Matt4-3

We turn briefly from Jesus' activity to take note of what was happening in the court of King Herod, ruler over Galilee . Word came to him about what Jesus was doing and his fearful mind immediately jumps to a superstitious conclusion. This is John risen!

Matthew then proceeds to tell us what had happened: John had obviously been speaking out against Herod having taken his brother's wife and so, in retaliation, Herod had arrested John and put him in prison. We see here first of all, Herod's character being displayed: a weak superstitious man of low morals who abused his position.

We should also note some more general principles as we consider what happened to John. First, that Christians are not immune to persecution, especially when they speak out for righteousness. In fact they are promised them (remember Mt 10:17 -25). Second, that persecution will go as far as death sometimes (see also Acts 7:57 -60 & 12:2); God does not always step in a prevent a death (though He does sometimes). He allowed His own Son to be put to death and so He will also allow some of His other sons to die similarly. For us death is not the end but the entry into glory, so we do not need to fear it. These are sobering verses but they help us keep a true perspective.

D. Application:

1. Persecution does come against righteousness.

2. Death may come but glory always follows for the Christian.

Chapter: Matthew 14

Passage: Matthew 14:6-12

A. Find Out:

1. Who had danced when? v.6a

On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them

2. With what result? v.6b,7

pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

3. Who prompted her to ask what? v.8

Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

4. Why did the king comply? v.9

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted

5. How was John killed? v.10

and had John beheaded in the prison

6. What happened to his body? v.12

John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

B. Think:

1. Who was Herodias and why would she want John dead?

2. What sort of person is Herod shown to be?

3. What sort of mother-daughter relationship is shown here?

C. Comment:

When sin is established in a situation, it's fruit will continue to spread. Herod has taken his brother's wife, Herodias, and he knows it is wrong - because John has reminded him! Anger and revenge are festering in Herodias against John and so when the situation arises, she takes the opportunity to silence for ever this loud mouthed prophet.

Herod is already revealed as an adulterer and now he is shown to be a foolish man with no self will. He holds a party at which his new step daughter dances. She is so good that both he and the guests applaud loudly. He wants to be seen as an expansive and generous ruler and step-father, so foolishly promises her whatever she asks for. When she asks for John's head the silly and vain man is more concerned about what his guests will think of him than about what is right, and so gives the order for John's death. When a person wilfully and unjustly takes the life of another, we call it murder!

Observe the like-mother-like-daughter situation here. An evil and immoral mother who has a daughter who willingly submits to her evil wishes. Perhaps she was afraid of her mother, but that is no excuse when you demand a man's death. What a family revealed in this little cameo! Abuse of power in the extreme! Sin piled upon sin!

D. Application:

1. One sin soon breeds another unless repentance intervenes.

2. Pride acts as the fuel to stoke the fires of sin.

Chapter: Matthew 14

Passage: Matthew 14:13-16

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus do when he heard about John? v.13a

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.

2. Yet what happened? v.13b

Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

3. What did Jesus do when he saw the crowd? v.14

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

4. What did the disciples want to do when evening came? v.15

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

5. What was Jesus' reply? v.16

Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Jesus went to a remote place?

2. Yet why did he minister to the crowds?

3. How did his attitude differ from that of the disciples?

C. Comment:

It is reasonable to assume that Jesus crossed over the lake to have a time of peace and quiet with his Father on hearing the news about John. Somebody must have said where they were going, for the crowds make haste and follow him round. It is a measure of Jesus' grace that, when he lands and sees the crowd, his heart goes out to them and he continues to heal them.

This ministry continued on a while until eventually the evening came. It is at this point that the disciples presume to advise Jesus. That's why we've only taken part of this story today, so we can examine our reactions when we find ourselves in similar circumstances.

When things seem to be “getting out of hand”, do WE start suggesting to Jesus what he ought to do. This is laughable really for this is the Son of God who is fully aware of the circumstances and knows exactly what can happen. Perhaps we need to remember this more often.

Notice also the disciples' low expectation. If people have a problem, let them go away and sort it out! No, says Jesus, let's see if we can help them out. Jesus sees this an a further opportunity to bless the people and perhaps, even more, and opportunity to teach the disciples something new about the provision of the Father. Bad circumstances are an opportunity for a lesson from Jesus. Ready?

