Matthew
14:13-36
“When Jesus heard of it, he departed
thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard
thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great
multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
(Matthew 14:13-14)
After Jesus
heard about John’s execution, he sailed across the Sea of Galilee to a desert
area. When the people learned where he
had gone, they followed him around the coast on foot. Concerned that they had traveled so far to hear
him, Jesus took time to heal their sick.
“And when it was evening, his
disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now
past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy
themselves victuals.
But Jesus said unto them, They need
not depart; give ye them to eat.
And they say unto him, We have here but
five loaves, and two fishes.” (Matthew 14:15-17)
That evening
the disciples came to Jesus, concerned because they were in the middle of the
desert and there was no place close to get food. They recommended he send the people away to
find a place where they could get food.
Jesus said there
was no need to send then away. They should
just feed them. The disciples were
concerned that they had only a small boy’s sack lunch. They were sure that five biscuits or pieces
of pita bread and a couple of sardines was not enough to feed the crowd.
“He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on
the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to
heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the
disciples to the multitude. And they did
all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained
twelve baskets full. And they that had
eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” (Matthew 14:18-21)
Jesus
instructed them to bring him the food and have the multitude sit down. Because they believed in him, the disciples
obeyed. After praying, he started
breaking the food into pieces which the disciples handed to the people. When they finished, there was far more left
over than they had started with, even though between five thousand and ten
thousand people had eaten all they wanted.
In all the
years I have been a pastor, I have never seen a church dinner run short of food
even when people who weren’t expected showed up and the ladies who fixed the
food were worried about having enough.
I believe that on a much smaller scale, God has repeatedly done the same
thing. Unfortunately, believing that doesn’t always
stop me form worrying.
“And 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. And
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. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea,
tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 14:22-24)
After
feeding the multitude, Jesus told the disciples to get into the ship and go to
the other side while he sent the crowd home.
He then went up to mountains where he prayed privately until almost
dark. In the meantime, the ship had
gotten well out into the sea and a storm had arisen that was impeding their
progress.
“And in the fourth watch of the night
Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the
sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”
(Matthew 14:25-26)
Sometime
between midnight and two in the morning, Jesus caught up with the ship, walking
on the water. The se was so rough no one
was sleeping and when they saw him, the disciples thought it must be a ghost or
spirit coming to get them and started yelling to drive him away.
“But straightway Jesus spake unto
them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said,
Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was
come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was
afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his
hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore
didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:27-31)
Jesus
identified himself to calm their fears and Peter asked permission to walk on
the water to Jesus. Jesus told him to
come on and Peter climbed out and started walking toward him. None of the other disciples dared to try.
Though the
waves were not tossing him around and he was having no trouble walking, Peter
got distracted by the violence of the wave and panicked, beginning to
sink. When he called for the Lord to
help him, Jesus reached down and took him by the hand, pulling him up while
standing on the water. He asked him why he quit trusting him, because
he had been doing fine.
“And when they were come into the
ship, the wind ceased. Then they that
were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son
of God.” (Matthew 14:32-33)
Immediately
upon his entering the ship, the wind stopped and the disciples remembered what
had happened in Matthew 8:24-27, when Jesus commanded the wind to stop. This time they didn’t ask what kind of man
could do this. They knew he was the son
of God.
“And when they were gone over, they
came into the land of Gennesaret. And
when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that
country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought
him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched
were made perfectly whole.” (Matthew 14:34-36)
Thanks, Frank.
ReplyDeleteHaving not been, I am forced to use what I am familiar with, knowing it wa swhat a boy would take for his lunch.