Rescue

It's my pleasure to welcome to the pulpit this evening Reverend Joe Hall who is Minister in Bon Accord Free Church in Aberdeen.

! It's delighted to welcome him here with us this evening. He's been preaching in Kalanish already today this morning and now he's preaching with ourselves.

This evening he's been to the island before but just spending time visiting the place as a tourist.

So this is his first time coming over to preach here in the island.

So we're delighted to have him with us.

I know he'll be familiar to some of you here with either being in Aberdeen or relatives in Aberdeen or if you've been out in Aberdeen he's maybe familiar to you.

So we look forward to his ministry with us this evening and I'm delighted just to hand over to him at this point.

Well thank you Kalan and thank you all for your invitation.

It's a delight to be with you this evening to worship God with you.

Bring warm greetings from the congregation at Bon Accord.

Some of whom have been known to some of you.

But just delighted to be here to partner with you and to worship with you here this evening.

Hear these words of Jesus that come from John chapter 8.

John 8 · chapter mention

Jesus said,

As we come to the risen Lord Jesus Christ this morning, this evening, let us believe in him and we will never hunger.

We will not thirst.

We will not thirst.

We will be satisfied in him.

Let us come to him then with our praise this evening.

We're going to stand together to sing from the Scottish shelter Psalm 100.

All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.

Let us stand to sing God's praise.

Let us stand to sing God's praise.

Let us stand to sing God's praise.

Let us stand to sing God's praise.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Why the Lord the God is good.

His mercy is forever sure.

His truth at all times turn thee to.

I shall promise to his vengeance.

Let's join our hearts in prayer to God.

Let us pray together.

Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father,

it's our joy and delight this evening

to join our hearts and our voices together

in praise of ye,

your goodness,

your glory,

your greatness.

Father, we delight to join our voices

with your church throughout the earth,

all peoples that on earth do dwell,

who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

and gather in your presence this Lord's day.

It's our joy and our delight, Father,

to join our voices,

even with the angels in heaven,

gathered around your throne

to be in your presence,

exalted and majestic,

the holy God.

we come to you with praise and adoration,

for truly you are over all.

And yet, Father, we praise you,

we glorify you,

that you have drawn near to us

through your Son,

by your Holy Spirit.

Our Father, we praise you,

that you, by your grace,

have called a people to yourself in Christ.

Christ,

we thank you that you have set

your everlasting love upon us,

that you have put your triune name upon us,

the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

And you give us strength

and you bless us.

And our Father,

as we gather to you this evening,

we confess that it is only in your strength

and it is only with your blessing

that we can come.

Our Father,

it is only because you have sought

and called us

that we are gathered here.

Lord, we confess that if

our coming before you

depended on our own strength

or will,

our merit,

our works,

our own desire,

oh Lord,

we would not be before you.

We could not stand.

Our Father,

we have proved in countless ways

this past week

how our love for you

has not been with all our heart,

soul, mind, and strength.

Lord, we have not loved

our neighbor as ourselves.

And yet, as we gather to you,

our Father,

we rejoice that you have loved us

from eternity past,

that you have shown your love for us

in this,

that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

And so, Father,

it is not for our own love

that we come,

but for yours.

Forgive us,

we pray,

for what we're not.

Lord,

make us like your Son.

And as we hear your word

and as your spirit

is at work in us tonight,

as we trust,

according to your promise,

that he will be,

that you would conform us

to his image

from one degree of glory

to the next.

Our Father,

be at work in us.

Renew our hearts

that we might love

and worship

and serve you

tonight

and as we go from here

into the coming week.

For we ask in the name

of the crucified

and risen Lord Jesus.

Amen.

Well, we are going to hear

the words of Jesus now

from Matthew's Gospel,

chapter 14,

and reading from page 13.

Matthew, chapter 14.

Matthew 14 · chapter mention

We're beginning from verse 13.

Just before this,

we hear of the death

of John the Baptist.

That is what Jesus

is hearing about

in verse 13.

Now, when Jesus heard this,

he withdrew from there

in a boat

to a desolate place

by himself.

But when the crowds heard it,

they followed him

on foot from the towns.

When he went ashore,

he saw a great crowd

and he had compassion on them

and healed their sick.

