Today, I want to post on life. I want to look at an event in the lives of
the disciples, and I want to apply it to our own lives. Most of us are Christians, but I wonder if
you really understand about faith. All
Christians believe in Jesus, but we all have a past and the baggage that goes
with that. Maybe some of you were
involved with the traditional Taiwanese religion, and you’re hanging on to some
of the old beliefs, and old practices.
Perhaps others are looking at Jesus in the wrong way. I want to post on some of those things,
today. So, Let’s start with our text:
Mark 6:45-51 (NKJV)
6:45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
They Thought He Was a Ghost
We have this tendency to blame all the bad things that
happen to us on You-know-who – That Stinking Devil! But do you know, a lot of times the troubles
we face are just life. Life isn’t always
Peaches and ice cream. Life has problems
and troubles of its own!
Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
In our text, we see the apostles – They’re in a boat. They’re out on the sea and a big storm blows
up. It’s life or death for them, the
Bible says they’re straining at rowing.
They’re struggling against the waves and wind and they are frightened!
Imagine what it’s like out there – Waves coming over the
sides of the boat – The wind makes it hard to steer the boat – and they’re
rowing, they’ve been rowing for hours.
Jesus sent them in the early evening and now it’s the fourth watch – about
three in the morning. They’re exhausted
and I’m sure they’re feeling like they’re going to die.
Then Jesus walks out to the boat. Look at what it says:
Mark 6:49 (NKJV)
6:49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;
Jesus comes to them and they don’t recognize Him. This is a time of great trouble, that can’t be
Jesus. Do you ever think that? We always think that Jesus would only do good
for us, that if He’s involved there won’t be trouble. The problem is that Jesus doesn’t always ask
for the easy things.
In the Old Testament, Jesus was the “Angel of the Lord”. He was the one that was going to destroy Sodom. He was the one who commanded Abraham to
sacrifice Isaac. He was the one who
wrestled with Jacob.
In times of trouble we don’t always recognize Jesus. We’re focused on the trouble and our faith
disappears. Look at this:
Matthew 14:28-30 (NKJV)
14:28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
This is the same event as in our text, but Matthew gives us
this other detail. Peter sees that it’s
Jesus and decides to walk out to Him.
While he’s focused on Jesus, he walks on the water, but the Bible says
that the wind was boisterous. When he
began to listen to the wind, he began to focus on that. He’s distracted by the problems – the wind
and waves – and he begins to sink. Jesus
is right there, right in front of him and yet he focuses on the wind! He focuses on the storm and the danger!
Do you think it’s interesting that He left them to struggle
for so long? They had traveled about
four miles, that’s about halfway across.
He left them in the middle of it all until then. Then He goes to them and says, “It is I! Be of good cheer!” “Here I am! Don’t worry!” “It’s okay, I’m here,
I’ll save you!” and then Peter gets out of the boat. “Now that You’re here, I
don’t have to be afraid.” Then the wind
frightens him again, and he begins to sink.
What does Jesus do? He
immediately saves him:
Matthew 14:31a (NKJV)
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him…
How many of us are like that? In the middle of the storms of life, Jesus
shows up. At first, we’re relieved, “I
can do it! Jesus is here!” but the
problems are still just as intense and we’re distracted by that, and what
happens? We lose faith again.
Here’s a hard truth for you.
Sometimes, the troubles in your life are orchestrated by God! Remember, Jesus sent them out in the boat, to
get to the other side. We think Jesus is
there to answer prayer and give us what we want. You have to remember that it’s Jesus Christ,
not Jesus Claus. Sometimes, you have to
go through some difficult things, in order to be prepared to live God’s Will
for your life. This is true in my own
life. I went through some things before
I got saved. I lived through a few
storms – the storm of depression and self-loathing – The storm of alcoholism,
loneliness, and pain – The storm of Muscular Dystrophy!
I didn’t see Jesus in any of those things! I was floundering like a ship in a
storm. I was tired and exhausted. I was straining at rowing, and I didn’t recognize
that Jesus was involved, but He saved me!
He pulled me out of those storms.
If I hadn’t gone through them, I would have never seen my need. I would have thought I didn’t need Him – that
I could handle it on my own! It was the
struggle that kindled my faith!
