Looking Unto Jesus — Don McClure

Jesus Sends His Disciples Into the Storm

This morning if you will turn with me to Matthew chapter 14 as we continue on through our studies Through the Bible and this morning we get to chapter 14. And if you'll stand I'll read out of it Matthew chapter 14 verse 22.

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 unto a mountain apart to pray and when 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 and in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went into them walking on the sea and When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying it is a spirit or a ghost and they cried aloud for fear.

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 he said in him.

Oh thou little faith wherefore didst thou doubt. And when they were come to the ship the wind ceased and then They that were in the ship came and worshiped him saying of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Father how we thank you for your word. How we thank you Lord for what you have to reveal to us of yourself. Through your word and Lord when our ship is in the midst of the sea. What you want us to know?

Not only about the sea and about ourselves, but most of all about you. We ask that as we look to your word this morning that you would feed us for we ask it in Jesus name. Amen. You may be seated. Maybe just a little bit here to Set I suppose the scene a little bit of what is happening here.

The Sea of Galilee and the Setting of the Storm

Of course. This is on the Sea of Galilee. Where this event here in chapter 14 takes place so much of Jesus's ministry went on all around the cities all around the Sea of Galilee and so quite a bit of the time of ministry was spent there and they were oftentimes on the sea and being Fishermen as they were they're very acquainted with it as well.

But the Sea of Galilee for those of you that have been with us to Israel, you know this. But it's at the base of a valley that basically comes down from the city of Jerusalem now. Through this valley coming into it.

There are some rather significant mountains or high mountains on both sides of this valley the result of it is is that oftentimes winds will come down through that area and Because of the valley and the layout of the mountains in the side.

It can become almost like a wind tunnel coming down on the Sea of Galilee. And by the time it hits the Sea of Galilee and particularly in the middle of it. They can have some very sudden and powerful storms.

It is not uncommon to have six-foot waves out in the middle of the sea while at the side. It may not even be hardly windy at all. But here is the disciples they find themselves as well. Not only in the middle of this that we'll look at in a moment.

But I think it's also important just to reflect on what we'll see as we go through the overview of the chapter as well. But they had just come from the experience of the feeding of the five thousand. Just that day before this event Jesus had taken probably 12 ,000 maybe with men women and children and miraculously fed them.

They had listened to him all day long and they were gone their way to go back home. They were hungry and they needed something to eat and rather than having to make the journey hungry Jesus Miraculously with five loaves and two fish and just fed them it just provided for him.

It says there Jesus having compassion upon them didn't want them to go home hungry. And right after that it then goes on here in verse 22 and it says in straightway Jesus constrained the disciples in other words as soon really as this was over Jesus then after sending the five thousand men plus women and children were on their way home.

He turned the disciples. He said now I now you go on. He says they're across to go before him under the other side while he sent the multitudes away. Jesus said I'll take care of Rest of the crowd here you guys go on across and meet you on the other side you go before me over there.

And here was something of course. It tells us then there and one of the wonderful things as well that we have with the Bible that They didn't have at the time. I guess is the hindsight is always 2020.

We know some things there that were going on that somebody else wouldn't be aware of at the time. But of course Jesus being omniscient knowing all things and omnipotent having all power Knew full well that they were heading out into a storm.

Jesus Deliberately Trains His Disciples Through Trials

It would be a tremendous storm and He deliberately sent them into it and as he sends them out into this obviously knowing, you know with full knowledge Where they're heading I'm convinced there that he did it once again out of his compassion.

Out of his training. He is you see Jesus has called these twelve to himself. And he has just revealed a great power to them a great miracle there in the mirror in the feeding in the five thousand but he also is very aware that he's soon going to be turning the whole ministry over to them and the things that he is doing.

The life that he is living the ministry is preaching the truth that he is sharing. The power that he lives in and shares and knows is he's determined his disciples must know this power themselves for them to be.

Those that he wants them to be they have got to enter into an awareness personally of his power. Not just observers of it and watching him take five loaves and two fish and say boys. That's something I mean anybody being there what a miracle.

