December 28 Lesson 4 Worship God’s Son
Devotional Reading: Mark 9:15-24
Background Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36
MATTHEW 14:22-36
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a
mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already
a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
22
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, wa l k i ng on t he la ke. 26 When the disciples saw
him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
25
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s
you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
27
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward
Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save
me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said,
“why did you doubt?”
29
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat
worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
32
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place
recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to
him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were
healed.
34
KEY VERSE
When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in
the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” —Matthew
14:32, 33
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Describe how people reacted to and inter-acted with Jesus in light of the miraculous powers he
demonstrated.
2. Explain why worship is the natural reaction to Jesus.
3. Identify one specific way to approach worship with a greater sense of awe and make a plan to
do so.
Introduction
A. Self-Reliance vs. Christ-Reliance
What kind of person do you want to be in hard times? We probably would like to be strong,
tough, able to take what life gives and keep going. We admire those who face hardship with firm
resolve, who keep going to prevail because of their deep well of inner determination.
Our heroes are like that: the gallant soldier, the dynamic businessperson, the athlete who
performs under pressure in the big game, the bystander who puts life on the line to save someone
else. We admire the rugged individual. We celebrate those who seem to do great things on their
own.
Perhaps we celebrate self-reliance because we want to run our lives by ourselves. We prefer to
live life our way. So we honor those who seem to do great things on their own, and we aspire to
be such people ourselves.
But the Bible shines a very different light on this issue. The great people of the Bible were not
self-reliant. They were not distinguished by the depth of their inner resources. No, the great
people of the Bible were distinguished by something else, call it God-reliance or Christ-reliance.
They were people who reacted—although imperfectly on occasion—to hard times not with
personal resolve but with reliance on God’s goodness, love, and power. Today’s text is an
example.
B. Lesson Background
Matthew, Mark, and John place the account of today’s text (absent from Luke) after the account
of the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus’ power was very much on display in that feeding, but so was
the disciples’ limitation in their thinking even though it was by then the third year of Jesus’
public ministry (Matthew 14:15-17).
Our lesson is set on the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a freshwater lake—compare the
designation “the Lake of Gennesaret” in Luke 5:1—that is about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide.
It is in the north of Israel’s territory, and much of Jesus’ ministry took place around this lake.
In 1986, the remains of a boat from the time of Jesus were discovered buried in the mud near the
shore of the Sea of Galilee. Excavated and now on display, the boat is probably typical for the
time. It measures 27 feet in length and 7.5 feet at its widest point. It could have been propelled
with oars, a sail, or both.
Such boats were quite safe when the weather was fine. But storms can arise quickly on this lake.
Because its western coastline features steep hills, a storm blowing in from that direction, from
the Mediterranean Sea, might be seen by boaters only when it is nearly upon them. A small boat
hit by high winds is in a perilous condition, even on such a small lake.
The situation in today’s text was not the first time the disciples had encountered danger on the
water. Earlier they had faced a storm while Jesus slept in their little boat, and he had responded
to their cries by speaking the storm to stillness (Matthew 8:23-27). The episode in today’s text
differs in that Jesus was not initially present as danger presented itself. Even so, our text raises
the question of whether the disciples (particularly Peter) would exercise trust in the power of
Jesus. (Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:16-21 are parallel accounts of today’s text.)
I. Dismissal for Solitude
(Matthew 14:22, 23)
A. Sending Away (v. 22)
22. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After feeding the crowd in the wilderness, Jesus sends everyone away. Jesus also directs his 12
disciples to go across the lake in a boat. This deliberate step shows us that the events to follow
are no accident. The disciples go into danger, but they go with Jesus’ guidance and protection.
B. Being Alone (v. 23)
23. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that
night, he was there alone,
A reason for sending everyone away, even the 12, is revealed: Jesus wants solitude to pray. It is
a remarkable part of this story that the Jesus who exercises the almighty power of God
nevertheless prays earnestly and at length to God the Father. This paradox is critical to our
understanding of Jesus. He is the divine Son of God, to whom all authority is given (Matthew
28:18). He does mighty deeds that demonstrate a power that can belong only to God (9:6, 7). Yet
Jesus consistently and willingly submits to God the Father in prayer; the Father’s will must
prevail (26:39, 42). If Jesus, the almighty Son of God, willingly submits to God the Father, how
much more should we, who have no real power or authority, do the same?
The fact that Jesus is now alone indicates that he is successful in persuading everyone to
depart— most by foot homeward, the 12 by boat. Evening comes as Jesus is left by himself. Any
trouble on the boat will be compounded by the darkness now settling over the lake.
