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Sunday Morning 14th Oct 2007
Mat 14 - who is Jesus?
So who is this Jesus ?
What does the chapter tell us?
Jesus the Man
V13 : First of all we notice that he was a fully
functioning human being.
Thus he had emotions so he suffered pain at the loss of
his cousin John the baptist.
He grieved! He had to get away! He went to a solitary
place! But in withdrawing he did not cut himself off -
v14, had compassion on the crowd, healed the sick.
Compassionate Healer.
In this incident we see the grief of Jesus and the
compassion of Jesus. Both are linked together in any
healthy soul. It was because Jesus was able to grieve
that he was able to be compassionate.
He cared!
Application:
Today this has so much to teach us.
We too have the right to grieve over death. And in our
grief we need to be comforted by the One who knows what
it is like to suffer loss.
We need to learn from the steps Jesus took in his grief.
He sought solitude. This was not a negative cutting
himself off from the world but a positive going to the
Father, to get his help and support. How are we to be
comforted in our grief? By going to Jesus. Our grief is
further worked out as we too are able to help those who
grieve. We mourn with those who mourn!
Secondly we see Jesus the Problem Solver!
V15 - a problem, it’s late, not food & lots of people!
V16 a challenge for the disciples
V17 a vague hope!
V18-21 Dinner is supplied
Note:
V19 Jesus gives thanks before the miracle: shows his
confidence in the Father to provide.
Thus it was the Father who worked the miracle through
Jesus.
Application:
How do we solve problems? By trusting in God to provide!
Also we should see in all this a foretaste of heaven!
The place where all our needs will be instantly met. No
more hunger, pain or suffering!
Thirdly we see Jesus as a humble servant:
V22, “he dismissed the crowd.”
He sent the disciples on their way, lets them off before
their shift finishes, and he sends the crowds home! The
simple work of a steward. Great acts of miraculous power
were no barrier to his humble acts of service!
He didn’t let the power go to his head!
He could do anything - great or small, because he was
seeking only the praise of the Father not himself!
Application:
Again we have so much to learn here for ourselves. Maybe
we have great gifts and are very able capable people. Do
we use our greatness to serve others? Or does our power
go to our head and so we never lower ourselves to
perform the humble job? Why do we have gifts anyway? “1
Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has
received to serve others, faithfully administering God's
grace in its various forms.”
Sunday Evening 14th Oct 2007
4th we see Jesus the Man of Prayer.
V23, he took time out alone, to be with God.
After all that work he had to take time to receive from
God new help and support.
He had to go and pray! We saw this at the start of his
day and now at the end of his day too.
He needed to pray!
This need was evidence of his total commitment to the
glory of God.
After that day he could have taken the praise to
himself!
The people wanted to make him king! (john6v15)
Application:
Follow the example of Jesus: actually do what he did!
After we work hard what do we need most? Do we need to
take time out to pray? Or are our stress levels getting
higher and higher because we are just rushing from one
thing to the next!
If tempted to take the glory to yourself - pray!
5th we see Jesus the Son of God.
V25-33.
V25, Jesus from the mountain has been keeping an eye on
the disciples as the struggled against the storm. So now
he goes out to them. Not by boat, but by foot!
V24-24 the disciples have been battling for hours!
Fourth watch was between 3am and 6am!
The had rowed about 3.5 miles out.
Only then does He go to them. Why?
He is giving them time to see if they can learn to
trust!
To see if they had learned the lesson from the bread
and the fish.
Note: Jesus the Teacher. He teaches often through
practical experience.
We only really learn by practice.
In then going to the disciples he is teaching them! The
Water that was going to kill them, He walk on top of it!
Lesson: there is absolutely nothing to fear as a
disciple of Jesus Christ.
V28 - peter begins to learn.
V30 - but only slowly.
V31 - the admonition.
V32 - the calm after the storm
V33 - the worship after the storm.
Application:
Jesus is Lord over every storm!
Thus, through the storm LEARN: learn to trust!
God does not want us to fear. There is nothing to
be afraid of!!
6th we see Jesus the healer.
V36, as soon as Jesus was recognised people came to him
for healing.
This by now is a new day. What do we find? It all
starts again, just as v14.
There is a difference though. Now it is the people
who go and touch Jesus that are healed. In v14 the
emphasis was on the compassion of Jesus and Him
healing them.
Has Jesus changed? has his power gone after the all
night pray and save session?! No - every single one
is healed!
“Healed” - ‘to save thoroughly’. No half measures!
Application:
Jesus is totally competent / qualified / sufficient /
able to save. Even you!
Even everyone who goes to him for healing - salvation.