Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:00 | [Music] |
| 0:07 | it was |
| 0:08 | [Music] |
| 0:16 | hello |
| 0:17 | today |
| 0:19 | let’s talk about the ghost in the storm |
| 0:23 | even before Jesus was born we knew his |
| 0:26 | name and we knew the purpose of his |
| 0:28 | coming |
| 0:29 | how well literally God told us |
| 0:32 | an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream |
| 0:35 | saying Joseph son of David do not be |
| 0:38 | afraid to take Mary as your wife for |
| 0:40 | that which has been conceived in her is |
| 0:43 | of the Holy Spirit |
| 0:44 | and she will bear a son and you shall |
| 0:47 | call his name Jesus for it is he who |
| 0:51 | will save his people from their sins |
| 0:54 | the Hebrew name Yeshua we say in English |
| 0:58 | Jesus and it means simply God Saves |
| 1:03 | that’s the name of the one whom God has |
| 1:05 | sent his name is his purpose Jesus is |
| 1:09 | savior his name is God Saves |
| 1:13 | the text before us today is Matthew 14 |
| 1:16 | verses 22 to 33 |
| 1:18 | it contains a lot of information and is |
| 1:21 | possible for us to get a bit sidetracked |
| 1:24 | but let’s keep this one essential |
| 1:26 | message in our minds Jesus means God |
| 1:30 | Saves |
| 1:32 | now three points first |
| 1:34 | a difficult day gets even worse |
| 1:38 | after the feeding of the five thousand |
| 1:40 | Jesus made the disciples get into a boat |
| 1:42 | and travel across the sea he sent the |
| 1:45 | multitudes away and went up on the |
| 1:47 | mountain by himself to pray all of this |
| 1:49 | is true |
| 1:50 | but Matthew’s account is missing an |
| 1:53 | important piece of information |
| 1:55 | in John’s record of the same event we |
| 1:58 | learn a little tidbit that is easily |
| 2:00 | overlooked |
| 2:02 | here’s what John says immediately after |
| 2:05 | the feeding of the five thousand |
| 2:08 | when therefore the people saw the sign |
| 2:11 | which he had performed |
| 2:13 | they said this is of a truth the prophet |
| 2:16 | who is to come into the world |
| 2:18 | Jesus therefore perceiving that they |
| 2:21 | were intending to come and take him by |
| 2:23 | force to make him King withdrew again to |
| 2:26 | the mountain by himself alone John 6 |
| 2:29 | verses 14 and 15. |
| 2:32 | after the multitudes expressed their |
| 2:34 | intention to make Jesus their King |
| 2:37 | the Lord sent his disciples to the boat |
| 2:39 | he dispersed the crowd and he went on |
| 2:41 | the mountain to pray but |
| 2:43 | what do you think his disciples were |
| 2:46 | thinking as they rode across the sea |
| 2:49 | we already have an idea of what James |
| 2:51 | and John were thinking we know that they |
| 2:54 | were hoping to be seated at the Lord’s |
| 2:56 | right hand and left hand when he came |
| 2:58 | into his glory they say so |
| 3:00 | but if the Zebedee boys were already |
| 3:03 | thinking that what do you think Peter |
| 3:05 | and Andrew were thinking oh no they |
| 3:07 | don’t he chose us first before he ever |
| 3:10 | called those two we should get the |
| 3:12 | highest places |
| 3:14 | admittedly |
| 3:15 | this conversation will not |
| 3:17 | take place for a couple more chapters |
| 3:21 | but don’t you think that they were |
| 3:22 | entertaining some of these thoughts |
| 3:24 | already after the crowd wanted to make |
| 3:27 | Jesus their King |
| 3:29 | perhaps |
| 3:31 | John’s gospel tells us that it was |
| 3:33 | evening when the disciples went to the |
| 3:35 | seashore to get into the boat so it’s |
| 3:37 | about six o’clock P.M |
| 3:40 | the watches of the night were broken |
| 3:41 | into three hour intervals the first |
| 3:44 | watch was six to nine PM the second |
| 3:47 | watch was 9 to 12 midnight the Third |
| 3:50 | Watch was midnight to three in the |
| 3:52 | morning and the Fourth Watch was 3 A.M |
| 3:54 | to 6 A.M |
| 3:57 | sometime in this night there was a |
| 3:59 | torrential downpour the wind kicked up |
| 4:02 | the sea began to toss and churn the |
| 4:05 | storm raged and their little boat became |
| 4:09 | as unsafe as a wash tub on the ocean |
| 4:12 | the more worried they got the harder |
| 4:14 | they rode hour after hour they pulled at |
| 4:18 | the oars straining every muscle they |
| 4:21 | were soaking wet unable to see not |
| 4:23 | getting anywhere and probably bickering |
| 4:26 | about what they should do next |
| 4:28 | it had been a difficult day |
| 4:32 | but it was about to get a whole lot |