D. Application:

1. Jesus was available to meet the people's needs. Are we?

2. Jesus looked at the problem as an opportunity. Do we?

Chapter: Matthew 14

Passage: Matthew 14:16-21

A. Find Out:

1. What had Jesus suggested the disciples do? v.16

Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

2. What did the disciples say they had? v.17

We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

3. What two things did he then instruct? v.18,19a

"Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.

4. What was the order of what then happened? v.19b,c

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

5. To what effect? v.20

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

6. How many people ate? v.21

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

B. Think:

1. How did Jesus involve the disciples in this miracle?

2. Do you note anything significant about the order of what Jesus did?

3. What do all the left-overs say to us?

C. Comment:

Of course it isn't possible to feed five thousand-plus people with a few loaves and fishes - but Jesus did. Liberal commentators claim that Jesus, giving the little they had, prompted everyone else to bring out what they had brought and share it. As an explanation that is unlikely for two reasons: a) the crowd had left and followed Jesus without any preparation and b) the details of what happened are quite clear: Jesus took the loaves and fishes and passed them on to the disciples and they then passed them on to all the crowd.

What are the lessons here? First, that limitation of resources doesn't limit Jesus. We so often view our resources and say “Well, we obviously can't do this”. If, instead, we gave our resources to Jesus we might find he takes them and they are suddenly all we need for the tasks that he puts before us.

Second, Jesus wants his followers involved in the doing of the thing. The disciples were fully involved in performing this miracle under Jesus' direction. False humility says, “You do it Lord”, but Jesus says, “No, learn something here. You do it as I show you”. We would so often prefer to stay in the comfort zone and watch others doing it, but instead Jesus wants to constantly involve all of us in what he is wanting to do.

D. Application:

1. Jesus leads and he wants us to follow in the doing.

2. Jesus is not limited by limited resources.

Chapter: Matthew 14

Passage: Matthew 14:22-24

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus make the disciples do? v.22a

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side

2. What did he remain and do? v.22b

while he dismissed the crowd

3. What did he then do? 23b

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

4. How long did he remain there? v.23c

When evening came, he was there alone

5. Where were the disciples by then? v.24a

but the boat was already a considerable distance from lan

6. What were the conditions on the lake like? v.24b

buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Jesus “immediately” sent the disciples away?

2. Read John 6:15. How does confirm your thoughts?

3. Why do you think Jesus went to pray?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just performed a mighty miracle whereby an immense crowd has been fed. From John's Gospel we see the feelings that this generated within the crowd, yet for Jesus this was not the objective of the miracle. There is now a problem: if the disciples stay around they will also catch the “make him our king” fever, so Jesus simply sends them away across the lake. It is also good that they be given time to talk together about what has just happened.

As the day is drawing to a close Jesus sends the crowd home, presumably telling them that he will do no more that day, and then he climbs the heights behind him and goes to seek his Father's face in prayer. Often in the gospels we see Jesus praying. It was as essential for him, as it is for us, to wait on his Father and put himself back in His hands, seeking His guidance. After a great acclamation there is a temptation to doubt the path that has been agreed and go instead down the path of popularity. When a temptation comes the best thing is to go to God and get it all back in right perspective again. Will we heed the lesson here? Prayer is declaring reliance upon God.

D. Application:

1. The way is not by popularity but by the will of God which often calls

more for sacrifice than for acclaim.

2. When the temptation has to be resisted, do we go to God our Father

so that we may see it in a right perspective?

Chapter: Matthew 14

Passage: Matthew 14:25-29

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus do when? v.25

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

2. What did the disciples feel because they thought what? v.26

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

3. How did Jesus seek to help them? v.27

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

4. What was Peter's response? v.28

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

5. So what happened? v.29

"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

B. Think:

1. Why, practically speaking, were the disciples afraid?

2. Why do you think Peter questioned Jesus as he did?

3. What does it say about Peter that he “went over the side”?

C. Comment:

The temptation here is to go on to the rest of the verses in this story but there is so much here that we must pause on these ones only.