II. Walking on Water
(Matthew 14:24-27)
A. Difficult Situation (v. 24)
24. ... and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because
the wind was against it.
Matthew gradually takes us into the danger that the disciples face, almost as if we ourselves are
experiencing the onset of the storm in the darkness. The boat is far from land, near the middle of
the lake (compare Mark 6:47). The waves beat against the boat as if tormenting it. Perhaps the
boat is taking on water faster than the disciples can bail.
The wind, usually a friend to sailing vessels, is an enemy as it impedes progress on the journey.
On their own without Jesus present, the disciples can only bail and row.
B. Startling Appearance (v. 25)
25. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
If you are using the 1984 edition of the NIV, the text says “during the fourth watch of the night”
instead of the 2011 edition’s shortly before dawn. Both indicate the same thing: the time period
from approximately 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. By this time, the disciples must be exhausted, having
struggled against the storm for hours. While they may have hoped for some act of deliverance,
we can speculate that at this point their hopes are fading, if not gone altogether.
But then Jesus comes to them in a most exceptional manner: walking on the lake. Matthew
describes this incredible action with the simplest of phrases, saying in a few words that Jesus is
doing something that no one else can. In the exodus, God had parted the waters of the Red Sea to
allow his people to escape their enemies. But here is an action without compare. At the point of
the disciples’ exhaustion and hopelessness, the Lord comes to reassure and rescue.
C. Fearful Reaction (v. 26)
26. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said,
and cried out in fear.
Jesus’ walking on the water seems to be the last thing that the disciples expect to see! Not
knowing what to make of the sight, the disciples are freshly alarmed. They assume that anyone
who walks on or above water cannot be a flesh-and-blood human, so they conclude that they are
seeing a ghost. First a storm, now an apparition (compare Luke 24:37)! Little wonder that they
cry out in fear. They feel assaulted from both the physical and spiritual realms.
HOW TO SAY IT
Galilee Gal-uh-lee.
Gennesaret Geh-ness-uh-ret (G as in get).
Mediterranean Med-uh-tuh-ray-nee-un.
D. Comforting Response (v. 27)
27. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus does not delay in revealing to the disciples the unexpected truth: they see not a
disembodied spirit but their Lord. Therefore they can take courage in the midst of the storm.
There is no more reason to be fearful, either of the storm that continues or certainly of the one
who walks on the water to join them.
As Jesus identifies himself to the disciples in this instance, they are (or should be) learning what
Jesus will assure them of after his resurrection: “And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). They may feel that they are alone, but the Christ who will
give his life for them will also remain with them in every circumstance, even when they cannot
see him.
III. Test of Faith
(Matthew 14:28-32)
A. Request, Response, Result (vv. 28-30)
28. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
The story now shifts to one disciple’s reaction to Jesus’ self-revelation. While the storm rages,
Peter, who often seems to take the lead among the 12, asks Jesus to give the command to join
him on the water. The phrase if it’s you might make us think that Peter is uncertain whether this
truly is Jesus. But in this context if is like because: if it is you, Lord (and it certainly is), then
order me to join you.
We might wonder why Peter asks for such a thing. In the context of the Gospel of Matthew, it is
probably best to see that Peter is asking to share in Jesus’ work and authority. Already Jesus had
sent the disciples out to preach, with authority to heal and cast out demons (Matthew 10:1). They
are already sharing in his ministry, and they desire to reign with him (20:20-22). Peter’s request
is the product of an ambition, but it is a sacred ambition: to stand with his Lord in the Lord’s
kingly work.
29. “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Jesus grants Peter’s request. And just as has been the case before, when Jesus commands his
followers to do something, he also grants them the power to carry it out. Therefore, Peter does
the seemingly impossible: walking on the water just as Jesus is doing.
30. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Peter begins his adventure with confident obedience to Jesus. But as he steps out farther, he is
distracted by the strength of the wind. Peter’s fear returns, and as it does, he begins to sink. Just
as the disciples had called out “save us” when they had been in a storm before (Matthew 8:25),
now Peter does so again. This desperate cry, stripped of all self-reliance and pride, is the essence
of faith in Jesus, especially when that faith is troubled by doubt. Even so, Peter’s faith is
defective, as our next verse shows.
B. Rescue, Return, Reverence (vv. 31-33)
31. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why
did you doubt?”
Jesus’ responds to Peter instantly and decisively. As he does on other occasions, Jesus makes
physical contact with the one whom he delivers (Matthew 8:3, 15; 9:29; 14:36; 17:7; 20:34).