| 4:33 | worse |
| 4:35 | it was a day full of sick people and |
| 4:37 | hungry people five thousand and more |
| 4:40 | Jesus was acclaimed King |
| 4:42 | then he said no King |
| 4:45 | they got into the boat then they got |
| 4:48 | into the storm |
| 4:49 | four hours |
| 4:51 | now they were exhausted |
| 4:53 | and they surely wondered what more could |
| 4:55 | go wrong and then it did |
| 4:58 | the disciples saw a ghost it was a |
| 5:01 | spirit walking on the water |
| 5:04 | what kind of evil Specter was that it |
| 5:07 | was walking across the waves in this |
| 5:09 | deadly Dark Storm and it was coming |
| 5:12 | right at them oh they were terrified now |
| 5:17 | point two take courage in his eye do not |
| 5:21 | be afraid in their moment of Terror |
| 5:23 | Jesus called out across the storm three |
| 5:25 | things and here they are first Jesus |
| 5:27 | said take courage in Greek it’s only one |
| 5:30 | word and can be translated either |
| 5:32 | courage or cheer |
| 5:35 | okay then Jesus said it is I |
| 5:38 | this too is an imprecise translation in |
| 5:42 | Greek it’s only two words I am you’ll |
| 5:46 | you’ll recognize these words as the name |
| 5:48 | of God Moses asked God his name and God |
| 5:51 | said I am that was God’s sacred name I |
| 5:55 | am Jesus used the name often to refer to |
| 5:57 | himself I am the Good Shepherd I am the |
| 6:00 | resurrection and the life on the night |
| 6:03 | of the storm Jesus said simply I am |
| 6:06 | and finally Jesus said do not be afraid |
| 6:09 | this last phrase is not four words in |
| 6:12 | Greek but only two no fear |
| 6:16 | so in the midst of the night of Terror |
| 6:18 | suddenly there was Jesus and his message |
| 6:20 | roughly translated is Cheer I am let the |
| 6:26 | hearer understand God |
| 6:28 | no fear |
| 6:30 | in an instant everything changed |
| 6:33 | a few moments ago in the storm they |
| 6:35 | thought that they were going to die a |
| 6:37 | moment ago they saw a ghost and wish |
| 6:39 | they would die but now they knew that |
| 6:42 | they were safe the Lord had come it made |
| 6:46 | no sense to them Jesus born of Mary |
| 6:48 | their Rabbi was walking on top of the |
| 6:51 | water it was a miracle even greater than |
| 6:54 | feeding five thousand or casting out |
| 6:57 | demons or curing a paralytic this was |
| 6:59 | too big to take in |
| 7:01 | really |
| 7:03 | they probably had not yet connected the |
| 7:06 | dots |
| 7:07 | but this actually did make some sense |
| 7:11 | this was the same God who in the |
| 7:13 | beginning had made the heavens and the |
| 7:14 | Earth the darkness and the Deep Waters |
| 7:18 | this also was the same God who had |
| 7:20 | flooded the Earth and saved Noah and his |
| 7:24 | family through the water |
| 7:27 | this was the same God who had parted the |
| 7:29 | water and saved Moses and the people out |
| 7:32 | of slavery and now this was the same God |
| 7:35 | who had walked on the water |
| 7:37 | that he himself had created |
| 7:41 | it really wasn’t so strange when you |
| 7:43 | think about it though it probably took a |
| 7:45 | little while for all of that to sink in |
| 7:48 | sink in get it that was probably too |
| 7:51 | much sorry |
| 7:52 | okay but what do you do with a savior |
| 7:55 | who walks on water |
| 7:58 | how do you serve him or worship him or |
| 8:00 | demonstrate your Worth to him |
| 8:03 | leave that to Peter |
| 8:05 | Peter tried to follow Christ’s example |
| 8:07 | Peter would walk on the water too Lord |
| 8:10 | if it’s you command me to come to you on |
| 8:12 | the water |
| 8:14 | Jesus said come |
| 8:15 | Peter got out of the boat and came |
| 8:19 | toward the lord absolutely incredible |
| 8:23 | don’t you wish that you had Faith like |
| 8:25 | that |
| 8:26 | isn’t that the height of Faith the |
| 8:29 | imitation of Christ across the centuries |
| 8:31 | the imitation of Christ is what many |
| 8:34 | many Christians have wanted to do and |
| 8:36 | have attempted to do |
| 8:37 | don’t we want to demonstrate our faith |
| 8:41 | and verify our worth by imitating Christ |
| 8:46 | which you’ve already figured out what’s |
| 8:47 | wrong with this idea haven’t you |
| 8:50 | Peter got out of the boat and walked a |
| 8:52 | few steps on the waves but Peter was |
| 8:55 | overcome |
| 8:56 | the wind whipped up the ocean roared the |
| 8:59 | storm raged and Peter became overwhelmed |
| 9:02 | by the fear of the moment Peter took his |