But Jesus is not interested in me being an observer and what he can do it but as much as an experiencer of what he does. That's what it's all about and here. He wants to disciple his disciples. He wants to train them and so in order to do that He's got to send them out into what they would think to be an impossible situation a hopeless situation.

So that they might discover didn't impossible or hopeless at all. If they're ever going to minister the gospel to the to the world ahead of them. Who also lives in impossible situations and hopeless situations?

They've got to have an empathy they've got to have a realization within them that he is sufficient for all things and So deliberately Jesus taking those that he loved. Taking those that he is training and equipping he sends them deliberately right into the midst of the sea into the middle of a storm.

So that they would be ones that would know of his power personally. Now it's interesting at the very beginning of it. It tells us there that Jesus told them he constrained them to get into a ship to go before him unto the other side go Before me another I'll meet you over there on the other side.

If they had merely listened as well to what he said. And what comfort it would have been. Through the middle of the storm through the midst of the sea and through all the chaos when everything is telling them Oh, no life is over.

It's done if they would have just remembered. Wait a minute. Jesus said he was going to meet us on the other side. We can't die. We can't perish. He's gone. And whatever God says if he says he's going to meet us on the other side.

Therefore somehow or another we got to get on the other side to meet him. We're going to be there. But how easily we forget these things. How easily we forget Jesus didn't say go out in the midst of the sea and then well Well that you know, I mean he just didn't just drop it.

He just didn't look there say go halfway and Prepare to meet thy maker, you know or something. He told them go before me unto the other side and Here is Jesus what the comfort if we would merely learn to listen to all that he says when he sends us and when he calls us.

For here he had already Guaranteed if they would have just learned to listen to him. But something that they have got to learn that every one of his children has got to learn in usually through the process of the same type of trials and We've got to go through them all as well that here if they're going to come to a place where they know of his power and they know of his word and they can Rest in his word and they've got to learn to listen to it all themselves.

So to me we all have the same lesson, don't we? But here they're also have to learn as well. I think one of the greatest and fundamental lessons of all of life. And that is that his word is more powerful than any condition any situation if he says something I don't care what the situation Suggests I don't care what it would kind of the circumstances of life would put me into.

If he has said something that let God be true in every man a liar. The sea is going to lie to me if it's going to suggest it's going to take me it's going to destroy me. So here we have Jesus Sending disciples who he'd called himself.

For you those who he is preparing to minister to others that God has God in heaven above and earth below and he's sending them Into a situation where they will have to learn that he is sufficient for every situation in every condition.

And he's got to teach them the truth. And so he sends them out deliberately Into an event there where it tells us there that the ship would be in the midst of the sea tossed with waves than the wind Was contrary and as he sends them into this look at this.

It seems as if everything is at its worst, isn't it? When you stop to think of it here First of all, he sends them into a place there where it says there they're in the midst of the sea. Now this is a huge sea and as they are in the midst of it.

First of all, we're told here that no matter what direction they go with their equal distance from help. They're right in the middle of it. There is no close easy simple way to kind of get out of this.

There's no close haven at all. They're in the midst of the sea and As well as they're in the midst of the sea. It says that they are tossed with waves. The boat there in the middle of this storm taking on water.

Being battered and beaten all around in the middle of this and and of course. This is something that's not like being lost in the middle of a city while you're driving. You know, that's hectic enough for some of us.

There may be an unfamiliar territory. But at least then you can pull over you can rest you can try to get your bearings you can get off the road. But you can't get out of it in the midst of the sea when you're tossed with waves.

There isn't any little kind of pull-off place. There isn't any little safe haven a resting place. There isn't something there. We just hold it. Hold it. Hold it. You know timeout there for a few minutes while I just get some some Hold of my wits here.

No, they're they're fighting it and fighting it. It's relentless. It isn't give up. You don't have any time to kind of stop and to get your bearings. And then it says in the wind was contrary. And here in other words the direction that they ultimately knew that they were going.