Now, when it was evening,

the disciples came to him

and said,

this is a desolate place

and the day is now over.

Send the crowds away

to go into the villages

and buy food for themselves.

But Jesus said,

they need not go away.

You give them something to eat.

They said to him,

we have only five loaves here

and two fish.

And he said,

bring them here to me.

Then he ordered the crowds

to sit down on the grass

and taking the five loaves

and the two fish,

he looked up to heaven

and said a blessing.

Then he broke the loaves

and gave them to the disciples

and the disciples

gave them to the crowds

and they all ate

and were satisfied.

And they took up 12 baskets

full of broken pieces left over

and those who ate

were about 5,000 men

besides women and children.

Immediately,

he made the disciples

get into the boat

and go before him

to the other side

while he dismissed the crowds.

And after he dismissed the crowds,

he went up on the mountain

by himself to pray.

When evening came,

he was there alone,

but the boat by this time

was a long way from the land,

beaten by the waves,

for the wind was against them.

And in the fourth watch of the night,

he came to them,

walking on the sea.

But when the disciples

saw him walking on the sea,

they were terrified

and said,

It is a ghost.

And they cried out in fear.

But immediately,

Jesus spoke to them,

saying,

Take heart.

It is I.

Do not be afraid.

And Peter answered him,

Lord, if it is you,

command me to come to you

on the water.

He said,

Come.

So Peter got out of the boat

and walked on the water

and came to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind,

he was afraid.

And beginning to sink,

he cried out,

Lord, save me.

Jesus immediately

reached out his hand

and took hold of him,

saying to him,

O you of little faith,

why did you doubt?

And when they got into the boat,

the wind ceased.

And those in the boat

worshipped him,

saying,

Truly,

you are the Son of God.

And when they crossed over,

they came to land

at Gennesaret.

And when the men of that place

recognized him,

they sent word around

to all that region

and brought to him

all who were sick

and implored him

that they might only touch

the fringe of his garment.

And as many as touched it

were made well.

Amen.

This is God's living

and holy word

and the words

of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We'll come back to those verses

later in our service.

But now as we respond

to the reading of God's word,

we're going to sing

from Psalm 77

in Sing Psalms

and verses that speak

of a similar event

in the history of God's people

in the Exodus

and the crossing of the sea.

So we're singing

from Psalm 77

Psalms 77:13–16

verses 13 to 16

and then 19 to 20.

That's on page 100

of the Psalter.

Sing Psalms

and the tune is Kilmarnock.

Let us stand

to sing together.

Amen.

singing singing

singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing singing, singing, singing singing, singing singing, singing singing, singing singing, singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing singing

Kikov's and Joseph's children

In the crown of mine

The waters of you, O my God

Is so unrightly pain

The Greatest, the King of the

The glass for the rain

The full earth's death of the land

The path of the sea

Your way to the mighty waters

And your good place now to see

Your people like God's long-doubts

Your guide in every day

My God's wisdom, my dear old son

You let them all go away

Let's come again in prayer to God together

Let us pray

Living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

We bow before you as the God who alone saves

Lord, you are the God of miracles

Looked upon with awe by all the earth

And Lord, as we have just sung and reflected upon

Your mighty works of old

The history of your faithful love towards your people

The keeping of your promises

The rescuing of them

From sin and slavery and death

Our Father, we reflect on your great love for us

In the Lord Jesus Christ

Your Son, our Savior

Who has saved us from sin and darkness

And death through his cross

And his resurrection

Our Father, we thank you that in him

You have provided for us eternal life

The forgiveness of sins

The renewal of our hearts

And the hope of a new creation

Our Father, we thank you that you provide for us

All things that are needed for life and for godliness

Our Father, we thank you for every good gift that you have given us today

Lord, we thank you for every good thing that you grant to us in life

We thank you, Lord, for friendship and for family

For the food that you give us

For the homes that we live in

We thank you for the measure of health that you give us each day

Father, we pray for those among us this evening who are unwell

Perhaps, Lord, confined to their homes

Father, we continue to trust ye for health and wellness

We pray, Lord, that you would grant it to our brothers and sisters

Who struggle with ill health

But, Lord, above all, we pray, Lord, that their trust would be holy in ye

For your timing

For your timing

To know that you are good

That you are kind

And that you are in control

Father, we thank you that you have provided for us a church on earth

Your people, your body here

We thank you, Lord, for this congregation in Stornoway

Lord, we pray that you would continue to uphold your saints here

Lord, continue to strengthen their faith

To grow their love for you and for one another

We pray, Lord, that their witness to the surrounding world would be bright and clear

