Get in the Boat

Greeneville Seventh-day Adventist Church: When my daughter Rachel was small, we'd be in the grocery store, Walmart, and she would disappear. And I quickly learned she didn't leave us, we left her. She was distracted. I turned out, where'd she go? And go back, ⁓ she's still on the previous aisle where we used to be. Or she's way down at the far end of the aisle that we have come down. And she would be standing there and like, what's she doing? She was straightening the shelves. What are you doing? ⁓ Bush's vegetarian baked beans are crooked. She'd line them up straight. I said, they pay people to do that. They don't have to, because I'll do it for free. She loved doing stuff. You know how messy the toy aisle gets in Walmart, Christmas time? She's putting them where they go, reading the stickers. No, this one actually goes here, and this goes here. And she'd straighten it up. I don't know why it was such a surprise to me, being as organized as she is, and Joshua was a similar type, extremely organized. ⁓ They wanted everybody else to be organized too. I know, I'd walk into my son's room and pick up one of his Hot Wheel cars and look at it, I'd that's a nice car, and I'd set it back down, and he'd reach over and put it exactly where it had been before. Just not this way, this way. But I don't know why it was such a shock to me that my daughter became an accountant. I just never saw it coming. I don't know why, because she was always organizing things in the proper rows. ⁓ She didn't get that from me. I'm the one that sits at school board or church board and looks at the financial reports and go, ⁓ yeah, how is it I read these things? ⁓ yeah, so organized. You don't want me to be the treasurer. And so she's used to keeping things precise and where they belong. And then I got to thinking, there's an accountant in the Bible that does the same thing. His name is Matthew. You remember, he's an accountant. He's a tax collector. He has to keep all the records, everything precise, everything in a row. And he has to know how to hide things that he doesn't want anybody to see. and he's a very precise man and you can see that in his gospel account. The placement of stories and events is not half hazard in any way even though it may look like it to begin with like when I look at the church's accounts I go wow why is that there why is this here well there's always a reason I just can't figure it out. Matthew puts his stories in places for a reason. Jesus had fulfilled the prophecy of Matthew 78 as we saw last week in our series on Matthew. Remember Psalm 78 said that he would speak in parables. It was predicted way back then, but Psalm 78 did not tell that it was due to the rejection of the Jewish leaders that the Messiah would have to speak in parables as we discussed last week. Jesus had to be careful of his words in order not to be arrested and murdered before he had fulfilled the will of his Father in heaven. There may come a time where we have to be careful how we say things in order not to be arrested before we're done doing God's will. And then there's plenty of time for straight, thus saith the Lord's. The rejection that Matthew recorded in chapters 11, 12, and at end of chapter 13, where Jesus is rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, they lead to the events that we will see in chapter 14. At first it seems if these events stand alone, or just stories inserted here for lack of a better place to put them, and sometimes that happens within the other gospels, but not Matthew. Remember, Matthew's very careful. and he's a skilled writer who is trying to get specific points across to his Jewish readers well after Jesus was ultimately rejected at the cross. Sometimes in the book of John, you when you take Greek class in theology, we study John because he's simple. He's easy Greek compared to Matthew. Matthew's educated. And we don't even touch Paul's writings for a while. Total confusion there. But Matthew, he's precise. For example, the story of John the Baptist's death right after Jesus is rejected in Nazareth seems a bit odd. But Matthew's trying to make a point. Let's take a look. Matthew 14, and we're going to start with verse one. Matthew chapter 14. By the way, we're only touching on some very amazing, important stories. You don't realize how difficult this is. As I'm looking at these stories, go, ⁓ there's this and there's that. ⁓ I need to bring, no, we don't have time for that. We'll get back to some of these stories. A little bit more of a full accounting. So we're just touching on some of these today. ⁓ There's no way to cover them in depth in this sermon. The purpose today is to see how they fit together in an overall message. Matthew 14 verse 1. At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, is John the Baptist. He's risen from the dead and therefore these powers are at work in him. For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. because John had said to him, verse four, it is not lawful for you to have her. And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. I stood in the spot where this belief, this dance happened. be like, ⁓ everything matters. You know what? It's ruins today. So many of our dreams, so many of our aspirations that are not what God wants them to be just ends up being ruins visited by tourists going, huh, this place is gone. Verse 7, therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. That must have been some kind of a dance. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter. And the king was sorry. Nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then the disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. A new threat has arisen to Jesus in the person of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. Although Herod was quite familiar with John the Baptist's ministry, he seems relatively ignorant of the ministry of Jesus. So probably as a result of both superstition and a painful conscience, Herod confuses the two men and fears that Jesus is the reincarnation of John the Baptist who has come back to haunt him. Herod is a weak man due to compromise with his conscience. So he fears his own people and he fears dead prophets. He is easily manipulated and he can't be trusted. It's no wonder that Jesus seeks out a solitary place, but he does not yet flee. He stays in Herod's territory just more secretly. Jesus still has a work to do in Galilee. If we get caught up in thinking, there's only one way to do things and I gotta do it, no, Jesus changed tactics as the situation demanded. in order to keep following his father's will. Now this story is placed here in more than Matthew and Matthew is explaining why Jesus went to this solitary place. Jesus needed a place to pray. Just as the ministry of John the Baptist had been a forerunner of the ministry of Jesus, the rejection and death of John the Baptist was a forerunner of the rejection and death of Jesus. Some have even called it a living parable. Remember how carefully Matthew writes? Check out the similarities of how he tells the stories of the death of John and the death of Jesus. Number one. Herod the tetrarch is responsible for John's death. Pilate the governor is responsible for Jesus' death. Two, John was seized, Jesus was seized. The same Greek word being used. John was bound, Jesus was bound. Again, the exact same Greek word used. Four, Herod feared the crowds because they held John to be a prophet. The chief priests and Pharisees feared the crowds because they held Jesus to be a prophet. Number five, Herod was asked by another to execute John and was grieved to do so. Pilate was asked by others to execute Jesus and was reluctant to do so. John was buried by his disciples. Jesus was buried by a secret disciple. The same thing that happened to John will happen to Jesus. Jesus knew that His time had not yet come, so He would withdraw from the confrontation with the authorities at this time. But He's not removed from trouble by any means. Look at verse 13. When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. You ever like to be by yourself? I'm by myself right now. ⁓ My wife, my son, they're at Pathfinder Camperee. My daughter's at Pathfinder Camperee. And so I'm by myself. Don't tell them I'm enjoying it. a little peace and quiet, it's nice. And you know what? Tomorrow, I'm gonna miss him. That's the way it always happens. Jesus needed to be by himself for a while. Luke tells us that this was near the town of Bethsaida, which is not very far from Capernaum. Capernaum is on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida is on the northeast corner of the Sea of Galilee. It's actually pretty close to where Jesus sent the pigs into the water. That story. It would be easy for the people to see where Jesus was headed from Capernaum. ⁓ look, his boat's going that way. He's headed to Bethsaida. We can run around the top of the lake and get there. Verse 13 continues, when the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out, he saw a great multitude and he was totally upset that he had been followed. Wait, that's not what it says. He said he was moved with compassion and healed their sick. When it was evening, his disciples came to him saying, this is a deserted place and the hour's already late. Send the multitudes away that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food. But Jesus said to them, they do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. And they said to him, we hear only five loaves and two fish. Bring them here to me. Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass, and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He, looking up to heaven, He blessed them and broke them and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, and they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. And those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Most scholars say there's over 20,000 people here that are fed up. This tells us that the Jewish people are still responding positively to Jesus, even if their leaders are rejecting him. They make every effort to be where he is. Jesus doesn't rebuke them by telling them he was looking for a place to be alone. He has compassion on them and heals their sick. Then Jesus performs a miracle so amazing that the story of it is told in all four gospels. When this story gets out, it's no wonder that Herod Antipas feels threatened. by Jesus. First of all, here's a man with 20,000 people following him around in the wilderness. Can you imagine? 20,000 people just tagging along. No wonder Herod's upset. Then he not only heals them, he feeds them. Do you realize what Herod is thinking? He's thinking the same thoughts that 20,000 Jews in the wilderness are thinking. He's thinking the same thoughts that Jesus' disciples are thinking. This is a conquering king who is ready to do battle. Just think of the armies Jesus could raise. He's got 20,000 people and he didn't even say follow me. He's trying to get away from them. And they're following him. Jesus could raise armies with a word and if they went into battle, he could heal the wounded. He could even raise the dead. Don't kill my soldiers, I'll bring them back. This is what the people are thinking. Just think of not needing complicated and expensive supply lines on the battlefront. You know, I study World War II, it's one of my hobbies. And the armies could only go as fast as the food could keep up. And the ammunition, whatever, Jesus can supply the food. He can bring food out of nowhere and even have leftovers to feed the prisoners of war. He has it covered. He's the perfect answer for the weak Jews conquering the strong Romans. The Jews see Jesus as the new Moses who can call down manna from heaven and water from a rock. They don't realize he is the rock. Do the disciples see this as the perfect chance to have their favorite rabbi declared king? He may need a little prodding though. Jesus is not too good about taking advantage of a situation and putting himself forward. He didn't take that class in school. John records that Jesus knew that the people were planning on making him king by force. This explains the next verse in Matthew 14. Verse 22. Immediately, Jesus made... Catch the way this is written. Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. Can you imagine commanding 20,000 people get lost when they're trying to make you king? 20,000 people? That's power. I experienced that power once. I had just finished my internship and was in my first church. Camp meeting came and the man who I had served as an intern under, he was platform chairman and he said, hey, would you come up for camp meeting to, I want you to have the prayer. I said, okay, and I was scared to death. I still would be. Here's the gymnasium, I don't know how many people are there, maybe it's 20,000, I don't know, I don't have a clue. And I got up to the microphone and I said, please rise. And they did. It was amazing. I actually got a little bit tickled. Like, wow, at my command, that happened. I almost couldn't pray. was like, okay. No, it wasn't some trick like that. Jesus had real command over the people. I wonder what that looked like. Jesus making these grown men get in a boat. It's like telling your kids, get in the car, I'll deal with you later. You ever say that? Jesus was not just struggling with the people and his disciples though, his greater struggle was with himself. This incident was one of his greatest temptations. It harks back to the temptations in the wilderness. Jesus didn't just have to conquer Satan once. The temptations came again and again, just like for you and me. Jesus can indeed turn stones into bread. He is the bread of life. Jesus can indeed have the world at his feet without facing the cross, but he knows that this is not the will of his Father in heaven. And he's seen this in the death of John the Baptist. He's seen this path laid before him. You see these stories are in this order for a reason. He must resist the easy path and he must also keep his disciples on this path. Thus, get in the boat. Get back into God's plan, not your plan. Notice the word immediately. Jesus does not play around with temptation. I do. that sounds like, that's kind of a fun little wicked thought to have. You play with it. And Jesus has already told him, you think about it, you might as well have done it. Just because you didn't do it doesn't mean you didn't fall to temptation. Yes you did. You're dwelling on it. Jesus is here it says, you know, it's not a sin to be tempted. It's a sin to dwell on it. You've already sinned at this point. You need to ask forgiveness for that. I know I have to. But Jesus doesn't play around with it, says immediately. He has seen what the fallen human race is facing. He's healing it every day. They felt a temptation and I'm healing the results. Don't give in. I was counselor at cabin number five at Cahutter Springs Camp. That's where the Pathfinder Club is today. And pray that they're having fun weather. But this was back in the 80s and the camp was fairly new. And they've renumbered the cabin since then. But if you're familiar with the camp, the road goes beside the gym and then up to the cafeteria. And then there's a little sidewalk that goes up from that and some steps that goes up from that. And that was my cabin. I had strong legs at the end of every summer. And I love that hill because you got up there and you sat on the porch and there was this beautiful view of the lake and the mountains. And... I learned something else about this hill. If I got on my skateboard at the top of my sidewalk and I made it around the curve by the gym, I could coast all the way to the gate of the camp. I know because I did it once. The rest of the time, and I did this at midnight when my kids were asleep in the cabin, and If I didn't make it, like I said, I only did once, the kids would say, what happened to you? Just a little case of road rash. And the camp director loved me. He didn't realize why I was sweeping the gravel at the curve. He didn't know I was going to try to make it around it that night. But this hill was a problem for a kid. It was this hill that... I looked out and saw one of my new team campers coming up from registration at the gym. And I said, ⁓ no, I hope he's not coming to my cabin. I don't think he'll make it. This young man, this teenager was huge. As white as he was tall. That's pretty bad for a teenager. And he did make it, just barely. and he's standing in the doorway of my cabin breathing so heavily that I was afraid he was going to have a coronary right there. And the other teens that were already in my cabin, they looked at him silently with wide eyes. They'd never seen a kid that big. said we're not supposed to use the word fat, so we'll use horizontally challenged. he could barely fit through the door. And my heart went out to him. And I didn't know it, but the teenage boys in my cabin, their hearts were moved as well. My fear was, they're gonna make fun of him, they're gonna complain because he's slowing them down, blah, blah. But no, their hearts were moved. I introduced myself as did he. I don't remember his name, this is over 40 years ago, but I think his name was Bobby. I do remember what he said. He