With the rescue comes a rebuke. Jesus chides Peter as one of little faith, as Jesus had done to the
disciples collectively when stilling another storm (Matthew 8:26) and as he will do again in a
context of a more peaceful journey on the lake (16:8). Peter’s doubt in the midst of the storm
reveals that his confidence in Jesus can be shaken (see also 26:69-75). Even when the disciples
see Jesus after his resurrection, doubt will infect some of them (28:17). Doubt is a powerful,
pervasive disposition, especially when faith is challenged in times of trouble (compare James
1:6).
When we are guilty of defective faith, we can remember what Jesus does in the passage before
us. Yes, Peter’s faith is weak. Under stress, he is plagued by doubt. But Jesus rescues Peter
anyway! Peter’s weak faith is still sufficient to call out to Jesus for help. Jesus responds even to
weak faith. When we recognize this, we realize that our relationship with Jesus depends on how
ready we are to recognize our weaknesses and rely on his strength. That extends to trusting that
in his strength he can overcome our doubts and worries.
Visual for Lessons 1 & 4. Point to this visual as you ask, “What storm of life has Jesus
helped you through recently?”
32. And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Only as Jesus comes to the boat, still escorting Peter to safety, does the storm end. The disciples
are now assured that they are utterly safe. We note that Jesus does not rescue Peter by calming
the storm, as in Matthew 8:26; rather, Jesus rescues Peter while the storm still rages. Jesus does
not always calm the storms of life, but he is always there to rescue or calm us in one way or
another.
On the two occasions that Jesus quiets storms on the Sea of Galilee, he does what the psalmist
famously had said can be done only by God (Psalm 107:28-30). Those who are in danger from
the storm cry out to God for deliverance. But notably on this occasion, the disciples come to a
point of deliverance even before the storm is stilled, since Jesus’ protection has been assured all
along, even while he was separated from them. The disciples now receive a demonstration of that
wonderful fact. As the wind at last ceases, their real condition—living under the sure protection
of Jesus—becomes clear.
33. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
As the storm stills, the disciples react to all that they have just experienced. They thought
themselves to have been in acute danger for their lives. They have struggled on their own up to
the limits of their strength and endurance. They have witnessed Jesus demonstrate power
available only to God. They have seen him empower one of their number to join him in his
sovereign control of the deep. To what conclusion does all of this drive them?
They can conclude nothing less than that Jesus is utterly unlike any other. For the Jewish people
of Jesus’ time, the phrase Son of God first means that Jesus is God’s promised king, the great
Son of David. Certainly the disciples are affirming at least that much here. Jesus has shown his
kingly authority in what he had just accomplished.
But questions undoubtedly remain: Just how great a king is Jesus? How can he exercise powers
that the Scriptures attribute to God alone? The disciples will continue struggling to understand.
Peter—whose mind-set probably is typical of the others—will again confess Jesus as God’s Son
(Matthew 16:16), will waver in submission to him (16:22), and will desert and deny him (26:56,
69-75). Greater understanding will come when Jesus rises from the dead.
But in this particular moment, their expression is full even if their understanding is not complete
as they fall in worship of Jesus. In so doing, they affirm his supreme authority, just as they will
when he is risen from the dead (Matthew 28:17).
IV. Healing the Sick
(Matthew 14:34-36)
A. Jesus Recognized (vv. 34, 35)
34, 35. When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place
recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to
him
Gennesaret is a village on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ ability to heal is
well established by this time since he is in the third year of his public ministry. No doubt word
has gotten around that he has just fed thousands in a wilderness area, in something of a parallel
to God’s providing manna to Israel in the wilderness during the exodus. Little wonder that all the
surrounding country reacts by bringing the sick to Jesus!
B. Wholeness Results (v. 36)
36. ... and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were
healed.
Chapters before, a woman who had sought Jesus had touched the edge of his cloak in faith and
was healed of her 12-year illness (Matthew 9:20-22). Now many others are similarly healed. We
are impressed by their faith. But the emphasis here is just as much, if not more so, on the one
who has the power to see that people are healed. The one who has just demonstrated power over
the forces of nature now uses his power for all who come to him. Truly there is no one like him.
Conclusion
A. Coming to Jesus
Like the disciples in the storm, Jesus seems absent from our lives at times. During such times, we
may feel that we have no one to rely on but ourselves.
But our own power will fail in the end. We will find ourselves in situations that we simply
cannot handle. We will admit that we cannot add a single day to our lives by our own efforts.
Like others who have realized their deep need for his power, we have to abandon ourselves to his
strength. That’s when faith grows.
B. Prayer
Almighty God, grant us the sense of your presence when we feel alone. Manifest your sovereign
power when we are weak. Remind us always that your power is that of the cross, power that
over-comes our darkest moments. In Jesus’ name, amen.
C. Thought to Remember
God’s power is greater than our weak faith.