That they were supposed to be going was the most difficult to go. The wind was against them fighting them pushing them back and they are fighting against the wind and they have been fighting. The hardest possible direction to head.

Oh, what a temptation to turn around. And to go back at least you got the wind in your back. At least you've got something else to help you try to fight it. Oh Man I'm convinced that Jesus knew many times like this would happen in their lives as They happen in all people's lives that there's and all the people that these that did that the disciples would ever minister to they would Be in circumstances like this all the time in the middle of the sea tossed with waves.

The wind would be contrary. And yet we're still it tells us there was the first for the fourth watch of the night somewhere between three and four or five. In the morning. In other words, they had been out there.

Somewhere between maybe nine to maybe 12 hours rowing struggling. Trying to get some place and here was something to the very darkest of the hour the night before when they Before the Sun is is started to rise and that there's any morning glow beginning to come the very darkest point and here.

They are they're totally exhausted. They have been fighting with this all night long. Here it's something there in the fourth watch of the night and their energy is spent and they're exhausted. No longer now are you trying to think well what is good or what's best or what is honorable or what is right or what?

Is noble it's now down to what is survival? Now they're down to where every muscle in their body everything every Breath that they take everything that they're trying to do and fight against this and get the water out and keep on going now.

They've come to the awareness. This isn't just exhausting. This is survival. This is what do we got to do to carry on. I Know that maybe as you may sit here you may say well, I I don't think I'm ever going to Israel.

Or you may think I'm there. I don't ever plan on being a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Let alone in the middle of the night in the midst of a storm. It are three and five in the morning. But I want to tell you there's not an one of us that won't be confronted with the truths and the principles of this battle.

Facing Life’s Storms Rather Than Escaping Them

There's not a human being that's going to be worth his salt and all of this life at all that isn't gonna have to learn. How to head into those and how to experience a greater life. The issue in life is now to avoid storms.

The issue in life or a great person and a person that's mature isn't how I got out of them or how I ran from them. It's how did I triumph in them? How did I get through them? You see I don't know how many times in life I in ministry I've sat down with people.

Where they frankly sat there and and will look at me and maybe even say, you know, I I had no other way to go. I Had to do what I had to do and I realized maybe the implications in my life. I realized now maybe the implications for my marriage or when I walked away from my home and I gave up this or I what?

Its effect may have been here or there, but you don't understand at the time. I Was tossed with waves. I was in the middle of it. It was relentless. It never gave up. There was no way out. I Was tossed with waves.

I was fighting and my energy was long gone. There was no other way to go. Maybe now all right. The storm is over and I've you know Floated in onto the side of the shore and the Sun is out and the sea is calm and the weather is nice.

But it wasn't that way when I had to make the decisions I had to make it was tough. And everything was gone and there was no hope and I had nowhere to go. You see this is when be it many people make the decisions in their life.

Affect them and they're easily justified. To our thinking I know it is because I've heard it and I've done it. But here as we look at this so often We may say You know, there was nothing else to do. There was nothing else anybody could have done.

I did the best I could for as long as I could. I didn't give up at midnight. I didn't give up a one. I didn't give up at two. I didn't give up. Till it was absolutely the end. But you see. They could have seen Jesus.

It could have turned to him. That's what the disciples had to do and you say see Jesus. I didn't see Jesus. I didn't see him anywhere. I couldn't see Jesus. He wasn't there. I'm sure he wasn't there. He's nowhere to be found.

Oh Well, the disciples didn't think they saw him either as a matter of fact when Jesus was there. They were convinced He was a ghost his own Disciples the one that he had revealed so much of himself to and only that day a miraculous revelation of himself only hours before He had revealed himself so wonderfully to him and yet there they didn't even think for a moment.

It might be him there to help rescue them rather than that. They looked over and all they had was another problem another trial a ghost and they cried out with fear. As if haven't we got enough now. Oh Boy.

