In Over Your Head

Matthew 14:22-36

Overcome, overwhelmed, and in over your head-such is the life of a disciple of Jesus. Far from the constant \"mountain top\" experience many of us long for, too often we find ourselves dealing with life\'s difficult circumstances, struggling with what it means and what it takes to be a follow of Jesus. We want to follow His commission to us to spread the gospel, but when we do \"step out\" sometimes instead of flying we start sinking!

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But what chapter 14 shows us is that despite difficulties, we can channel our emotions of fear, sorrow, and frustration into more dependence on Jesus and more service through Him.

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We join the disciples after Jesus has taken a little boy\'s lunch and fed 10,000 people with it. After the meal is over Jesus sends the boys out into the boats. Something to remember about why Jesus \"immediately\" sent the disciples in the boat is that the crowd was literally in the process of taking Him by force to make Him king. So he withdrew to a mountain to be by Himself.

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22 - 23

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The first thing I notice about this was, why did Jesus let them row into the storm? And why didn\'t He see them in trouble from afar and calm the winds for them? Why does God allow bad things to happen to us? Why couldn\'t he stop that car from veering into our lane, why couldn\'t he move to help me keep my job, why didn\'t he stop that disease from hitting me?

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We conclude that God must be either punishing us, unable to help, or unwilling because He really doesn\'t care. None of those is true, so it must be something else.

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John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.\"

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We will not escape tribulation. In fact, God knows it\'s coming. But know this-God works more powerfully in you during the storm than the calm, and God works more forcefully through you in times of trial than when nothing is going wrong.

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Why is that? When you are vulnerable you are more open to knowing 1) your lack and 2) your need of the Spirit.

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So the second thing I notice is that Jesus ends up, by Himself, up on the mountain. And what is He doing? Praying. Jesus was exhausted, He was grieving. But when Jesus gets tired, He gets to praying to find rejuvenation. I wonder what He was praying about. Perhaps about what the disciples were about to go through? I think likely it was actually praying that the disciple\'s hearts would be softened. Mark\'s gospel tells us that the reason they were astounded later was that they didn\'t understand the miracle of the loaves and their hearts were hardened. Is it possible that Jesus brings us into difficult times so that we will know He is truly the Messiah, truly the source for everything? But know this-Jesus prays for you constantly!

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Hebrews 7:25 he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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Jesus is praying for you. It is a priority for Him. He prays that God\'s work will be done in and through you. That becomes important as we see what comes next.

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24 - 27

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Here the disciples were, John tells us, 3-4 miles out in a huge wind storm. Mark tells us it was a very heavy wind and that they were unable to make headway by rowing.

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These were experienced fishermen so it would take a lot to frighten them. In the dim light they see someone coming to them on the water. You would have thought it was a ghost (phantasma - apparition) too! Mark tells us that Jesus actually intended to pass right on by them. There is some confusion as to what this means, but likely it is simply that \"Jesus meant to pass their way.\"

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Nnotice what He says: \"Take heart. It is I, do not be afraid.\" No matter what storm we face, Jesus is watching and will come to us when it is His time.? In the Greek, \"It is I\" is the same as saying \"I AM is here.\" Jesus \"immediately\" sent them into the storm but also \"immediately\" came to them and comforted them in the midst of the storm.

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No matter what storm we find ourselves in, when Jesus arrives there is no need to fear. (Matt 28:20) I am with you always, to the end of the age.\"

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Peter takes Him at His word: \"Be courageous,\" which is what \"take heart\" means.

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28 - 35

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Most of the time when Peter opens his mouth he sticks his foot right in it. But a couple of times, like this one, his response is right on. He is the only one who responds with fearless faith here. He is asking to do what Jesus does, and only by His bidding. It is only when he takes his eyes off of Jesus that he begins to sink, noticing how really terrible the storm is and that he has left whatever safety the boat provided.

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But just as when we actually do \"step out\" and something goes really really well, but the enormity of it steals away our attention - like Peter we cry out to the Lord and He reaches down and pulls us up. Jesus is always there in the background! Jesus wondered why Peter ever took his eyes off of Jesus in the first place-a great lesson for us!

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Peter wanted to do what Jesus was doing. We should also want that, no matter how outrageous it might seem. Again, we cannot simply ask for a miracle to do a miracle. All the things Jesus does are to bring God glory and further His plan.

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Are we willing to see the work of Jesus, and have the audacity to ask God to work through us to do things we could never do on our own? Even scary things like talking to someone else about Jesus and seeing the Holy Spirit, not our reasoned argument and lofty words, bring them to salvation.

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34 - 36

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Feeding, healing, and rescuing are all themes of this chapter. What a contrast this reception is compared to chapter 13, which was all about rejection. Capernaum is not far from the area of Gennesaret and the story of the woman healed by touching Jesus\' garment had no doubt spread (Matthew 9:20-22). Deut 22:12 told the men to wear four tassles in the corners of their garments. In Jesus\' day it was a sign of holiness.

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Conclusions

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This chapter gives us a peak at something I would call \"Service while off balance.\"

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1)????? They were grieving and tired, yet challenged to have the compassion of God

2)????? They were without resource for an impossible task, yet challenged to let the Master work through them

3)????? They were in danger and afraid, yet challenged to take just one step further.

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The disciples were merely following Jesus\' commands but found themselves in difficult situations. They had entrusted themselves into His hands. Are we willing to do the same, though it means feeling the weight of compassion, the needs of others, and face impossible and even dangerous circumstances knowing He is always there to break us, give us out, and catch us when we fall? The real test of a disciple is not ministering when you are on the mountain, but when you are crawling on your hands and knees through the valley.

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The bottom line is to keep your eyes on Jesus-watching Him feel and channel that feeling into service, looking to Him to give what you have in a way you could never imagine, and even watching for Him and looking to Him when you are so frightened you cannot imagine the day breaking-walking over the waves and feeling His strong arms catch you when you fall and deliver you safely to His destination for you.

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Jesus knows when you are headed into troubled waters

Jesus sees your need out there straining against he oars

Jesus prays for you constantly

Jesus comes to you to bring comfort and rescue