Father, we pray that you would uphold them particularly in a time of vacancy

Father, we thank you for Callum

And, Lord, we pray that you would continue to minister to your people through him

Lord, we thank you for the Kirk session

Lord, we thank you for the Kirk session, for the vacancy committee

And, Lord, we pray that you would grant wisdom

Lord, we trust that you would call the right man to come to minister here alongside Callum

Lord, we continue to seek you for that

And, Lord, we pray across the island and across our church

That you would continue to raise up workers for the harvest field

Lord, you told us on earth that the harvest is plentiful

But the workers are few

And you instructed us to continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest

To send out workers

And so we do, Lord, we implore you

And we pray, Lord, that you would raise up godly men

For ordained pastoral ministry

Godly men and women, Lord, to engage in evangelism

And pastoral care

And good works

Strengthen and equip your church, we pray

Father, we pray and thank you for the youth conference that has taken place, Lord, over these past few days

Lord, we thank you for the blessing that they have known

And pray that the teaching that the young people have received from Andy

And from others, Lord, would bear fruit in their young lives

Father, we pray that friendships would be formed and strengthened as a result of this past weekend

Among them that would support them in their walk with you through their lives

Father, we pray that you would raise up and strengthen a generation of Christians, Lord, in our land

Who are bold in their testimony

And in their living for you, Lord

In a world

That is so hostile to you and your Christ and your word

Lord, we pray for those who attended, Lord

And all those who didn't

Who were young

And that you would help them, Lord

To remember their Creator

In the days of their youth

Our Father, further afield, we pray for your people in parts of the world where they suffer

At persecution and hardship that we can barely imagine

Lord, we pray for your church this evening in Myanmar

Lord, we pray that you would strengthen your people there

Lord, we pray that in your infinite wisdom and justice and mercy

That you would bring an end to the conflict that is there

Father, we pray that you would relieve all the people of that land from war

But Lord, particularly we pray that you would keep your church and guard and protect your people

Lord, we pray that in a divided country that their unity and peace would shine

That their witness to the gospel would remain pure

And that your church there would grow in number and in maturity

Lord, keep your people there, we pray

Father, as your word instructs us to do, we remember this evening

Kings and all those in high places

Lord, we are so aware that our world is unstable

Lord, your word also tells us that the heart of a king is like water in your hands

That you turn whichever way you would

And so, our Father, we pray that you would turn the hearts of those whom you have set in authority over us

To wisdom and peace and justice

Father, we pray that as world leaders take great decisions

Great decisions

That they would be conscious of the importance, Lord, that they have and their standing before you

That they are accountable to you, the God of heaven

Lord, we trust that even in an uncertain time that you are unfolding your eternal plan

For the good of your people and for your glory

Lord, we pray that you would help us to set our hope on the coming again of Jesus

Lord, in your mercy, we pray that there would be peace in our time

But more than that, Lord, we know that there will be peace and renewal

And an end of sickness and suffering and death with the return of the Lord Jesus

And so we pray with your people throughout the ages and across the world

Come, Lord Jesus

Come soon

For we pray and ask in your name

Amen

Well, as we prepare to come back to Matthew's Gospel

We're going to sing from Psalm 93

From Sing Psalms

And the whole psalm

Again, reflecting in God's almighty power over the chaotic waters of darkness

And the power of his voice

It's on page 123

In Sing Psalms

Let us stand again to sing God's praise

Let us pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and pray pray and pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray pray and pray

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

To royal statues, Lord, stand firm, and changing is your word.

And holiness adores your love, our endless creation, Lord.

Wonderful. Well, if you would please have that passage of Matthew's Gospel open, that would be most helpful as we work our way through it this evening.

And more helpful even than that will be to pray for the Lord's help and that he would speak to us. Let's do that together.

Our Father, we thank you for your precious word. It is unchanging, it is sure, the very word by which you created the earth and the stars and the heavens.

