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Pastor's Blog January 14, 2021
"Jesus Is the Son of God III"
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If you were in a boat with Jesus during a storm, do you think you'd recognize him as the Son of God? That's exactly what happened to Jesus' disciples in Matthew 14:22-33.
After a long day of teaching and preaching, Jesus told his disciples to get into a boat and cross to Gennesaret, which was on the other side of the Sea of Galilee from where they were; Jesus would dismiss the crowd and then go up a mountain to pray by himself (verses 22-23). Evidently, Jesus spent the whole night in prayer, probably praying for the safety of his disciples - because they were caught in a squall on the Sea of Galilee (a common occurrence for that area of Palestine, even today), and were fighting against the storm in order to keep the boat from sinking or capsizing (verse 24). At the darkest part of the night, Jesus walked toward his disciples on the water (verse 25). Walking on the water?! In the middle of a storm?!
My initial instinct would be to consider this an unwise move for Jesus' health; but apparently, the disciples thought this was an unwise move for THEIR health! When they saw a figure walking toward them on the waves, they thought it was a ghost and became terrified (verse 26). Jesus reassured them it was only him in an attempt to calm their fears, but Peter wanted to make sure it's actually Jesus - so he asked Jesus to allow him to come to him on the sea (verses 27-28). Peter got out of the boat and instantly started walking on top of the waves - but quickly sank due to his fear of the storm and his lack of faith (verses 29-31). And the response of the other disciples when Jesus and Peter got back into the boat and the storm stopped (verse 32)?
They decided to worship Jesus and even gave the reason why: "Truly, you are the Son of God" (verse 33). Jesus did three things that convinced his disciples he was the Son of God: 1) he was walking on top of the water (ghosts don't walk); 2) the storm stopped when he got into their boat (storms don't normally give preferential treatment to people); and 3) he immediately saved Peter from drowning in the storm (basically, Jesus remained consistent with who the disciples knew him to be - a loving Savior).
Friends, I hope you can see Jesus' consistent presence in your life and recognize him as the Son of God as easily as his first disciples did.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
