Lessons of the Storm
J.A. Macdonald Matthew 14:22-33 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him to the other side… The wonderful narrative before us suggests many lessons, amongst which the following may be noted, viz. - I. THAT JESUS IS A PARTY TO THE TROUBLES OF HIS DISCIPLES. 1. These are often induced by their own folly. (1) After the miracle of the loaves the multitudes were eager to proclaim Jesus as their national King. From what we learn from John (John 6:15), it would seem the disciples were more disposed to second their wishes than to aid their Master in his efforts to send the people away. In this they were moved by the ignorant prejudices of the times. Note: The ignorance of his disciples has ever been a trouble to Christ. (2) This was the occasion of their having to embark and put to sea, and consequently of their having to encounter a terrific storm. Note: We may expect to encounter afflictions and perplexities when, from whatever motives, we are so foolish as to oppose the will of Christ. 2. Satan has a malignant hand in them. (1) Evil spirits are concerned in the mischief of destructive storms. The history of Job shows what power Satan has over the elements when he is permitted to use it. When our Lord, in another storm, "rebuked the winds and the sea" (see Matthew 8:26), did he not recognize blameworthy intelligence as working behind these elements? (2) The closing petitions of the Lord's Prayer, "And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one," show that not only is Satan, in some of his agencies, concerned in every mischief, but that he is so of set malignant purpose. It shows, moreover, that our defence is prayer. 3. Jesus has a benevolent hand in them. (1) He constrained his disciples to enter the boat and put to sea. This was to relieve himself from their embarrassing sympathy with the prejudices of the multitude. This in itself was a benevolence. It put them out of the way of working further mischief. (2) He knew, when he constrained them to enter that boat, that they would have to encounter the storm. He permitted the evil spirits to exert their power upon the elements, or, otherwise, commissioned those elements to war. But his design here also was benevolent. It taught the disciples: (a) That those who will not submit to the ruling of Christ's wisdom will have to sail without him in the voyage of life. (b) That in voyaging without Christ the way is difficult and perilous. (c) That the policy of their ignorant prejudice in making Christ a civil Ruler, if carried out, would, instead of bringing the tranquillity they pictured to themselves, bring them into a political hurricane. (3) If, then, Jesus is a party to the troubles of his disciples, and that his hand in those troubles is benevolent, let us bless him for them. Let us also be quick to learn the lessons they are intended to teach. II. THAT JESUS IS PRESENT WITH HIS DISCIPLES IN THEIR TROUBLES, 1. He is present in spirit when invisible. (1) When he had dispersed the multitudes "he went up into the mountain apart to pray." He knew the temper in which his disciples had sailed; he foresaw the coming storm; he remembers them in prayer. By that intercession the malignity of Satan is restrained, and the fury of the winds and waves so moderated that the lives are preserved. (2) And if Jesus from that mountain height could see and sympathize with his disciples in that tempest, so does he still, from the height of heaven, see and sympathize with his followers in every trouble of their lives. 2. He is present, moreover, in power. (1) In the crisis of extremity that power is seen. The disciples were now "about five and twenty furlongs" from the shore, in the centre of the inland sea, and the storm most distressing. Just then Jesus "came unto them, walking upon the sea." (2) That blessed presence is as powerful as it is timely. The Egyptian hieroglyphic for impossibility was a man's feet walking on the sea. Things impossible to men are possible with God (cf. Job 9:8). In this miracle the law of gravitation is inverted, and the liquid waves are converted into an adamantine way. (3) Now he enters the boat. Behold, instantly, all is calm! III. THAT CREDULITY IS THE COMPANION OF UNBELIEF. 1. The heart is slow to discern Christ. (1) There he is walking upon the sea, yet is he not identified even by his own disciples. Why did they not recognize him instantly? Who else could it possibly be? (2) But they deemed this too wonderful to be Christ. What, too wonderful for that Blessed One who in this very lake district - at Chorazin, Bethasaida, Capernaum - had wrought so many miracles! Who on this very sea had stilled a tempest with a word! Who but a few hours earlier had feasted ten thousand upon five barley cakes! Yet such was the fact (see Mark 6:52). (3) Are we more quick to discern Christ in the wonders of providence than the apostles were to recognize his presence in the wonders of this history? How seldom do we see deeper than the second causes of things! 2. It mistakes him for a phantom. (1) "And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is an apparition; and they cried out for fear" (cf. Acts 12:15). (2) This "fear" suggests that they even mistook Jesus for a demon or evil spirit. How frightful are the distortions of the credulity of unbelief! (3) The disciples were terrified at an apparition which was designed for their salvation. When in their extremity they "cried out for fear," then came their relief. By a word, "It is I; be not afraid," the deepest fear is turned into the highest joy (cf. Psalm 112:4). The calm now succeeds the storm in the soul. IV. THAT NATURAL RESOURCES ARE USELESS IN SPIRITUAL CONFLICTS. 1. Seamanship failed in this storm. (1) Several of the disciples were brought up as fishermen, and knew how to handle the oar (Mark 6:48). But here they were at their wits' end, so furiously was the sea working in the storm. This was not purely an elemental strife; it was a spiritual conflict, brought about for spiritual purposes. (2) Their salvation was of the Lord. He laid the storm. We too shall exclaim, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God," when he tranquillizes the mind which the prince of the powers of the air had disturbed and troubled. Only in so far as the love of Christ is in us can we worship him as Love. 2. The swimming art failed in these waves. (1) Peter's fault was not his courage when he said, "Lord, if it be thou" - since it is thou - "bid me come unto thee upon the waters." Courage is fearlessness, and intelligent fearlessness is faith. Faith is the opposite of doubt and fear (cf. Mark 5:36; Romans 14:23; James 1:6). (2) The Lord permits us to try our strength that we may discover our weakness. Peter in the ship was bold; timid on the angry sea. Men are often confident in speculation, diffident in practice. (3) Peter was borne up on the water in proportion to his faith, as the children of Israel were victorious as the hands of Moses were held up (Exodus 17:11). "The true position of every disciple is this: So to see the deep that is beneath him as to lose all confidence in himself, and so to see the Saviour that is near him as to lose all terror of the billows" (Anon.). (4) Peter was a good swimmer (see John 21:7), but he trusts not to his swimming in this peril. Those who rely on grace lose confidence in nature. Christ is the sufficient confidence of his saints. - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. WEB: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.