Matthew
14
– 16
Verse 14:14 is a good snapshot of Jesus’ life:
Though
Jesus wanted solitude, when He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them,
and He healed the sick and the lame.
Think about it, He didn’t do what He wanted
but rather what needed to be done. We get into the selfish mindset often where
we need “personal time” where we help ourselves. If you notice Jesus does
eventually get that time, He just needs to help others first.
In today’s reading you get the stories
where he feeds 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and two fish and 4000 with seven
loaves and a “few” fish. Each time there is excess and everyone is amazed. In
chapter 16 He uses these events into his teaching and in verse 16:12 the
disciples get it:
And then the
disciples understood: Jesus was not talking about the bread you eat, but
about the food that feeds your soul. He was speaking in metaphor; He was
warning them against imbibing the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
I love how Jesus works in lessons in all
that happens in His life. In this case he was warning them about teachings that
were corrupt. We need to be aware today of these teachings, specifically I
think of the prosperity Gospel preachers. Where does it say we will get rich
following God? No I see the disciples all being jailed and killed, not living
in big houses and enjoying their pool. We will live life to the full, and full is
not defined and Porsche’s and parties.
Now nestled between the two feeding stories
is on where Peter walks on water. Peter saw Jesus walking on the water and with
faith stepped out of the boat and walked towards Jesus. While he was walking he
realized what he was doing and began to sink.
Verse 14:31 Jesus’ catches Peter and calms
him:
Immediately Jesus
reached for Peter and caught him.
Jesus: O
you of little faith. Why did you doubt and dance back and forth between
following Me and heeding fear?
Honest
question: How many have taken a step of faith and tried to walk on a pool or
other body of water? I have more than once and often wonder is my faith really that weak? But if this were
the case every person of true faith would be walking on water. This begs to
question do we all have the same doubt that Peter had?
Think about it Peter
was there first hand when Jesus was walking on water. Peter saw him change
water to wine, raise the dead and heal the lame, yet he had doubt. How can any
of us really have the faith that Peter had? That is a question that bugs me
every day? He was there and did not have enough faith not to sink, yet we just
read these 2000 year old stories and hope answered payers and “odd” life events
are not just “common coincidences” but rather nudges by God. Our faith will be
put to the test often, we need strength to keep pressing into it and don’t fear
searching for the truth. As the X-Files use to say “the truth is out there.”