Is this not life? Is this not how it is so often how many times? It is to where we're Crying out with fear. The world is against us. Tension is high. It's in our home or it's in our family or in our marriage.

You can't go any farther. I've done the noble thing. I've tried to do the right thing. I've tried to hang in there for a long time. Not an easy decision to make but yet. Then there along comes somebody that suggests God might be there to help and we kind of almost shake your head say, you know I've got another problems enough problems right now without getting theological without getting religious.

Without you know having some sort of thing like this. Maybe when all of this is over and the in the storm is gone. Maybe then I can think a little bit about God, but right now it's survival of the fittest.

Give me a break. Got enough problems later. How many people it is that when they are in trouble and you even want to mention Christ. They look at you to say you don't understand. They cry out fear almost to it.

And I'll tell you the wonderful thing is if a person will merely listen for another moment if instead of turning away in their fear and going back to their own hopelessness of their own resources if they what just would just but look and listen.

They would hear out in the midst of all the storm be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. Here as Jesus cries out he says to him be a good cheer. In other words, he says I'm not a problem. I am NOT a trial.

I am NOT a difficulty. I Am one that if you will just but set your eyes upon me. I guarantee you if ever there was a something your eyes would set upon that we would rejoice in that you you would cheer about that.

You would stand just be in the stanza of a game and the greatest victory ever happened in the score in the last second. Just turn the game around be a good cheer if there's ever anything to stand and be thrilled about look what's happened in the final moments of my crisis.

Victory has been seen. Be a good cheer. Be thrilled. There's something here. He's just read it to say rejoice. You know to them. There is no one in all the world that knows your struggle better than Jesus.

He allowed you to go into it. There is no one knows better than the difficulty in your home and lack of communication the inability to Resolve it in the hopelessness of our own strength to get through it.

No matter how hard we try and how long we give ourselves to it and how much energy we're willing to spend. God has designed Life that it is futile without him. That the storms will absolutely destroy is the just trying to live on this planet.

You cannot succeed without him. And it'll be one storm or another that'll finally be you're doing in. But in the scheduled storms of life I'm convinced that those are the times above all else that Jesus is there not as a ghost.

Not as another problem But as the absolute Waiting that our eyes would catch him waiting that we would long to hear his voice. Waiting that that something may happen in such a way is that we would long to have something to cheer about.

And have a hope, you know the I'm sure today. Some of you are in just such a storm. The it's there you're tossed with waves. The wind is contrary. There's voices within you that said hey, you've done what you can do.

You've given it your best. No one could be expected to go on any farther. You've gone and gone and gone. But the amazing thing is at that time it also has an ability to produce a desperation within us a Desperation there for some work of God within the hearts of some.

That instead of giving up if there was one offering that would come from heaven That could save them and help them there a lot their heart would leave. They'd respond. And they're at that hour, maybe you know had it been That Jesus come at another hour ready come when the storm these these are seasoned fishermen.

They can handle the waters They always had before. But not these had they come when the waters were very handable to them. Who knows what's the man's on. Sometimes God has to wait for something to happen that's desperate within us.

He's got to rate to let everything kind of come in all at one moment not to destroy us, but to make us. Not to not to watch us drown. But to see us breathe for life like we've never wanted a gasp for it.

Peter’s Desperate Request to Walk Above the Storm

And here as he comes. The wonderful thing is is that Peter sat in that boat and he was desperate. He would been tossed by every Wave that had knocked it and rocked it and he had fought it back and the big Fisherman the great leader who had conquered many a sea before found what he couldn't conquer and as he sat there within and they're bailing the Water and they're trying to get through there was something within him that realized I can't handle this one any longer.

And all of a sudden he looked in this massive Fisherman saw what they first saw was a ghost and he cried out with fear and then he heard him say be of good cheer. It is I'd be not afraid. Something leapt from his heart.

Uncontrollably a response that he couldn't even have the time to think about I'm sure. For Peter cried out Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water. I'm sick of this life. Lord if it is you bid me come unto thee on the water and hope.