said, Kent. I hate being this way. And I could see why. But his next sentence shocked me. He says, can you help me? I heard myself utter the words, you bat. And I said, for the next seven days, you have to do whatever I tell you without complaint. I will do anything, he said. And to my surprise, the other 13 teenagers in my cabin, they had been talking among themselves and said, we want to help you too. I was whoa, God sent me the right group this week. Last week it wasn't that way. So I quickly laid down the rules. Number one, we will not be seen walking anywhere in the camp. We will always be running. We will be first in line at supper, lunch, and breakfast. We will be first in line at line call, all of our classes and other activities, and we will be sitting on the front rows of the campfire service because we are there first. Number two, Bobby. You will go with me through the line at the cafeteria and you will only eat what I say you can eat and how much of it. You will not have dessert and you will only drink water, not the sugary punch. Number three, if we have any free time, including rest period, we will be hiking in the mountains. The whole cabin of agreed. They even went the extra mile. This blew my mind even further. They all chose not to eat dessert all week and to only drink water in order for him not to be sitting there at the table watching them eat what he could. It's a wonder that my radical boot camp didn't kill him. I didn't know what I was doing. But he only, he not only survived, he thrived. We did run everywhere. I don't think he had run for years. We ran everywhere. We were shouting cadence like we were Marines. I wished that I had had the means to weigh him before and after those seven days. But by the end of the week, his clothing was useless. He had to borrow clothes from the other boys. His parents, when they picked him up, looked for him right past him. They did not recognize Bobby. When they did, they were thrilled. After they said, did you starve him to death? No, we all ate the same way. His parting words were, thanking the other boys for sticking with him and helping him with those temptations, and thank you Kent, I won't forget it. I now know that it can be done and I'm going to keep doing it. As I look back now, that's church. That is church, that cabin of boys was church, rallying around each other and facing temptation together. That's why those who leave fall so much more quickly than if they had stayed. Church isn't perfect, those boys weren't perfect. They may have snuck some snacks out of their suitcase, I don't know, but they didn't do it in front of The next summer, I saw Bobby coming up my steps again. He had brought his niece to camp, he wasn't coming, but he did want to see me. It was impossible to miss him. If possible, was twice the size he had been the year before. He greeted me and shook his head. I know, I know. I didn't keep it up. I just couldn't quit thinking about food without everybody's. Jesus does not take the time to dwell on food or any other temptation. And he didn't allow his disciples to do it either. Get in the boat. Don't even stay here and think about what you're thinking a moment longer. Get in the boat. And not only get in the boat, get going. Get away from this temptation. I'll meet you on the other side. Desire of Ages puts it this way, never before had a command from Christ seemed so impossible of fulfillment. The disciples had long hoped for a popular movement to place Jesus on the throne. They could not endure the thought that all this enthusiasm should come to nothing. The multitudes that were assembling to keep the Passover were anxious to see the new prophet. To his followers, this seemed the golden opportunity to establish their beloved master on the throne of Israel. In the glow of this new ambition, it was hard for them to go away by themselves and leave Jesus alone upon that desolate shore. They protested against the arrangement, but Jesus now spoke with an authority he had never before assumed towards them. They knew that further opposition on their part would be useless. And in silence, they turned towards the sea. Jesus now commands the multitude to disperse. And his manner is so decisive that they dare not disobey. The words of praise and exaltation die on their lips. In the very act of advancing to seize him, their steps are stayed and the glad, eager looks fade from their countenances. In that throng are men of strong mind and firm determination. But the kingly bearing of Jesus. and his few quiet words of command quell. and frustrate their designs. They all recognize in him a power above all earthly authority, and without question, they submit. Notice the words of Jesus can calm more than one kind of storm. So what does Jesus do next? Verse 23. And then when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up on the mountain by himself. If Jesus needs to pray in order to stay within his Father's will, what about us? We find Jesus praying after the fact, after the temptation to take the easy way out has come and gone. I believe that he was able to handle the temptation by his previous prayer life. Father, I don't know what I'm gonna face. At least that's the way we should pray. But you can help me face it. Help me to face it Jesus prayed for his disciples to be able to stand as well. And he prayed for their discouragement that he knew was in the boat right now. And he prayed for the people that they would recognize in him the kind of Messiah that he really was. In the following chapters, we find him working outside the borders of Galilee among the Gentiles. At this point, he had to leave. Verse 23 again, now when evening came, he was alone there, but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Have