A Call to Faith and a Call to Action
I asked this earlier, but I want to focus on it a little
more. Why did Jesus wait? Why didn’t He come sooner? I already said that sometimes we have to face
some things in order to be ready to be used for His purposes, but I think Jesus
was giving them and us another lesson, as well.
Look at the situation – This is a violent and dangerous
storm. They see Jesus walking on the
water and think He’s a ghost. I think
they saw an omen in that, “There’s a ghost – That means we’re going to die!” Then Jesus says, “It is I, be of good cheer!” This is a call to faith, “It’s me, don’t
worry!” but it’s also a call to action – “Don’t let your fear deceive you!” What is it that stops you from stepping out
in faith? What keeps you from jumping
wholeheartedly into the Will of God?
These men in this boat are terrified! They’re seeing ghosts, but Peter rises up in
faith, “Call me and I’ll come to you!”
This guy is getting out of the boat to walk on water! He’s got faith! He’s taking the action of that faith!
This is where we stop!
We believe – “I believe in Jesus!”
If you do, then get out of the boat.
Get out of that safe, comfortable place.
Get out of the boat! “Well, I don’t
know about that!”
I used to go rock climbing – way up high – Big, big
rocks! I didn’t hesitate, I fastened on
my gear and I just jumped off, bounding down the rock! I completely trusted my gear, I had faith, I
put it into action. How many are willing
to walk onto an airplane and fly places?
You have faith in the pilot, faith in aerodynamics. You’re not afraid to fly. You say you believe in Jesus. You say you have faith. So, why hesitate to give yourself completely
to Him?
Peter got out of the boat and walked through the storm, but
faith is interesting. Sometimes, we have
great faith, but it can waver. We can
temporarily lose faith. Peter’s doing
something that no one but Jesus has ever done – He’s walking on water – but right
in the middle of it, he loses faith.
Has that ever happened to you? You’ve answered God’s call. You’re doing what he’s asked you to do, but
suddenly you find yourself thinking I can’t do this. I want to confess to you, that there were
times in my ministry when I thought, “I’m not having any impact!” There were times when I thought the church would
have been better off if I’d left.
“There’s no response!”
“People don’t want to come!”
“I’m not inspiring anyone!”
That was me listening to the wind. That was me struggling with my faith. That was fear and doubt – the very opposite of
faith. I started to sink into depression
and discouragement, my faith at that point was very small. When I came to Taiwan, I was brimming with
faith. I was out of the boat; I was
walking on the water! I was focused on
Jesus, but then the wind became boisterous. And I drifted. I cried out and Jesus lifted me up.
Matthew 14:31 (NKJV)
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
“Why did you doubt?”
In the presence of Jesus, why is there doubt? Here’s the second hard truth: I’m not the only one who struggles with
faith. Some people haven’t really grown
in faith. They’re stuck at “I believe in
Jesus,” faith. They have never stepped
into the “get out of the boat” type of faith.
You Have to Try it to Have Faith
As Peter is in the middle of the storm – as they are
fighting the wind and the waves, he’s probably not thinking, “I can walk on the
water.” When he sees Jesus, he trusts
Him. He believes that Jesus can command
him to walk to Jesus. He’s not walking
on the water; he’s walking on the command to come. He knows that the power to do the impossible
resides in Christ’s words.
I knew I could stay and fight another day, because I knew
Jesus had the power to do the impossible through me. The power that I have is only the power to
obey.
So, think about your own life. What storms are you fighting through? What is that thing in your life that seems as
impossible as walking on water? What is
that thing that you NEED God to do? Jesus
is there in that storm you’re facing! He’s
comforting you, but He’s also calling you to action.
Do you know how best to develop faith? Do something.
Peter says – Call to me and I’ll come to you. In order to walk on water, he had to get out
of the boat. If you want to have faith,
try doing what God is calling you to do.
I know – you’re afraid. It’s
easier and safer to stay in the boat, but you can't overcome in fear. Fear rules your life. Fear stops your momentum.
Some people think Jesus can’t do anything in their
life. They’re right! The impossible will always be out of their
reach until that moment when they get out of the boat! You need a miracle? Then get out of the boat! You need to take action, to see God work a
miracle. Peter walked on water – a powerful
miracle. The others didn’t have a miracle,
because they didn’t trust enough to get out of the boat.
Where are you, today?
In the boat or walking on the water?
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