| 9:04 | eyes off of Jesus and Peter sank |
| 9:09 | isn’t that what you’ve always heard |
| 9:10 | Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Of The Lord |
| 9:13 | like Peter |
| 9:14 | but we do the truth is we all do we all |
| 9:19 | take our eyes off of Jesus and when we |
| 9:21 | do like Peter we sink |
| 9:23 | beloved |
| 9:25 | what do you think is the point of this |
| 9:27 | miracle the point is not that Peter took |
| 9:31 | his eyes off of Jesus the point is that |
| 9:33 | Jesus did not take his eyes off of Peter |
| 9:38 | surely the disciple cried out save me |
| 9:41 | Lord but that’s exactly what Jesus did |
| 9:43 | because that’s who Jesus is and that’s |
| 9:45 | what Jesus does Jesus saves he reached |
| 9:50 | out his hand he took hold of Peter and |
| 9:52 | Jesus saved him that beloved is the |
| 9:55 | point of this miracle Hallelujah |
| 9:59 | third whose eyes are on whom |
| 10:03 | there’s one more passage that Matthew |
| 10:05 | does not include in his account of this |
| 10:07 | miracle and it’s very helpful to know |
| 10:10 | this last passage is found in Mark’s |
| 10:13 | gospel chapter 6. you see while Jesus |
| 10:17 | was up on the mountain praying long into |
| 10:19 | the night and while the disciples were |
| 10:22 | struggling with the storm for hours and |
| 10:24 | getting nowhere something else also was |
| 10:27 | going on do you know what it was all the |
| 10:30 | time that Jesus was praying |
| 10:32 | he also was watching his disciples |
| 10:36 | Mark 6 48 |
| 10:39 | and seeing them straining at the oars |
| 10:42 | for the wind was against them at about |
| 10:44 | the Fourth Watch of the night that’s 3 |
| 10:46 | A.M |
| 10:47 | he came to them walking on the sea |
| 10:52 | the point of the miracle never was that |
| 10:54 | we have to keep our eyes on Jesus oh we |
| 10:57 | want to and we ought to |
| 11:00 | but we simply cannot always do it |
| 11:03 | Peter saw the wind and Peter saw the |
| 11:05 | waves and Peter took his eyes off of |
| 11:06 | Jesus but we all take our eyes off of |
| 11:11 | Jesus the point of the miracle |
| 11:14 | is that Jesus never takes his eyes off |
| 11:17 | of us |
| 11:18 | Peter had the gumption to step out over |
| 11:21 | the side of the boat and stand on the |
| 11:22 | water and walk toward Jesus |
| 11:26 | but was that his great statement of |
| 11:28 | faith no |
| 11:30 | Peter sank |
| 11:32 | Peter’s great Declaration of Faith was |
| 11:34 | not that he stepped out |
| 11:36 | it was that he cried out |
| 11:39 | Save Me Lord |
| 11:41 | that |
| 11:42 | was his Faith speaking |
| 11:45 | and though Peter sank |
| 11:48 | Jesus did not |
| 11:50 | we all want to be great in faith we each |
| 11:52 | wish that we were able to be perfect |
| 11:55 | imitators of Christ we want to keep |
| 11:57 | God’s law and we desperately want to |
| 11:59 | follow Christ’s example |
| 12:02 | but the truth is the we are each our own |
| 12:05 | Humpty Dumpty we each have had a great |
| 12:07 | fall |
| 12:08 | and all the king’s horses and all the |
| 12:10 | king’s men cannot put us together again |
| 12:13 | only the king himself can put us |
| 12:16 | together again |
| 12:17 | his name is Jesus and he comes to us in |
| 12:20 | this storm when we’re sinking |
| 12:23 | and he saves us |
| 12:25 | and yes his eyes are upon you and yes |
| 12:28 | he’s powerful and yes he can walk on |
| 12:30 | water and yes he can stop a storm |
| 12:32 | but the grace-filled meaning of this |
| 12:34 | miracle is not that he walks on water |
| 12:36 | but that he walks on water to you |
| 12:39 | it’s not that he’s powerful enough to |
| 12:41 | stop a storm but that he’s loving enough |
| 12:44 | to reach into the stormy sea and to pull |
| 12:47 | you out of it |
| 12:49 | surely you can reject him you can |
| 12:53 | renounce him a person can refuse Jesus |
| 12:56 | Christ and his salvation |
| 12:58 | but make no mistake beloved |
| 13:01 | no sin of yours is too dark and no |
| 13:03 | situation of yours is too difficult and |
| 13:06 | no storm of yours is too great or too |
| 13:08 | small |
| 13:09 | because nothing can stop Jesus from |
| 13:12 | coming to save you |
| 13:14 | this is the one whom God has sent |
| 13:17 | his name is his purpose his name is |
| 13:21 | Jesus and his purpose |
| 13:23 | is to save you |
| 13:26 | amen |
| 13:29 | foreign |
| 13:32 | [Music] |
| 13:43 | [Applause] |
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