Matthew 14: Son of God (6)
Pray Psalm 5.11, 12.
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Sing Psalm 5.11, 12.
Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised
Let those rejoice who seek You and shelter ’neath Your wing.
Their tongues shall rise to speak to Your praise; Your grace they sing.
Your people You will bless, LORD, all those who to You yield.
Preserve them with Your best Word, and guard them like a shield.
Read Matthew 14.1-36; meditate on verses 34-36.
How can we demonstrate such faith in Jesus?
Prepare.
1. How did the people of this region respond to Jesus’ arrival?
2. What did Jesus do for them?
Meditate.
Two important points should be observed in this brief account of the healings in Gennesaret.
First, they continue to add to the accumulating evidence that Jesus is God. Healing power flows from Him to all who avail themselves of it. Jesus demonstrates His power to restore people from the ravages of sin, and this is a power that comes only from God. Jesus healed people so that He might be recognized as God.
We see, in the second place, that people rush to Jesus for healing for themselves, their friends, or their loved ones. Whereas the disciples worshiped Jesus and confessed Him as God when He joined them in the boat, the people of Gennesaret seemed interested in Jesus only for what He could do for them. Here is no indication of worship, no record of praise, no reports of people repenting of sin, and no accounts of people testifying that Jesus is the Son of God.
The people of Gennesaret recognized Jesus as One Who could make their lives a little better, but they did not—at least, we have no record of it—recognize Him as God. What we see are people using Jesus for their own needs or convenience. It’s a kind of faith, but not saving.
Which raises the question: What is Jesus to us? If we truly recognize Jesus as God, what should be the proper response? Is it merely to rush to Him to get whatever we can? Or is it to adore, worship, and proclaim Him as God and the Son of God? What does our daily walk with Jesus indicate about how we recognize Him?
A ”serve me, Jesus” faith is merely superficial. “Take and use me, Jesus” is the proper response to His love.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
I would like to pose another question: What if these people were truly sincere?
They did have faith. They were not like those in Nazareth, where Jesus did not do “many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13.58).
All these men in Gennesaret believed that if they were only able to touch “the hem of Jesus’ garment” they would be made well. And sure enough, they were made not just well, but “perfectly well” (Matt. 14.36).
What I like especially about this story is that it was the men who recognized Him and scrambled to get everyone from the surrounding region to bring their sick to Him.
When one thinks “fans”, one has only to remember the screaming and fainting females around Elvis or the Beatles. Most assuredly, many men were fans; but they did not respond in the same way—usually.
But those “fans” around Jesus were mentioned as “the men of that place.” And I like that.
Great enthusiasm surrounding Jesus Christ, shown by those who are far less emotional—usually.
There is a great beauty accompanying men who wholeheartedly and unabashedly follow Jesus.
And great Kingdom work should be accomplished by these same men. The booklet If Men Will Pray
spells out the powerful nature of men at prayer, and the positive work to be done by them—enthusiastically, wholeheartedly, and unabashedly.
If, in fact, these men in today’s passage were sincere, they could also be tagged as humble. They were not demanding great things from Jesus, or to be noticed enough by Him to work many works for them, they merely wanted permission to touch the hem of His garment, and to let those they loved and cared about do the same. I, for one, like these guys.
They were just following the lead of the woman who had been ill for twelve years. She thought the same about Jesus and His power: “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well” (Matt. 9.21).
And she was made well (Matt. 9.22).
We have a list of God’s benefits toward mankind; each one so kind and loving,
recommended to be sought by all:
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s…
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear Him, and
His righteousness to children’s children,
to such as keep His covenant, and
to those who remember His commandments
to do them” (Ps. 103.1-5, 17, 18).
We needn’t decide whether these men were sincere or not. That is God’s business.
We only have control over how we pursue the benefits that God showers upon us;
so, we’d best make sure that we are sincere, and
that we remember His commandments and do them.
“Take and use me, Jesus.”
Reflect.
1. How can you know, in any situation, whether your faith is sincere or merely self-serving?
2. How do you expect Jesus to see your sincere faith at work today?
3. What can we do to make sure our faith is always sincere?
The weakness of those who, not knowing that Christ is God, desired to make a nearer approach to Him, was endured for a time. Now that He fills heaven and earth with the sweet savor of His grace, we must embrace―not with hands or eyes, but by faith―the salvation which He offers to us from heaven. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 14.34-36
Pray Psalm 5.1-8.
Pray for the day ahead, that you will find Jesus sufficient and powerful for all your needs, and that He will use you for His glory in all you do.
Sing Psalm 5.1-8.
Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised
O LORD, attend and hear me, consider how I groan.
Receive my cries and near be, and love me as Your own.
By morning, LORD I seek You, I pray, LORD, fill my cup!
I long to see You clearly, as to You I look up.
In sin You take no pleasure; no evil dwells with You.
Vain boasts You earn Your displeasure, and those who boasting do.
Sin kindles Your hot anger, You crush all those who lie;
deceivers live in danger of Your all-searching eye.
O LORD, Your lovingkindness escorts me in this place.
I bow before Your Highness and praise Your glorious grace!
In righteous ways You guide me; Your pathway I will know.
No good will be denied me as I with You, LORD, go.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
We invite you to join us in ReThinking Church. We explain further at our ReThinking Church page, here.
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast is into a new series of readings from our book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter begins a new series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column considers questions all church leaders must address. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