Lord, humble our hearts this evening, we pray, as we bow before you and listen to your word.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening. In Jesus' name, amen.

Well, I wonder, what kind of rescue do you think we need?

What comes to mind when I say the word rescue?

Now, at home, we have toddlers, a three-year-old and a two-year-old.

So, I won't lie, what comes to mind when I say the word rescue?

For me, in our house is Paw Patrol.

Perhaps some of you have watched an episode or two or three or four or five of Paw Patrol.

If you haven't seen it, no worries.

Every episode is exactly the same.

All is well in Adventure Bay.

And then mild peril strikes.

Ryder summons the pups to the pup tower.

They get a breakdown of what has gone wrong.

And once they have worked out what kind of problem it is that they have to solve,

they then need to work out which pups with which special skills, special tools will be needed

to save the day.

Who will do the rescue?

Now, I won't spoil it.

Every episode is the same.

They succeed in the rescue.

But what do we think of when we think of the word rescue?

What kind of rescue do you think that we need?

Of course, we face far more serious situations in life than ever visit the people of Adventure Bay.

Wars.

Terminal illness.

Natural disasters.

Relationship breakdown.

Sexual violence.

We could go on.

What kind of rescue do you think we need?

And what do we need to do about it?

We're coming to a section of Matthew's Gospel this evening where Matthew wants us as learners of Jesus

to learn what kind of rescue King Jesus came to bring and how we need to respond.

So far in the Gospel, if we'd read up to this point, we have seen something of what King Jesus came to do.

He has been bringing God's kingdom into the world.

That is God's good and loving rule to bear on people's lives.

We've seen that through the countless healings that he's performed.

Our reading tonight is topped and tailed with even more as King Jesus brings, restores something of the wholeness to people

that God created us for in the beginning.

But he has brought God's kingdom all the more through his word, through his teaching.

And so in this Gospel, we have had up to this point three big sermons, three teaching blocks,

where Jesus has set his people, and to some extent the wider crowd, straight on what God's kingdom is and how we live in it.

And we've seen different responses.

Some have heard Jesus' message of God's kingdom, and they have bowed before him.

They've taken the crown off their own heads.

They've given it to him.

They have recognized him as Lord and Christ and Savior.

And they have turned and begun to live in God's kingdom.

They have followed King Jesus.

Many, though, have heard him and have either misunderstood what he has said,

or they've only partly got what he has said.

And of those who have only got part of what he said, some even then haven't liked what Jesus has said.

So the religious leaders, the Pharisees, the scribes, have called him, no less, the prince of demons,

and begun already to plot his death.

So now we've had a chance to see and to respond to something of what King Jesus has come to do.

It's time to see more.

This is a new chapter in the gospel, a new chapter in Jesus' ministry,

because now Jesus decides it's the time to reveal the rescue plan to his people.

Jesus to the rescue.

So what kind of rescue is it?

And what do we need to do about it?

Two points this evening.

Firstly, then, let us see that King Jesus has come to Exodus rescue us.

Now, our reading from Matthew, it's one of these chapters, isn't it,

that shows that we know our Bibles both too well and not well enough.

Right?

We heard that chapter, didn't we?

And we thought together, we know this.

I reckon we could go out on the street this evening,

we could ask people about Jesus walking on the water, feeding the 5,000,

and they would know what we were talking about.

We know these chapters of the Bible, don't we, too well.

But like so many things in the Bible, we think we don't need to hear again.

It turns out that's because actually, perhaps, perhaps,

we don't know our Bibles well enough.

See, how many of us, I wonder, as we read, thought,

well, this is a big chapter.

Why don't we break it down?

Right?

Can't he see the headings?

It says, doesn't it, Jesus feeds the 5,000,

Jesus walks on the water.

Slow down!

Why are we going so quickly?

But it's only when we put it together

that we begin to see what is going on.

So, let me tell you this story

in a different way

and see if we can see.

Let me tell you from the end,

working backwards,

and tell me what you see.

The Lord's people worship him.

They cry out to him to save them.

They are terrified,

but he brings them safely through the sea.

He goes up on a mountain.

In the wilderness, they are hungry.

In his compassion,

he feeds them with bread from heaven.

Now, if I asked you,

what part of the Bible does that come from,

what would you say?

Where would you take me?