To me what a request. I'm convinced Peter didn't think about this. Then that's one of Peter's greatest strengths to me was that he didn't think a lot. If you ever noticed that about Peter. He had a way of blurting things out without thinking that oftentimes was his undoing but oftentimes it was his doing as well.

It was his ability almost just to have this instantaneous thing that when there was something upon his heart he could lurch at it. And he found himself there. Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water.

And I think Jesus before Peter could do any more calculating is in Jesus art had to leap with him and he says Peter come. What a thrill it had to be for Jesus, you know, it was because his prayer. I think you've almost got to notice what his prayer wasn't.

His prayer wasn't. Lord if it be thou calm the water. Lord if it would be now stop the wind. Lord if it would be thou, you know, get me over to the other side make everything better. Lord if it be thou prove it to me by changing the circumstances that are agreeable to me.

No. He said Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee and there is Peter cried out not calm the storm. But lift me up above the storm into the realm in which you obviously are. Storm isn't affecting you at all as Jesus.

No doubt as they just saw him walk something there in it as their eyes set upon him. They realized that what they were in the midst of and fighting with with every ounce the strength that they had to exist in.

He was an absolute rest and above it. Untouched by it and yet right there with them at the same time. And rather than saying Jesus get in the boat get down here. What are you doing? We need you and start bailing.

Calm things get us over there to shore. Give me out of this problem. Something greater happened within him. Lord bring me into the realm in which you live. Bring me into a place of said strength and power and victory.

Not get into my ship, but get me into yours. Get me into your world. How often I believe that we find ourselves praying and we're in trouble and God fixes and fixes God if you love me. You'll do this and we got her list.

I Think the Lord does nothing. He said if I love you, I'll do nothing. We'll let the storm go on. But if you love me, you'll come to be with me. It's much nicer where I am than where you are. Much greater world.

That's what I want to teach you. You see Jesus has no desire to create an absence of storms. He uses the storms to create within us a desire for him. He uses the events in life that are way beyond anything human.

He uses the things in life that just seem so desperate. To bring you and I to the place where we would individually as well say Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee. I want to learn how do I live?

Will you live? And I'll tell you as soon as you and I would begin to ask that without question Jesus turns. He's just come. It's the whole message of the gospel heaven on earth. Christ in you the hope of glory.

That his life is dynamic his being his person lifting as far above all of the events of life. And to me the most amazing thing is is that Jesus when he said to him come the next thing. You know Peter steps out of the boat and you gotta be kidding, but you look at this all the guys.

You know, it's one thing for Jesus to walk on water. We expect that. But when all of a sudden Peter the biggest idiot all joint commonly mean hey, you know Peters walking on the water. What does he think he is doing?

And there is Peter. What had controlled him only a few minutes ago and knocked his life? From one side to the other and rattled everything within him all of a sudden it was beneath his feet. And he's above it.

Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus When Faith Falters

Storm didn't cease. Wind and seas waves hadn't quieted. Everything was the same and yet everything was different. You see Jesus is teaching Peter. He knows that this man is going to preach at Pentecost.

He knows what the Sanhedrin is going to do to him. He knows the havoc Following him. He knows the future that Peter is going to go through. The issue isn't to calm the storms. It's how to live above them.

It's how to go through the difficulties in the trials and yet be able to look at every one of them and say you have nothing in me. I Don't have to calm you and I don't have to get away from you because I can live above you.

I Can live beyond you. I know of another world, you know, nothing of. And oh what a glorious thing it was it for Peter there for those moments there. It says there were it says Peter was come down on the ship and he walked in the water to go to Jesus.

But verse 30 says when he saw the wind boisterous. He was afraid and beginning to think he cried saying Lord save me as long as he kept his eyes in the Lord. It was wonderful. But then all of a sudden reality seemed to come back to him as he presumed reality me.

He looked around me. He sees there. Uh, I don't know how you see wind boisterous. It's got to be a pretty. Usually don't see wind but perhaps if it's filled with water and it's blowing in your face. There's something you see the wind and the waves are all over you next thing, you know.