you ever met contrary wind? Contrary family, contrary church members. It doesn't matter. Jesus can handle that. Again, Desire of Ages tells us that Jesus never abandoned the boat and its precious cargo of men despite themselves, those precious jewels, these young men that weren't feeling too beautiful right then. But they were going to become the light bearers to the world. They just didn't know it yet. He kept his eye on them and he saw the coming storm. The wind and the waves seemed to merely reflect the storm of unbelief that was now in their hearts in that boat. They were angry with Jesus and themselves. What if we had pushed him a little bit harder? What if he had refused to get in the boat? What if we said, no, we're not getting in the boat. We want you to be king. What if we had done? Why didn't we do that? told us to get in the boat and we couldn't resist. It was in the midst of both of these storms that Jesus brought their faith back online. Verse 25. Now in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them walking on the sea. Can you walk on water? Have you ever tried? I saw my dad walk on water one time. He really did. I was in the boat. I was pulling him. He was water skiing. We were out in the middle of Harrison Bay Lake there near Collegedale. And I turned around and my dad was no longer being pulled. I looked back and he was walking on water. in the middle of the lake. I'm like, what's going on? I know my dad was good, but this is too much. And I turned the boat and I headed back to him. Not only was he walking on water, he was covered in mud. He had hit a sandbar and he's out there standing on it. Now on the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them really walking on the water. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It's a ghost! And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I. Do not be afraid. And Peter, I love Peter, he answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. So he said, Come! You if you ask Jesus, tell him you want to demonstrate your faith, he'll let you. Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus, but when he saw the wind was boisterous and he was afraid and he began to sink and he cried out saying, Lord, save me. ⁓ those are good words. I imagine you've uttered them once or twice. And immediately, Jesus stretched out immediately again. Jesus said, I'm let you drown before I save you. Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him, ⁓ you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got in the boat, the wind ceased. And those who were in the boat came and worshiped him saying, truly, you are the son Faith has not only been restored, it's been enhanced. The climax of this story is not Peter walking on water or even Jesus calming the storm. It is the fact that Jesus' prayers have already been answered to some degree. This is the first time that they have referred to him as the Son of God. But it's not the last. And each time they utter these words, their understanding of what it means grows deeper. They begin to realize that following the will of their Savior by getting in the boat, it seems a ridiculous thing to do, allowed them to see an even greater vision of Jesus than they had ever known. Walking on water seemed even ⁓ amazing than feeding 20,000 people. Wow. ⁓ There's a question, do you want to see more of what Jesus can do? If you do, get in the boat. Follow what he has already told you to do. They followed what he said, get in the boat, and then they saw. Sometimes I don't like to read, sometimes I don't like to read Spirit of Prophecy because I already know too much I don't do. I ⁓ I'm gonna learn more than I don't do right. That's not the right attitude, but. get in the boat you learn more about what Jesus can do through you. He can help you live in the right way and if you're not within his will today how can you expect him to show us his will for tomorrow? Verse 34, when they crossed over they came to the land of Gennesaret and when the men of that place recognized him they sent out into all the surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick. and begged him that they might only touch him the hem of his garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. See, Jesus, the story's not here by random either. It's showing Jesus is still on the path as a healer rather than a warrior king. He has faced the temptation and it has been conquered. We can see from the path of John the Baptist that God's way is not the easy way. God never promises safety. He promises salvation. we are soon to face a time of trouble such as never was. A storm that will either destroy our faith or build it up. Don't go it alone. Remember, Jesus put Peter back in the boat where his faith could continue to grow. We can either stand on the shore in confusion or we can get in the boat to see exactly where Jesus will lead us as individuals and as his church. ⁓ Father, ⁓ we thank you and praise you for privilege we have to follow you. ⁓ Lord, that though our lives have been marred by sin ⁓ sickness and death, You came and you lived and died for us and you gave us an example, of unreserved consecration and surrender to the will of the Father. And likewise, I pray for Jim and Donna, that you protect them and guide them in their walk with you. Give them grace, give them your spirit. Lead them not into temptation, Lord, but deliver them from evil. And let their life be a powerful witness of your saving power. And I ask for each one of us as well, Lord, that we would renew our vows to you today. And that soon and very soon we would be meeting together in the clouds where you're soon coming. We ask all this in Jesus' name, amen.

Matthew 14 · chapter mention Matthew 14:1