Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.’” (Matthew 14:25)

Chapter fourteen brings us the death of John the Baptizer. His disciples told Jesus and Jesus mourned. He went off into the wilderness and mourned. But the people followed Him. His compassion for them showed. He ministered to them. He healed them. His disciples were concerned when it got late. This was an impromptu gathering. They weren’t prepared for feeding them. But Jesus’ Source wasn’t the surrounding villages. Or the packed lunches. Jesus’ Source was the Father, so He BLESSED what He had, was grateful for it, and broke it into pieces until the entire crowd was fed. Jesus TRUSTED the Father would do it. Over five thousand people were fed that day. Then Jesus commanded His disciples to go to the other side of the lake. There was a storm the enemy took advantage of to give them an opportunity to fear. And they took it. They were struggling. They thought they were going to die. Jesus came walking on the water – something the scriptures say ONLY God can do (Job 9:8) – and He declared Himself I AM (Exodus 3:14). When Jesus climbed into the boat the storm stopped. They continued to the other side where Jesus healed a man possessed over to Gennesaret (where He had healed the man possessed of demons). They sent word to everyone all around that Jesus was there. They brought their sick and He healed them. How? They begged to touch the edges of His clothes and they BELIEVED it would heal them. He let them and they WERE healed. Their BELIEF was what Holy Spirit responded to.

Chapter fifteen has the Pharisees and the scribes challenging Jesus. Because Jesus kept the LAW, but not all the traditions that the elders of the people established to make sure that the Law wasn’t violated. Jesus pointed out that their hearts were in the wrong place. They were on the RULES and not the GODLY conduct. They were looking to do-ing and do not-ing and claiming THAT made them clean before God, but they paid NO ATTENTION to their hearts and their attitude toward God on the inside. Jesus left town and headed to an area that had Gentiles as well as Jews. A Canaanite woman came asking for her daughter’s deliverance. Jesus gave her the chance to prove that she believed. And she DID. She was determined that He was THE help for her and the ONLY help. She would not let go. He commended her and her daughter received her healing. Next place Jesus went was a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. He healed them all. The lame, the blind, the mute, the maimed, and many others. EVERYONE laid at the feet of Jesus who believed received healing. He turned NO ONE away. They glorified God – but it doesn’t say they accepted Jesus. Then Jesus talked to His disciples about feeding them. But the disciples had doubt. They only had a few loaves and fish. This was JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME! But they doubted. Jesus loved them and took the reins. They fed over four thousand people because Jesus blessed the food and was grateful to the Father and acted with His trust that the Father would provide. After everyone was fed, THEN Jesus sent them off home. Jesus got into a boat and He and His disciples went off to the region of Magdala.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Disciples, Canaanite Woman, Scribes, Pharisees, Jews

Key Verse(s): Matthew 14:22-33; 15:29-31