Matthew 14:28-33 – Caught! – Bible study

Matthew 14:28-33 Caught! This story is a smaller part of the larger story. The larger story is about Jesus walking on the water, calming a storm, and instantly moving the ship back to the shore \#John 6:21\. The smaller story is about Peter walking on the water. Both stories teach us about Gods power and grow our faith. The disciples were in Gods classroom of instruction, but their classroom was not in a building but in life. They were in the Classroom of Life. I. Peters Small Faith A. You cannot deny that Peter messed up. Matt 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 1. Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started looking at the water. 2. As he did, his faith sank and as his faith sank, he sank. B. It is fair to say that Peters faith at that time was small. 1. However, we need to remember that Peter was as we are, just learning about God. 2. At this point, Peter is not called by the title of apostle, nor teacher, nor Master. At this point, Peter was a disciple, a follower, a learner. 3. At this point, Peters faith was small. C. Sometimes people are critical of Peter for his short comings, but lets give him credit for the faith he had. 1. Peters faith was big enough a. \#28 To ASK Jesus if he could come out of the boat. b. \#29\ To actually GET OUT of the boat. c. To WALK some distance on the water in a raging storm. d. \#30\ To CRY OUT TO JESUS for help when he started to sink. 2. That might be a small faith, but Peters small faith was bigger than the faith of the other 11 men still standing on the ship! D. Get this: 1. As long as your faith is a growing faith, it doesnt matter how small it presently is. It will get bigger. 2. And if your faith is not a growing faith, it doesnt matter how big it presently is. It will get smaller. a. Faith is spiritual muscle. b. The more you use it the stronger it gets. c. The less you use it, the weaker it gets. E. We could all do with some strength building exercises for our faith muscles. Let me give you six: 1. Determine to make three church services each week. The faith of others and the presence of the Holy Ghost will grow you in church like you cannot grow elsewhere. 2. Read the Bible. Herein is the knowledge of the Almighty. No matter how long you study it, it is a well that you will never get to the bottom of and a mountain that you will never get to the top of. 3. Pray and keep a record of those for whom you are praying. 4. Start tithing. If you expect God to give to you then you should be giving to Him. 5. Start telling others about Jesus. You dont have to preach or teach them, just talk to them. 6. Get involved in the work of a local church. F. Peter was way ahead of the rest of the class! 1. Eleven others were just sitting and watching. 2. Peters faith was going to grow. 2. Friend, my faith is still small, but I decided years ago that I wanted to play in the game of Christianity and not just watch it. II. Peter held the hand of God, or rather, the hand of God held Peter! A. As Peter was walking on the water, he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter, I suppose pulling him back upon the waters surface until Jesus could get Peter back into the boat. B. I do not know the exact sequence of events but I think I can guarantee you that when Jesus reached out to Peter, Peter grabbed Jesus. C. Consider some things with me. 1. Consider how quickly Peter would fall. a. Science tells us that if you start falling, after 1 second you will be falling 32 feet per second. After 2 seconds, you will be falling 64 feet per second. And you speed will continue to increase by 32 feet each second you fall until you reach terminal velocity at approximate 178 feet per second or 122 MPH. b. We had two injuries in building the new building. Both Danny Collier and Steve Dana fell busting themselves up pretty badly. I was not there when Brother Danny fell, but I was watching Steve Dana when he fell. He was climbing an extension ladder that collapsed and fell when he was feet was about 8 or 9 feet off the ground to the concrete below. I was probably standing about 5 feet from where Steve landed and while I was not focusing on the ladder, I was looking right at him when he fell. c. He fell that 9 feet so fast that there was literally nothing I could do. I am not even sure if I realized he was falling until he hit the ground. d. What am I saying? When a person falls, they fall fast, faster than most people can respond. r. There is certainly no comparison in what we can do and what Jesus can do, but here is what I think. I think Jesus was reaching for Peter before Peter started to sink. 2. Consider that it was Gods hand that reach out. a. Falling is nothing to get overly excited about; but in this case, there was a bright spot. b. Peter got to hold the hand of God! (1) There is the hand that crafted the cosmos out of nothing. (2) There is the hand that fashioned man out of clay. (3) There is the hand that guided Moses ark through the bulrushes to an Egyptian princess. (4) There is the hand that held back the Red Sea while Israel walked through on dry ground. (5) There is the hand that defeated the enemies of Israel while they took the land of Israel. (6) There is the hand that gripped mother Marys tickling finger. (7) There is the hand that held onto step-father Josephs hand as he walked the toddling Lord through the streets of the big city. (8) There is the hand that was pierced with the spike on the cross. (9) There is the hand that Thomas put his doubting finger into. (10) There is the hand that the resurrected Lord raised when the women wanted to embrace Him before He had ascended to the Father. (11) There is the hand that you and I will one day see for ourselves. c. It may seem like another small thing, but I know of no other record of anyone else in the Bible getting to hold the hand of God like Peter did! (1) Jesus touched some blinded eyes; Jesus lifted some lame up; Jesus raised children up to His lap; but who else in the Bible did Jesus take hold of by the land like He did Peter? (2) All-in-all, I would have to say that putting your hand in that hand is not a bad thing! 3. Consider that you are Peter. a. Everything that happens in the Bible has at least two purposes. (1) One is to show us what God has done for others. (2) The other is to show us what God will do for us. b. Peter was in a tough fix, but Jesus was there with him and was reaching out to Peter before Peter even knew he was in trouble. c. Jesus is reaching out to you too. (1) You might think things are good right now, but Jesus is there and He is reaching out to you whether you want Him or not. (2) Then again, you might already be in some trouble and I am telling you that Jesus hand is stretched out to you. You just have to turn to Him. III. Jesus is reaching out to offer you three things: A. There are three definite areas in your life that Jesus is reaching out to you. 1. Jesus is extending the hand of salvation. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 2. Jesus is extending the hand of restoration. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. a. What is restoration for a Christian? (1) Restoration is understanding. (a) Jesus understands when we get tired. He was human once. (b) Jesus understands when we get discouraged. He was human once. (c) Jesus understands when we are afraid. He was human once. (d) Jesus understands when we would just rather not. He was human once. (2) Restoration is forgiveness. (a) Is taking your eyes off of Jesus a sin? i. Yes. ii. A Christians eyes should be on Jesus. (b) Peter missed the mark. He did not hit the bulls eye. (c) But in the grip of Jesus, Peter found ready forgiveness. (d) His sin was erased. (3) Restoration is love. (a) Love is more than any of the things I have mentioned added together. (b) Love means Jesus cared for Peter just as much after he failed as He did before he failed. (c) Failures dont reduce the love of our Savior and successes dont increase it. (d) The love that Jesus offers is unconditional and eternal. b. Christian, could you use some restoration. 3. Jesus is extending the hand of help. a. Peter received help that day. b. I notice that Peter did not receive a sermon or a cold shoulder. (1) He received help. (2) Could I ask, what would you expect him to receive from Jesus? (3) Sure, Peter messed up, but he was trying. (4) If God expects perfection from us before He helps us, both He and we are going to be very disappointed. c. I would like to say that Peters failing faith was unique to him and it will never happen to me, but I mess up all the time too. d. What I have found in Jesus is help in the time of my need. B. Will you reach up and grab the hand of Jesus today? Looking over the story, I would rather be Peter failing on the water with Jesus than to be one of the twelve disciples sitting safely in the boat!