He looks back and all of a sudden he says wait a minute. I can't walk on water. What am I doing? I am an idiot and just that quick down he went. Well, Jesus once again had to teach him the greatest truth again.

You're right Peter you can't have walk on water. You'll never be able to walk on water. Only I can walk on water. If your eyes on me I can make you. If you keep your eyes on me, but if you look back at the trial again.

You look at me for a moment I'll lift you up above but you and you rest in me and and how easy it is for us to come in here together and take a journey out on the sea and for you and I as we study his word to see his face and to hear his word and To rest in it and his efficiency and his power.

But the problem is you see we got to get out of here in a few minutes and the doors are gonna open you're gonna get Your car and you're gonna go back into the wind and you're going to go back into where all around you are the waves.

And again in the midst of it to keep your eyes on the one that we so easily see now. And to say Lord. Step by step into there to need his power to need his love and the need his sufficiency. You see when we can learn this and there Peters he cried out.

I love Peters prayers. This has got to be one of his best Lord save me. He's going down. I imagine it's more like. You know, I think probably. Wasn't anything like you know, oh, that'll great Jehovah.

I don't think you had time for him or anything. He was going down and he simply cried but his eyes as soon as he saw himself going down. Wonderfully enough. He looked right back and his face set upon him once again and as soon as his face, you know I'm so glad this happened to Peter.

I'm glad the guy didn't walk and keep walking. Gives me hope. How many times he can lift me up and I can take a few step and I look at me. You know the next thing I know gurgle gurgle gurgle, you know, and I'm down again but of learning Jesus had to let Peter go down.

Experiencing Christ’s Sufficiency Rather Than Mere Theology

You see he's looking at this man who he's going to send in the world. He says you've got to tell them who I am. But you've got to learn and I'd be desperate for him. But the Christianity isn't a theological issue.

It's an experiential thing. It's coming to a place where I'd need him. And I long for him. It's all my heart and here. They I don't know today what it is for you. I don't know your storm. I Know there's some of you you are in the midst of the sea tossed with waves.

The wind is contrary. It's the fourth watch of the night. Humanly. You're at the end, but are you willing? When Jesus would say be of good cheer. Are you desperate or are you one that hey, I've got it out.

I'm a I'm a I'm seaworthy. I've been through many a storm. None of them got me yet. You know sort of a thing. You know, you're an old salt. You are I hook her back protocol get through it or is it perhaps one that you realize?

I've been through storms before and they've taken their toll. And I paid a price. I'm tired. Jesus looks he says come. Tell you if you can learn this you learn the greatest lessons because one of the things I guarantee you is that there are storms and Many times in life the Lord does wonderfully calm the sea.

Wonderfully many times we say God, please help and he helps Lord take the wind away. Calm it and he does and sometimes he does it even at a word. As we grow so often he is a. You get out of the ship you're in that's throwing you all around that's playing havoc with your emotions and your heart and your strength.

Let me give you a strength. For the most part the Lord always to you and I is telling us go over and I'll meet you at the other side. But there will always be storms and The issue isn't to get to the other side as much as it is to get where he is because I tell you the day Will come that he will most assuredly say to you Go into the storm and if this one there is no other side and if you have been through the lesser storms if He you if you have let him prove yourself to you in the daily ones and in the issues at home.

When people watch you walk into that final storm and yet you are above it and they see in you a life and a dynamic. There is a disciple. There is what God wants you to be today though he says. Won't you come dear father how we thank you for your word?

Prayer for Those in the Midst of the Storm

How we thank you dear Lord that you are not a God who is merely a situational one that? Here's our prayers and answers them as we request so many times you let the storm go on you let it rage you let the wind.

You let our strength be sapped. You let us come to the end. That we might truly come to the beginning of a greater understanding. And that is life is not an issue of how do I run from or get away, but how do I head into something and Yet live above it Jesus that we know a rest in his strength and a glory that is beyond all others.