Through the sea,

up a mountain,

in the wilderness,

where they eat miracle bread.

That is the Exodus, isn't it?

It's the Exodus.

Specifically, it's the Exodus rescue.

God hits Egypt with 10 plagues,

10 strikes.

After the tent,

his people are set free.

He brings them safely out.

Across the sea,

he gathers them to himself,

makes them his own,

and lovingly feeds them

with bread from heaven on the way.

Now, what Jesus does here,

and what Matthew wants us to see,

is that Jesus is recreating

the Exodus rescue.

Just see that with me in the text.

Verse 13,

Jesus goes out to the wilderness,

and a crowd comes to him.

Soon, the question of food comes up.

His disciples say,

literally, the word they use,

this is a wilderness.

Send the crowds away

to go and buy food for themselves.

What are we going to eat, Lord?

Now, the target audience here

is the disciples.

Okay, we've seen this before

in Matthew,

the Sermon on the Mount.

For example,

the crowds are all around him,

but before him,

close up,

he's got the 12,

the disciples.

Jesus wants them,

particularly,

to see what he's going to do.

So he says to the disciples,

verse 16,

they need not go away,

you give them something to eat.

And straight away,

this has all become

a lot more personal,

hasn't it?

It's a bit like,

perhaps,

you've said,

oh, so-and-so's here,

they need a lift.

And somebody said,

well, can't you take them?

Right, suddenly,

the problem has become

your problem.

Jesus does that

to the disciples,

I think not because

he's really expecting them

to feed the crowds,

but so that they'll recognize

that he is going to do something

that they have no power to do.

Hence,

when they say,

when we have five loaves

and two fish,

Jesus says not,

he doesn't say,

does he just start

giving them out?

He says,

bring them here

to me.

Significantly,

he looks up

to heaven,

where the manna came from,

the bread from heaven.

He says a blessing

and gives it back

to the disciples

to distribute.

Then we read,

the disciples gave it

to the crowds

and they all ate

and were satisfied.

Not only that,

they took up

twelve baskets

full of broken pieces

left over,

that is,

the number of tribes

in the wilderness,

and those who ate

were about five thousand men

besides women

and children.

So,

the heading in your Bible,

which is not inspired,

says Jesus feeds

the five thousand,

which is wrong,

isn't it?

Jesus feeds

the fifteen to twenty thousand,

five thousand men plus,

women and children.

Now,

if you were those disciples,

what would you be thinking

at this point?

Who can do stuff like this?

Feed thousands of people

in a desert

where there is no food?

food.

And this wasn't just like

passing around the loaf

at communion

or taking the wee

bits of bread.

No,

these people

ate to the full.

They were satisfied.

They were filled

and then some.

With our own hands,

we gave him

five loaves

and two fish.

And with our own hands,

we gave out

enough food

to feed

five thousand

men plus

women and children

and then some.

What happened

in between?

Well,

he did.

Jesus happened.

We tell the story

of the bread from heaven

every year,

they would say,

but now we're living it

because of Jesus.

Then once everyone's eaten,

Jesus sends them away

on a boat

while the crowds

trickle away.

And at verse 23,

after he's dismissed

the crowds,

he went up on a mountain

by himself

to pray.

Now,

given the disciples

aren't there

at this point,

this is for Jesus

and for us,

isn't it?

It's for Jesus.

That's why he went

into the wilderness

in the first place,

to have that time

by himself

with his father.

Only at this point

does he actually

get that time.

But it's written here

for us

so that we get

another piece

of the big picture

because after they've

been fed in the wilderness,

where do the people go?

Well,

to the mountain

where Moses goes up

by himself

to pray to God

and meet with him

on the mountain

before coming down

and Jesus crosses

the sea

to meet his disciples

in the boats,

which was a long way

from the land

beaten by the waves

so the wind

was against them.

Now,

perhaps you're thinking

the sea does not,

does it,

at this point,

split open for him

to walk through

on dry land,

okay?

But when Moses

raised his staff

over the sea,

it says,

all that night

the Lord drove

the sea back

with a strong

east wind

and turned it

into dry land

and the people

walked through the sea.

Well,

now,

on another windy night,

Jesus walks

through the sea,

across the water,

as if on dry land,

he came to them

walking

on the sea.

and then his people

do too.