First, observe the disciples fear: it is because Jesus is doing the impossible OUT OF CONTEXT. They had seen Jesus performing miracles before without it causing fear, but this is something UNEXPECTED and in a DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. They are probably also in a WEAK PHYSICAL STATE because of being out for so long. All these things catch them out and create fear.

Second, observe Peter's response. Like the rest he's unsure what he's seeing and hearing, but unlike the rest he wants to TEST the “revelation”. Peter knows that in himself he would not want to step out of the boat, so he checks if this is a figment of the imagination or wishful thinking brought about by tiredness, so if he is told to come it must be the Master, and he knows he can trust him to do it.

Now how do we apply this to ourselves? How often do we write-off what we think we are hearing from the Lord because it comes in an UNFAMILIAR WAY? Faith often is having to step out in the unfamiliar. How often do we express faith in the Peter way: “Lord, I'm willing to do what you say if this is you. Please give me the ability to do it when I respond to your call”?

D. Application:

1. Unfamiliar circumstances are not wrong circumstances.

2. Listen for his voice and then simply trust and respond.

Chapter: Matthew 14

Passage: Matthew 14:30-36

A. Find Out:

1. Why happened to Peter? v.30

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

2. What did Jesus do and say? v.31

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

3. What happened when they go in the boat? v.32

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down

4. What effect did this have on the disciples? v.33

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

5. Where did they land and what happened? v.34,35a

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.

6. What followed? v.35b,36

People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed

B. Think:

1. Why did Peter start sinking?

2. What effect did all this have on the disciples and why do you think

that was?

3. Think about the order of events. What does it say about Jesus that he

just carried on ministering on the other side?

C. Comment:

The lessons in respect of Peter are fairly obvious. First of all, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he could continue doing that which was humanly impossible. It is not enough for us to know the command, “Come”, we still need to keep our eyes on the Lord throughout what we are doing.

Second, notice that as soon as he started sinking, Jesus was there for him. The Lord does not leave us alone to sink in our unbelief.

Third, note that Peter was chided by Jesus for his limited faith. Jesus wants us to have faith in him and keep on having faith.

Fourth, notice that the wind died down as soon as they were back in the boat, just as if to confirm that Jesus IS in complete control, even of the elements, and he allowed the wind just so long as it served his purpose for testing and training his disciples.

Finally, notice how Jesus, after a day of ministry, an evening of prayer, and after walking across the lake arrives on the other side and is almost immediately involved in ministry again! This is called availability! It also means that he was able to draw on his Father's grace to keep going with little or no rest.

D. Application:

1. In ministry we must continue to focus on Jesus.

2. God's grace is available for when we are doing His works.

RECAP: The God who is in Control - Matthew 14

SUMMARY :

In this third group of 7 studies we have seen :

- Herod superstitiously wondering about Jesus.

- The record of John's terrible death.

- Jesus feeding the five thousand.

- Jesus praying, the disciples in distress.

- Jesus walking on the water.

- Peter walking on the water.

COMMENT :

This chapter reveals three circumstances that seem out of control. In the first John the Baptist is in the hands of thoroughly unrighteous people and is killed by them. Could God not have stopped it? In the second, Jesus is confronted by thousands of hungry people. Can he not help them? Yes, he does. In the third, the disciples are alone on the sea and in distress. Can Jesus not help them? Yes, he does.

The lesson that we are left with is that, although Jesus could have saved John the Baptist, he chose not to. In the second and third illustrations Jesus took the natural elements and bent them to his will to bless others. Yet he will not bend the will of men, and so he did not do it for Herod. That is the difference between these three situations.

LESSONS?

1. Being a Christian does not excuse us from persecution or death.

2. When confronted by need are we limited by our resources?

3. Will we rely on Jesus' resources to bless others?

4. Are we put off when God moves in unexpected ways?

5. Can we let Jesus lead us out in new areas of faith?

PRAY :

Thank the Lord that He IS in control and His resources and protection are available for us.

PART 4 : "Contrasts of Responses to Jesus "

In this final Part of this Section watch for the different people who are with Jesus and the way they respond to him - some bad, some good. See who you would like to be like in this chapter!