Matthew 14:22-36

Matthew 14:22 - 36

We don't see the urgency in the English language that is used in this passage. In verse 22, Jesus “compelled” or “made in a hurry” the disciples to get into the boat. From the parallel passage in the Gospel of John we see that the people were ready to draft Jesus into being commander of an army to fight Rome. Having sent the crowd away Jesus retreats into the hills to avoid the masses. His mere presence would have been a catalyst to a movement of which He wanted no part. Would it be possible that his very own disciples would be infected with this political movement? Certainly!

The storm and the walking on the water show Jesus as more than a mere political leader. The leaders of movements are oftentimes owned or possessed by that movement. Jesus would have none of that. God will not be a tool to accomplish our plans no matter how noble we believe those plans to be.

And for the disciples there was a need for a vivid demonstration. The boat was near the middle of a lake and is "tormented". Plans for a great political movement are no match for the forces of nature. But the forces of nature are no match for the God of the universe. The terror of the storm has swept away any political aspirations from the disciples’ hearts. In short order they added to their predicament a fear of a ghost, a failed attempt at faith, Peter’s specific rescue and rebuke, the general rescue of the whole group, which then ends in worship, not political agendas.

We need to ask, “What will it take for God to remove our agenda from our hearts?” The failure of faith on Peter's part was his doubt; doubt is literally "divided in two". Faith on the other hand is single-minded focusing on Jesus. Our divided focus may be that we want our agenda and God. But when push comes to shove our agenda wins out. But at the end of the chapter we see that the Kingdom has come and it is so much greater than any agenda we might have.

"Lord, purge from my heart any agenda that might attempt to compromise the faith to accomplish my purposes. AMEN"

Matthew 14:1-21

Matthew 14:1-21

Two events occur in this text: the death of John and the feeding of the 5,000. We need not assume that their connection is random. John was the last Old Testament prophet. His ministry marked the end of the old and the transition to the new. On the report of his death, Jesus goes out to the lonely place and feeds the multitude. This feeding was more than food for the hungry. Missing a meal would not be life threatening. The "sitting down" is reflective of a formal meal and Jesus is acting as a host. At that time Jewish people expected that the Messiah would create a Manna type of event. In all the records of the feeding of the multitude (feeding of the 5,000 in all four gospels and the feeding of the 4,000 recorded in two Gospels), and the meal at Emmaus, and all the accounts of the Lord's Supper four keywords or themes are used. Jesus took the bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread and gave the bread. The feeding of the 5,000 is more than a practical miracle-it is a sign of the coming Kingdom and it is a pivotal point in the gospel.

After the imprisonment of John the Baptist, Herod Antipas was of such a corrupt character that driven by lust for his stepdaughter he orders John's murder. Herod plots to keep in the good graces of the Jews regarding John, but fails miserably. First, John was never actually tried; he was simply held and then murdered. Second, John was put to death by beheading. Beheading was reserved for Roman citizens and this would have been an insult to the Jews. This did not happen quickly. In verse 4, we read, "... John had been saying..." which indicates an ongoing proclamation. This was no single sermon. John’s popularity with the people along with Herod's lack of the same made Herod vulnerable as a ruler. John's popularity made him a threat, but it also serve to protect him. Faced with a real danger Herod has two options, either repent or turn into a deeper darkness. In his cowardice he chose the course that would lead him into deeper darkness. Every choice we make is a step toward the light or toward the darkness.

"Lord, help me today that in every step I take, building on past steps, I will move closer to You, so that i will be able in the future to move closer to You. AMEN"