Lord,

if it is you,

asks Peter,

command me

to come to you

on the water.

Come on,

Peter.

So Peter

got out of the boat

and walked on the water

and came to Jesus.

I take it like

giving them the bread

and the fish.

This is because

Jesus wants

the disciples

to experience

his power

up close

and personal.

Their need,

his power

at work.

And right on key,

as he begins

to sing,

Peter cried out,

verse 30,

Lord,

save me.

Lord,

save me.

Immediately,

we read,

the Lord Jesus

reached out his hand,

took hold of Peter,

and when they got

into the boat,

the wind ceased.

The Lord

saves his people

by bringing them

safely through

the sea.

And the final

piece of the puzzle,

if we need it,

is there in verse 33,

those in the boat

worshipped him,

saying,

truly you are

the Son of God.

Again,

who can do this?

Right?

Only one who's

worthy of praise

and worship,

the Lord,

Jesus,

the Son of God,

the Christ,

the Son of God.

Now,

each bit of that story

is an amazing miracle

in its own right,

isn't it?

But I think,

put it together,

and the point

is simply incredible.

That Jesus is the God

of the Exodus,

and,

still better,

that he has come

to do another

Exodus rescue.

I take it that

these miracles

are not recorded

for us in this

chapter of Matthew

simply to reinforce

that Jesus is God.

He is God.

But Matthew

has made that point

before.

He's shown us that.

We know that.

Why show us

that Jesus

can recreate

the Exodus

rescue?

well,

because,

friends,

that is the kind

of rescue

that we need,

and so it is

the kind of rescue

that he has come

to bring.

Think about it.

What would be the problem

with Jesus

simply bringing

God's kingdom

into the world

and calling us

into it?

What would still

not happen?

What could we

not do?

Why would we

not come?

Well,

what's holding

us back?

It's that we

are captives

in a kingdom

of darkness.

It's that we

are slaves

of sin

and death.

We live out

our days

under the shadow

of death,

and like the

Israelites in

Egypt,

we cannot just

go when we

please.

The kingdom

of darkness

will fight

tooth and nail

to hold

onto us.

The devil

will work

us to death

in his service,

and like

Pharaoh,

the actual

prince of

this world

will not

let his

people go.

So what

point would

there be

in Jesus

calling us

into his

kingdom

if we

can't

come?

Friends,

this chapter

of Matthew

reminds us

that Jesus

is not

a helpless

salesman

pitching us

his wares,

selling us

his stuff,

hoping

hoping

that we

will buy.

And we

are not

smart

consumers

weighing

up our

options.

What's

best for

me?

What's

the best

deal

in life?

No,

we are

slaves in

a kingdom

of darkness.

darkness.

And here

is the

good news

of the

gospel,

that King

Jesus

has come

to pound

the kingdom

of darkness

until it

lets us

go,

to set

our hearts

free,

to live

under his

wise and

loving and

compassionate

rule in

his kingdom.

In other

words,

he has come

to exodus,

rescue us,

because that

is the rescue

that we

need.

there are

lots of

things wrong

in the

world,

aren't

there?

In the

news this

week,

wars,

diplomatic

breakdown,

corruption,

rescues

are needed.

But what

is the

problem behind

those problems?

Well,

it is the

fact that by

nature we

belong to a

kingdom of

darkness,

and we

serve its

interests,

and we

obey its

rules.

We are

born as

slaves in

an empire

of evil.

Friends,

we suffer

from the

mother of

all problems.

But the

gospel tells

us that

Jesus came

to rescue

us from

the mother

of all

problems.

He's come

to break

us out of

slavery to

darkness,

set our

hearts free

to serve a

better master,

the God who

created us,

who knows

us,

who loves

us.

That is the

rescue that

we desperately

need, and

is what he

came to

do.

He has

come to

exodus,

rescue us.

what kind of

rescue do you

think you

need?

What kind of

rescue do you

think our

world needs?

The story of

the Bible is

so much bigger

than we think,

isn't it?

Jesus' work,

God's rescue,

it is so much

deeper,

better,

longer lasting

than we dare

even to

imagine.

And so what

do we need to

do about it?

Friends, this is

the rescue Jesus

has come to

do.

So secondly,

trust him with

your rescue.

