Matthew 14 - Do You Want to Walk on Water?
John the Baptist Beheaded
14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
King Herod was still being haunted by the fact that he had John the Baptist killed. We know John boldly proclaimed "Repent and be baptized", as he prepared the way for Jesus, his cousin. John it appears also boldly rebuked Herod's sexually immoral relationship with his sister in law. Whenever someone is rebuked for something they know is wrong, they often react in anger to try and hide their sin. Herod would have killed him immediately but he knew John was favored and treated like a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Now we see how John's death came to pass. Herod's niece Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was enthralled with her probably in the same way he was consumed with lust for Herodias. Herod likely had quite a few glasses of wine and he loudly proclaimed he would do anything for his young niece. Prompted by her mother, who probably despised John because of his position on their relationship, he asked for John's head on a platter. Quite a request! Herod wanted to save face and not look weak in front of his guests so he agreed.
John was beheaded and sure enough Herodias brought to the girl, who gave it to her adultress mom. John's disciples gave a proper burial and relayed to Jesus the message of what happened to his cousin.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
When Jesus heard of John's death, he was grief stricken and went by boat to a solitary place. But the crowds followed him. They followed to the place on the water where he landed.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
This is a great story teaching us how Jesus performed his signs. I.e. What he did and what he called on the people to do. The disciples were doubtful they would be able to feed all the people. Other gospels say it was in the 1000's. The disciples thought their supplies were meager and wouldn't go very far. But Jesus says, "Bring them here to me!"
I think this is key aspect of this miracle. Jesus asks them to give him what they had. The disciples obeyed trusting Jesus could do with it much more than they could ask and or imagine. Jesus gave thanks to the Father and broke the loaves. This is reminds us of Holy Communion. He gave the bread to the disciples and the disciples gave them to all the people gathered, which Matthew estimated to be 5,000 people. Not only did Jesus feed them all but there was even leftovers. It was if Jesus and the Father were saying, "When you bring what you have to me and I give them to the Father, we can do more than you c could every imagine?
What needs to you have in your life physically, relationally, emotionally or spiritually? Give Jesus what you have. Give thanks to the Father for what you already have. Trust in God to provide for what you need, which is sometimes different than want you want. And their might even be leftovers.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
There are several principles to learn from this story:
1. Once again Jesus spent time alone in prayer as was his custom. If the Son of God spent so much time in prayer how much more do we?
2. Through prayer the Holy Spirit led him to see the disciples were out on the lake when a furious squall came up. He realized they needed help so he walked out to them on the water. A another miraculous sign showing his power.
3. Despite all the miracles Jesus done they thought he was a ghost and were terrified. We might have had the same reaction I suspect.
4. Peter, once again the boldest one in the group recognized Jesus and asked if was him to bid him to come out on the water. This took a lot of faith, especially when he took his first step.
5. Peter actually walked on water for awhile. Through his boldness and faith he participated in this miracle with Jesus. Wouldn't that have been cool.
6. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, he went back into the natural world with only his natural power left and he sunk.
7. Jesus rebuked him from doubt and graciously helped him from sinking and possibly drowning. Jesus had mercy and at some level you might imagine he admired the faith Peter exhibited.
When he landed all the people waitng for him and he HEALED THEM ALL.
Comments
Post a Comment