Title: Christ calms life’s storms.
Theme: JESUS CURES OUR FEAR, SO THAT LIFES STORMS ARE CALMED IN HIM!
Text: Matthew 14:22-33 English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Dear friends in Christ,
On September 18, 2009, my friend Tim’s daughter Andrea suffered a tremendous heart attack. She was a sophomore at the University of Michigan at the time and thankfully near the University hospital. The extent of the damage was so severe that Andrea needed a new heart.
Her heart transplant was done on October 13. Even though she had a stroke the morning of the operation Andrea wanted to go through with the surgery. After many sleepless nights, prayers and concern Andrea was able to go home and start her rehabilitation.
This was a tragic situation to say the least for any family to go through. Andrea was mad at God and life. Her parents continued to encourage her and pray. As Tim and I talked one day when I called to check on her condition, he said something very profound. He said, “God can heal her or God can take her. Whatever He does I’ll continue to trust Him.”
Andrea got back to school and finished her sophomore year. But as Tim said someone else had to lose their life so she could live.
JESUS CURES OUR FEAR, SO THAT LIFES STORMS ARE CALMED IN HIM!
Last week’s message showed our Lord Jesus Christ’s compassion to the crowd that had followed Him when he went to a desolate place to grieve by Himself after hearing that John the Baptist had been killed by Herod.
After the feeding of the five thousand the day was drawing to a close, the people had been fed and the compassion of Christ had been made evident to all … especially His disciples. Now Jesus sends them all away so He can get back to the business of why He came here to grieve John’s death and to pray.
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. (Matt. 14:22)
The crowds are dismissed, the disciples have departed and in a little while we will see that:
23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. (Matt. 14:23a)
Jesus finally got about the work He came to do … to pray and grieve. He had sent His disciples back across the lake in the boat He had arrived in by Himself.
When evening came, he was there alone, (Matt. 14 23b)
I’ve often wondered what the disciples talked about as they contemplated the miracle they just had witnessed, by the feeding of this large crowd with five loaves and two fish, or what they were now thinking as they departed in the boat across the lake leaving Jesus to his business back on the shore.
It might have been a combination of bewilderment and joy?
“Can you imagine all the people that were fed and still we had twelve baskets of pieces left over after all had ate their fill?” one disciple might have remarked.
“It was truly a miracle!” another exclaimed as they all remembered the Quail and manna from heaven that God had fed the Israelites with as they made their Exodus in the wilderness so many years before.
“He is truly the Messiah!” another might have added all the while not aware that the winds had picked up and the little boat, beaten by the waves, was making small progress fighting across the lake towards their destination.
25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.
JESUS CURES OUR FEAR, SO THAT LIFES STORMS ARE CALMED IN HIM!
Fear, at times consumes us all. It’s real and we deal with different levels of it. It could be the fear of life’s economic uncertainty. It could be a change of location or a health concern. It could be a random act of violence on those we know, even ourselves or the fear that it could happen to us as well.
You are all aware of the sad and difficult to understand tragic deaths in Norway this past month?
Ill.
More than 80 youths attending a political gathering were reported to have been shot dead when a terrorist disguised as a policeman opened fire on a holiday island on a lake near the Norwegian capital.
Seven people had earlier been killed in central Oslo when a car bomb went off outside the country’s main government building. Members of the ruling Labour Party were the targets in both cases. Police had confirmed a total of at least 87 deaths last night.
British security forces were immediately placed on alert amid initial fears that Norway’s worst terrorist outrage might be the first in a series of attacks on the West by Islamic terrorists.
At least one Islamic terrorist group claimed the attacks were “revenge” for Norway’s engagement in Afghanistan, but last night Norwegian police said the attack did not appear to be the work of Islamists.
The man arrested in connection with the Utoya Island shooting was named last night as Anders Behring Breivik, 32, a Norwegian national. He described himself on his Facebook page as a conservative Christian and was reported to have links to the far-Right.
By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent 6:00 AM BST 23 Jul 2011
Terrorist revenge or the lone work of a single misguided individual, we all can feel the fear of this fallen world creep into our lives. We pray daily for those that need the Lord’s healing touch or good test results for medical conditions, all things we may worry about that cause us to fear. Sometimes we receive good news and at times the news we get is not what we were looking for. Even in the midst of bad news we can know that:
JESUS CURES OUR FEAR, SO THAT LIFES STORMS ARE CALMED IN HIM!
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (Matt. 14:27)
Christ approached the boat and their fear with these comforting words:
"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (Matt. 14:28b)
Jesus was there in the midst of the wind and waves with the calming reassurance for the disciples that it will be alright because He is in control of all in this world and the next. Even though storms, wind and waves can cause doubt, Christ is there with reassurance.
28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (Matt. 14:28)
Christ was Peter’s focus in time of fear but he still needed proof. Take heart; it is I didn’t cut it. So Jesus calls him once again.
29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
When Christ is Peter’s focus all is well. He hears the Lord’s voice and wishes to be the first to embrace His Lord. Jesus beacons Peter to come and the miracle of walking on the water by Jesus is repeated as Peter, in faith, steps out of the boat.
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." (Matt. 14:30)
God is the answer to Peter’s fear. Christ is his call as his fear overwhelms him and he begins to sink. Our Lord’s response to Peter’s cry is that:
31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him (Matt. 14:31a)
Christ is Peter’s strength in the midst of impending fear and doom. As the wind and the waves calmed and Peter and Jesus once again entered the boat, the words of Christ as he took hold of Peter’s hand, as he began to sink, once again invaded Peter’s thoughts:
"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matt. 14:31b)
JESUS CURES OUR FEAR, SO THAT LIFES STORMS ARE CALMED IN HIM!
Christ is ready to take hold of you too as you worry through the storms of life. He will reach out and take hold of you as you feel overwhelmed by Life’s fears. He makes a way when there is no way. He says:"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (Matt.14:28b) - Even when faith and doubt overwhelm us, He is the Peace that surpasses all human understanding.
But most importantly, He has come to redeem the lost and has taken your sins upon Himself, so that even though you might not be healed in this life for your illness and die you can know and have comfort that because he lives you will too.
David in Psalm 139 understands that the Lord knows Him and is with him always.
Psalm 139:7-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
Christ is here in all our joy. He is here in time of sorrow. He will lift us when we fall and comfort us today, tomorrow. Christ is everywhere we are. He will be where ever we go. He will calm the storms of Life, In Christ our cure of fear we’ll know.
JESUS CURES OUR FEAR, SO THAT LIFES STORMS ARE CALMED IN HIM!
Andrea is doing well and will start her junior year this fall. She still has paralysis on her left side and this causes her frustration. But she and all of us at one point in the future will be called to our heavenly home.
May your faith in our loving God, Father Son and Holy Spirit comfort you in the knowledge that He is with you always. By the power of the Holy Spirit in you, may He cause your faith to be strengthened and lifted up from the storms in this life with the blessed Good News that Jesus has come in the flesh, has taken your sin upon Himself at the cross and has suffered and died for you so that you might have freedom from sin, comfort and peace in Him and eternity in heaven where a room is prepared and is waiting for you and for all who will believe. God grant it.
Amen
And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in and through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen
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