This is the

second of our

two points

tonight.

Trust him

with your

rescue.

And now we're

not told what

the disciples

talked about

after Jesus

had fed us

a small town

with bread

and fish,

but over the

page in

chapter 16,

we find out

they didn't

really get

it.

In another

boat,

they find

they haven't

bought any

bread.

Jesus says

to them,

oh, you

of little

faith,

why are you

discussing

among yourselves

the fact

that you

have no

bread?

Do you

not yet

perceive?

Do you

not remember

the five

loaves for

the 5,000

and how many

baskets you

gathered?

The miracle

has gone

straight over

their heads.

But the

drumbeat

of these

chapters

is not,

oh, you

of little

intelligence,

you of

little

IQ,

it is

you of

little

faith.

He's going

to say that

three times

in the next

four chapters

because their

problem is

not up here

that they're

not clever

enough to

piece the

pieces together,

it is in

here that

they do

not trust

him to

properly be

their

rescuer.

that's

what the

scene with

Peter nearly

drowning

is about.

Again, it's

so well

known it's

lost its

impact on

many of

us.

We think

coming to

this passage

that Jesus

perhaps is

being a bit

harsh on

Peter.

How many

of us have

walked on

water?

It was a

stormy

night.

Peter

probably

couldn't

swim.

Is Jesus

just being

the strict

teacher

with a

standard

that's

impossible

to meet?

Well, no.

Think about

the rescue

Peter is

part of.

It's as if

he and the

other disciples

have been

taken back

in time.

They're

reliving

the greatest

rescue story

in the

world.

The Exodus

rescue was

their history

and heritage,

but that

day it

became their

lived

experience.

They'd

put a

small

lunch

into

Jesus'

hands

and they

have

given

back

out

supermarkets

worth of

food to

people.

They've

been

struggling

across the

sea.

Jesus

simply

walked up

to them

on the

water.

And

Peter

gets

something,

doesn't

he?

Something

of what's

going on.

Lord,

if it

is you,

he says,

command me

to come

to you

on the

water.

He

wants

to live

it.

He

wants

to grasp

it for

it all

to be

true

and real

for

him.

And

so he

gets out

of the

boat.

And he

rests his

feet on

the water

trusting that

it will

hold his

weight simply

because Jesus

has said

it will.

There is

real faith

there,

isn't there?

But what

kind of

faith is

it?

We asked

before,

what kind

of rescue?

Not all

rescues are

equal,

are they?

we

not only

have two

small

children,

we also

have a

small

dog.

One

very

stormy

night,

we took

the dog

for a

walk,

and a

different

dog

actually

followed

us

home

that

had

lost

its

owner.

And

thankfully,

the dog

had a

tag,

we phoned

the number

on it,

the owner

came 20

minutes

later,

he was

very

grateful,

he took

his dog

home,

but you

know what,

we've never

seen him

again,

we didn't

get a

card or

flowers or

anything,

because it's

not like

we performed

CPR on

somebody in

his family,

or saved

one of his

children from

being run

over,

the response

is proportionate

to the

rescue,

isn't it?

The bigger

the rescue,

the deeper

the response.

Jesus didn't

just tell

Peter to

walk on

the water,

did he?

He also

said as he

stood on

the water,

verse 27,

take heart,

it is I,

don't be

afraid,

don't be

afraid,

but what

happens?

Peter got

out of the

boat,

walked on

the water

and came

to Jesus,

but when

he saw

the wind,

he was

afraid.

Is that

a proportionate

response to

the rescue

that Jesus

is doing?

What kind

of faith

does Peter

have here?

Half a

faith.

Faith in

some of

what Jesus

has said

and done,

not faith

in the

rest.

And that

is not

a proportionate

response,

is it,

to someone

who is

doing what

Jesus is

doing.

It's not

a big enough

response to

the biggest

rescue that

Jesus is

showing that

he has come

to do.

of course,

the point of

the original

Exodus rescue

is that

God's

people did

cross the

sea to

safety,

but Peter

very nearly

suffers the

fate of

the Egyptians

being swallowed

by the

waves.

Why?

Well,

because he

didn't trust

Jesus not

to be afraid

when Jesus

told him

there was

nothing to

be afraid

of.

