showing the truth of the Gentile Church.
We know that the Jews will have to separate themselves from Judaism, to become part of the Church and when Jesus came the first time, they rejected this.
Peter only walked a few steps but then he said those famous words of the Church.
*****Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me".
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
If you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord of your life, the only words you need are "Lord Save Me"!
So when the Lord says "Come" then just walk in "faith" upon the storms caused by Satan, and the Lord will extend His arm down to your level of sin no matter how deep you are in sin, and He will save you!
We must then separate ourselves from this sinful world.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Just as Peter had to separate himself from Judaism.
We must look to Jesus!
Heb_12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We must never look away from Jesus and expect better things that do not exist!
Today we see that Satan is bringing a very different "Wind of Change", but we must not take our eyes off of Christ Jesus!
Faith is still our greatest friend!
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
When Jesus comes into the ship, that wind will cease!
*****Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Mat 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
What really happened here?
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, we to are able to walk upon the storms of life and we to can lay our heads down on the pillow at night and sleep in peace, knowing we have a God to cares and a God who has power over all of His created world.
Satan is going to do his best to make our lives more miserable, but we are stronger than he because of who dwells in us!
1Jn_4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The Lord will never let the Church sink.
The Church is that Ship that is sailing on troubled waters with boisterous winds, yet the Church is safe in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ who walks alongside the ship to keep her afloat.
It is the false church that has allowed the worldly seas to get inside the ship.
The Lord Jesus is outside that ship begging to get back in and if He is not allowed back in, then those fake ships will certainly sink into the pits of Hell, or Hades, whichever term you prefer.
If you do not believe in Hell, then you have no right to claim Heaven, both are in the same Book of Life.
If you do not believe in demons, then you have no right to believe in angels, both are in the same Book of Life.
If you do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the true and only Messiah, then you do not believe in our Creator!
When the ship with Jesus inside it reached the shore, they brought to Him all that were sick, and He healed them all.
Some had so much faith that they sought just to touch the hem of His garment and those that did were also healed.
This is a picture of our Savior!
Jesus never gets tired of saving and He never gets tired of healing!
Amen
