Text: Matt. 14:22-33
Facebook live: God knows!
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."
Verse 1
The razor’s edge is going to cut you, deeper and deeper
You hate the way it hurts and the time it takes to heal
You cover up the wounds and hope no one will notice
The way the razor works and the way the razor feels
But God know, Yes God knows, God knows when you hurt
That was the first verse of a song I wrote many years ago for a Christian band I was part of in the 90’s called 2ND Chance. The razor’s edge was a metaphor for the pains in life that we all deal with, how we hide those pains and cover the wounds and how in spite of the pain God knows and hears us during the times of trial.
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.
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 with the feeding of the large crowd with five loaves and two fish, or what they were now talking about as they departed in the boat across the lake leaving Jesus 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 might have 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.
Verse 2
In life we got to stumble, little by little
Feeling for the bottom just to know which way is up
You look upon the journey and you think no one will hear you
Call out for a hand to reach and pick you up.
And God knows, yes God knows, God knows when you call.
25And in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] 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.
Fear, at times consumes us all.
It’s real and we all 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 someone we don’t know, someone we know, or the fear that it could happen to us as well.
Or, it could be just a change of wind that brings danger to a otherwise peaceful calm.
So call on the Father
And call on the Son
Together the blood of life was shed for everyone.
It is only by the work of the Holy Spirit that we can we come to Christ or call on him. And as Jesus approaches the boat he comes to the disciples with these wonderful 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, we can trust that Christ is there with reassurance, though at times doubt still remains.
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 for Peter. So Jesus calls him once again.
29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
10 feet, 12 feet 15 feet … it doesn’t say.
When Christ is Peter’s focus all is well. He hears the Lord’s voice and wants to be the first to embrace His Lord. Jesus calls Peter to come and the miracle of walking on the water is repeated as Peter, in faith, steps out of the boat.
30 But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Matt. 14:30
Peter knew Christ, saw him and heard his voice. Yet in the storms of life the comfort of Christ can be overcome for us in the moment of affliction and fear.
Verse 3
A heart that’s broke or breaking starting to crumble
You feel just like the weight of the world is caving in
You call out for forgiveness you hope your prayers are answered
Seeds of doubt are planted every time that you begin
And God knows, yes God knows, God knows when you call.
God is the answer to Peter’s fear.
Christ is the focus of his call as his fear overwhelms him and he begins to sink. – Lord save me!
Jesus hears and responds to Peter’s cry in that:
31[He] immediately [reaches] out his hand and [takes] 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 again invaded Peter’s thoughts:
"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matt. 14:31b
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 when 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, Jesus has come to redeem the lost and has taken your sin and mine upon Himself, so that even though death is a reality in this life there is comfort that because he lives you too live – in him!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Song: God Knows - Russ Tkac 2020
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