Unit: Matthew
Theme: Jesus Is Lord
Lesson Text: Matthew 14:13-36
Supplemental Text: Matthew 11:25; John 6:5-21; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 3:14
Aim: Rely on the Lord of Creation to save and sustain you.
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Download a PDF of this week’s lesson material (the Study by Mark Scott, Application by David Faust, and Discovery Questions by Michael C. Mack): LOOKOUT_December11_2022.
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By Mark Scott
There are five miracles in this lesson text—the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus walking on water, Peter walking on water, the calming of the storm, and the healings at Gennesaret. Only the Lord of Creation could demonstrate his power over that creation.
The setting for these miracles is the third Passover. This is the one Passover in Jesus’ public ministry that he did not attend in Jerusalem. He provided his own simple Passover meal in the wilderness. It contrasted greatly with King Herod’s elaborate feast in the previous context. It was a simple meal of “fish and chips” in the desert.
The Lord of Creation Provided for His New Community
Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus wanted to withdraw from the crowds when he heard about the beheading of John the Baptist. He sailed eastward across the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee, but he still could not get away from the crowds. Jesus sought a solitary place (“desert” in the sense of “uninhabited”), but the people forded the waters that fed the Sea of Galilee and actually reached the Lord’s destination before Jesus did. Jesus turned his depression into service and expressed his compassion on the people by healing them.
As the day wore on, stomachs began to growl. The disciples advised Jesus to send the crowds into the neighboring villages to purchase food. After all, they were in a remote place (same word for solitary place earlier). Jesus must have stunned the disciples by saying, “You give them something to eat.” The disciples had already scouted out the situation. They found a boy who had five small, pancake-shaped pieces of bread and two pickled fish. We know these details because all four Gospels tell this story.
Jesus asked for the boy’s lunch. He organized the people into groups of fifties and hundreds and had them sit down on the green grass. Jesus took the lunch and, with words that sound like they belong in the liturgy of the Lord’s Supper, he blessed the bread and somehow started multiplying it. The disciples shared in the miracle as they distributed the food to the crowd. Three things were stunning—the number of people fed (at least 5,000), the number of leftovers, and the number of baskets picked up. Twelve disciples carrying twelve baskets might indicate that Jesus was providing bread from heaven for his new community.
The Lord of Creation Exercised His Power Over the Waters
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus dismissed the disciples and the crowd. This must have been a major undertaking since the crowd wanted to take Jesus by force and make him king (John 6:15). Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. During his devotions a storm arose—not an uncommon occurrence on this lake which is 654 feet below sea level. The disciples were trying to row west and the storm blew them south into the deepest part of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus discerned their struggle and sometime between 3 and 6 a.m. he came to them walking on the water.
The storm instilled fear in the disciples, and when they saw what they perceived to be a ghost (phantom), it added to their unease. Jesus said, “Take courage [cheer up]! “It is I” (literally, “I am”). Also, “Don’t be afraid.” Only Matthew told about Peter’s miracle. “If it’s you,” the disciple said, which has the sense of, “Let’s suppose it is you.” Peter was not interested in getting out of the boat until he was persuaded that it was Jesus and not the supposed ghost. Jesus responded with one of his favorite words, “Come.” Peter did something no other human has ever done. He walked on water for a short time. Peter trusted the Lord of Creation’s word more than the boat. Of course, Peter withdrew his gaze from Jesus and started to sink. He prayed immediately and earnestly, “Lord, save me!” Jesus may well have laughed as he pulled Peter up out of the water and said, “You of little faith.”
Peter and Jesus got into the boat and the storm miraculously calmed. The disciples did not respond to the storm or to Peter’s ability to water walk. They confessed that Jesus was God’s Son. In the Old Testament, the God of the Bible hovers over the waters (Genesis 1:2). The disciples knew they had just seen God in action.
The Lord of Creation Healed People of Diseases
Matthew 14:34-36
The boat landed at the town of Gennesaret. This was a small town on the western shore of Galilee. Word spread quickly that Jesus was there. People tried to grab just a tassel of Jesus’ clothing. Those who did were healed.
Jesus worked his way up the shoreline to Capernaum where the next day he would give his sermon on the bread of life (John 6). Jesus provides, Jesus displays, and Jesus heals because he is Lord of Creation.
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