He trusted

Jesus enough,

didn't he,

to obey some

of his words,

come to me,

but not the

rest of his

words,

have no fear.

And friends,

the rest of

these chapters

in this section,

they're here to

show us that

more than

anything,

that is what

we need to be

rescued from.

little faith,

little faith,

unbelief,

a heart that

has one foot

in the kingdom

of heaven,

but one foot

still trapped

in the kingdom

of darkness,

a heart that

on its own

cannot trust

Jesus all the

way,

even if we

wanted to,

which is why

Peter is

an uncomfortably

unclear mirror,

isn't he,

for us to

look into.

In some ways,

we should want

to be more

like him,

in other

ways,

we are far

too much

like him.

But when

he's really

pushed,

as he's

sinking and

he's going

to drown,

he cries

out,

doesn't he,

the most

important words

that anyone

could ever

say to

the Lord

Jesus,

Lord,

save me,

Lord,

save me.

If his

first stumbling

steps of

faith were

weak,

what he

says when

he stumbles

shows a

faith that

is big

enough for

the rescue

that Jesus

is bringing.

And that

can be true

for us as

well,

can't it?

Perhaps you

can relate to

Peter here.

If things

feel like

they're getting

harder for

you,

like temptation

is getting

worse,

doubts,

or doubts

are growing

stronger,

or perhaps

just the

pressure to

conform to

a worldly

lifestyle,

a way of

thinking,

is getting

tougher,

or just

generally

situations in

life that

are getting

harder,

or just not

getting better,

and the longer

we have to

carry it,

the tougher

it gets,

and you feel

like you're

sinking and

you're going

to drown,

well,

it's at that

point,

isn't it,

that our

need becomes

clearest,

and therefore

our faith in

Jesus grows

deepest.

Before we

could walk

on water,

now we're

sinking and

we can't

help but

cry out to

Jesus,

Lord,

save me.

Well,

friends,

let me say

that that is

where Jesus

would rather

have us

than going

through life

only half

trusting in

him,

but half

relying on

us.

A full-throated,

whole-hearted,

desperate trust

in him to

save us

rather than

a halfway

faith that

secretly fears

that we

won't make

it.

If you're

here tonight

and you

feel like

you're sinking

or going

to drown,

you only

need cry

to Jesus

to save

you,

and what

will he

do?

Just see

in verse

31,

Jesus

immediately

reached out

his hand

and took

hold of

him.

He was

waiting for

Peter to

say the

words,

but no

longer than

that,

right?

Immediately

he reached

out his

hand and

saved him.

Friends,

you say

the word

and Jesus

will immediately

reach out

and take

hold of

you in

all his

compassion

and power

to save

you from

sinking

and drowning

in fear,

judgment,

and death.

And perhaps

for some

of you,

you've

never done

that in

your life,

you've

never prayed

that prayer

in your

heart or

said those

words with

your mouth

to the

Lord Jesus.

Let me

say with all

the tenderness

in the world

that if that

is you,

this is where

you are

tonight,

sinking and

drowning,

not only in

life,

in busyness

and stress,

but one

day into

death and

condemnation

and hell.

Friend,

you need

only say

the word

to Jesus,

cry out

to him,

these three

simple words,

Lord,

save me,

and immediately

he will.

Immediately

he will.

Not before

you ask,

but at the

very moment

that you

ask,

he will

immediately

save you.

If that's

you,

don't hold

back,

cry out

to him,

pray that

prayer,

speak to

somebody

after the

service,

Lord,

save me.

But really

as we come

into close,

the challenge

of these

verses is

for those

of us

who are

Jesus'

disciples,

who are

Christians,

because even

if Jesus

were rather

that we

were at

the end

of ourselves

rather than

half trusting

in him,

he would

still rather,

wouldn't he,

that we

didn't have

to get to

that point

before we

trusted fully

in him.

Hence,

here's the

twist,

Jesus doesn't

commend Peter

for his

faith,

does he?

But actually

says,

verse 31,

oh you

of little

faith,

why did

you doubt?

think about

it,

it's a bit

of a

functional

faith,

isn't it?

That we

need to

sink before

we're ready

to cry out

to him.

Wouldn't

Jesus rather

that Peter

had kept

his eyes

upon him

the whole

way,

not let

him go,