Matthew - Week 46

It's a Ghost 

READ 

Matthew 14:24-26 

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 

Jewish time had about 12 hours of daytime (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). It also had four watches of three hours each at nighttime. This experience was in the fourth watch, or between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. This was a scary time for the disciples to see someone walking on the water and coming toward them. Knowing no other possibility, they thought it was a ghost.  

REFLECT 

What would you have thought had you been in the boat with the disciples? 

RESPOND 

Meet with a Christian friend and talk about this instance where the disciples were so frightened and what was about to occur in the rest of the passage of Scripture. 

Take Courage 

READ 

Matthew 14:27-29 

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 

Jesus spoke to the frightened disciples and told them to take courage. Jesus essentially told them, “The I Am is here.” Peter blurted out that if He was really Jesus, he wanted Him to ask him to come to Him by walking on the water. Jesus invited him to come. Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. Peter can be criticized for many things, but his faith at this point should be admired. 

REFLECT 

Had you been in the boat with Peter, would you have asked Jesus if you could walk on the water toward Him? If not, don’t blame Peter for being courageous enough to ask to do so. 

RESPOND 

The “I am” in the Bible is significant. It is based on what God told Moses when he wondered what to tell his fellow Israelites who was sending him to lead them out of Egypt. See Exodus 3:14 for God’s answer and what His name is. The Greek text uses two words to express this: the first is the word for “I” and the second is the word for “I am.” Modern translations usually add “He” and render it “I am He.” This dims its significance somewhat to the reader.  

Save Me Lord 

READ 

Matthew 14:30-31 

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 

When Peter looked at the wind and the waves instead of at Jesus, he began to sink. Some comment about Peter’s prayer being one of the shortest prayers in the Bible: “Save me, Lord!” Jesus responded immediately by grabbing Peter, but then questioned why he had such little faith. Then Jesus asked Peter, “Why did you doubt me?” 

REFLECT 

Are you helped by knowing you do not have to have long prayers? Have you sometimes doubted Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Read James 1:5-8 to see what James wrote about one who has doubts when asking God for wisdom.  

Worship in the Boat 

READ 

Matthew 14:32-33 

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. 

When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind stopped. The disciples were filled with thoughts of Jesus’ worth and they worshiped Him. Their faith seemed to have been developing as they declared that Jesus really was the Son of God. Some things that Jesus said they did not believe until He had been raised from the dead. 

REFLECT 

Have you thought about the fact that thinking about the worth of God is worship. The word “worship” likely comes from an old English word meaning “Worthship.”  

RESPOND 

Read some examples of the developing faith of the disciples. Examine such Bible passages as John 2:18-22 and John 20:19-29. 

The Healer Arrives 

READ 

Matthew 14:34-36 

34 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed. 

Gennesaret was on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Wherever Jesus went there seemed to be crowds. In this instance, they brought “all their sick to be healed.” Apparently there were too many for Him to personally touch so they pleaded for permission for any to be healed if only they touched the fringe of His garment. This was a mass healing event without any promotion for the people to come.  

REFLECT 

If you have a physical problem, you can understand how desperate the people were to get healed. How blessed they were to be healed even if they could simply touch the hem of His garment.  

RESPOND 

To read about another who was healed by just touching the robe of Jesus, see Mark 5:21-34. You can also read of another who asked the God three times to heal him and it was not done. Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 for this and to see the God’s answer.