Matthew 14:22-33
22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
In this account after feeding the 5,000 men, and the added women and children, Jesus straightway which means immediately constrained his disciples which means He urged them, compelled them to get in the ship and leave Him and go to the other side. He then sent the multitudes away. He did all this in order to be alone with His Father in prayer, He went up the mountain and prayed, fellowshipped alone with the Father. I am going to stop right here for a few moments.
If it was so important for Jesus to take time away for everything and be alone with the Father, how much more important is it for us?
Really ask yourself, how long has it been since you got alone with Him. Not asking for anything, just thanking Him, loving Him, wanting more of Him? How long has it been since you told others I am going to spend time with my Father please do not disturb me, it may take a while? How long has it been since you just sat there and waited for our Father to speak to you?
I want you to envision this picture for a moment.
A small child is with his Daddy walking, holding on tightly to his Daddy’s hand. Every so often looking up at him and smiling. They are about to cross the street, the Daddy looks down with a gentle smile, the small boy looks up and grips his Daddy’s hand just a bit tighter. That small boy knew he was safe as long as his Daddy was with him, telling him what to do and where to go.
This is how the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ lived His life while on earth! He did NOTHING accept what the Father TOLD HIM, He went NOWHERE unless the Father told Him! He healed who the Father told Him. He came to do and speak what the Father’s Will was, not His own. He and the Father were ALWAYS together except for 3 hours on Mt. Calvary.
This is our example to follow, are you following Christ Jesus’ example of relying completely on our Father? If not we need to start like yesterday! Things are very rough now, the night is falling and deception is everywhere. If we do not get a true one on one relationship started or stir ourselves on fire we may find ourselves in the storm and be very troubled by all the voices speaking, and the chaos ensuing.
After Jesus was finished, He found Himself alone, all had departed. The ship was about the middle of the water and a storm had risen up. It was about the fourth watch it says, which would have been 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. when Jesus began to walk on the water to them. In Mark, we are told that they were afraid because they thought it was a spirit they had seen and cried out. All 12 saw Him and they were very afraid, He was about to walk right past them. But their cries are what made Him stop.
Mark 6:45-52
Jesus Walks on Water
45And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
He tells them to be of good cheer that it is Him and to be not afraid. Let’s stop here for a few minutes and understand what the LORD is showing us in this account.
First, the LORD had told them to get in the ship and go to the other side BEFORE HIM, did He not? Yes, He did. This meant that regardless of the storm, or circumstances the LORD told them He would meet them on the other side. This storm was a very powerful storm; it was very hard and torturous on them. But like us in time of trouble or distress, it is like we get amnesia when it comes to what the LORD has told us He would do. Unlike Abraham, when the LORD told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Abraham knew that regardless of what happens God CANNOT LIE. God said many nations would come from his seed and if he killed Isaac then God was able to bring him back to life, either way, Abraham knew 2 went up the mountain and two was going back down the mountain. This is the kind of faith the LORD wants us to have.
Also, they were toiling trying to row, they were relying on self and not even thinking about calling on Jesus. Even though, they had just witnessed a magnificent miracle of multiplying the bread and fish. They did not think to even cry out to Him until they have seen Him and thought Him to be a spirit, now they were afraid, and self couldn’t help them in this situation.
It says Jesus would have passed by them, why? They seemed to rely on their own strength up to this point, then seeing Him, and then they cried out! (I believe they cried out for Him, but that is my opinion.) The LORD will let us toil, the LORD will let us do things our way, which is never good. Though He was right there with them, they did not even think about calling on Him. After all, they did this for a living, right? BUT as soon as they cried out, He answered quickly! With reassuring words, “Be of good cheer; it is I be not afraid.”
As soon as Peter knew it was the LORD, oh how he wanted to go out to Him. So Peter yells IF it is you LORD bid me come on the water to you. And Jesus tells him to come to Him, Peter gets out and walks on the water to Jesus!! That is so amazing, but it was short-lived sadly. Because when the LORD does something amazing in our lives or uses us in profound ways we too begin to look around as Peter did.
When Peter took his eyes off the LORD and onto the storm instead then the situation infused fear which brought doubt. Peter cried out, “LORD save me!” Jesus reached down and took him by the hand, after all, He is the Master of the sea too! When Jesus took hold of Peter He said, “Oh thou of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they both got into the ship the wind ceased and the storm was gone. They were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. Then in Mark, it says they didn’t even think of the miracle of the loaves, their heart was hardened. But in Matthew, it says they worshipped Him and said of truth that He was the Son of God.
So which is it? The confusion comes with the misunderstanding of hardening the heart. It does not mean they turned their back on Him or was angry in any way. What astonished the 12 is they seen He did the great miracle of bread, but for some reason walking on the water and being Master of the sea was so much greater in their eyes and Him doing this left them amazed. It is kind of like at that moment they removed Jesus out of the box and seen Him for exactly who He is! THE SON OF GOD!
Even though almost 2000 years have passed we do exactly the same thing today. We can believe the LORD to help us drive, but we seem to think of being healed or feeding us is too great for Him to do! He wants us to lean on Him as Jacob had to lean on the staff after wrestling with the LORD. We must have faith that whatsoever we ask in His Name He will do it. I am not talking about foolishness I am not talking about materialistic things. I am talking about your needs the things you need in order to survive, spiritual needs as well. Our Father is much greater than our natural dad and will give us good things. BUT, and yes there is a BUT you must be abiding IN HIM AND HIM IN YOU. You must be living a life pleasing to Him, obeying His commandments, submitting to Him, and picking up your cross following Him.
He held onto the Father, only doing and going what and where the Father said, we are to do the same. But if you are not spending time alone with the Father and getting to know Him intimately through prayer, even in silence just resting in His Presence how will you be able to not only trust Him but have faith He will always be there leading you? How?
I personally believe we are approaching the time where if you do not know His voice or His Word you will be deceived. We must be selfish when it comes to leaving a busy lifestyle and spend time with the Father. We must pray to anoint our ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, to open our spiritual ears and eyes. King David wrote that he had never seen the righteous begging bread. I believe him! If we find ourselves begging in these coming weeks and months then we need to examine our own heart and life. He will provide according to His riches in glory, there is no famine or drought in Heaven for Heaven is a place of plenty.
Let’s learn to be a Mary and sit and listen to our LORD speak. Rest in Him, for He promised us rest for our souls here and now! Take His yoke upon you, for He yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Have a blessed evening!
I love you all.
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