Following and Being Led – Matthew 14:25-34

Our passage today is the account of Jesus walking on the water. So, our practical application is…..? Well, in this case, even though we were were told we would be, we are not quite yet in the world as Jesus was. (1 John 4:17) Although… there may be hope. I did hear of a young zealot enrolled in a school of the supernatural who has been practicing. I don’t know if this was for extra credit or if it was just part of a challenging curriculum.

As we know, our passage goes on to describe the disciple’s and especially Peter’s response to Jesus as he approached their boat which was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. However, rather than focusing on this type of the miraculous, which we have little-to-no influence over, I would like to talk about what preceded the drama at sea which we do have control over.

Then He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds. And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone. Matthew 14:22-23

It is Jesus’ intentionality I would like to explore. But I hesitate. Dare we even allude to discipline as a part of our walk with Jesus? Will we not defile grace the moment we exercise intentionality? I know of another devout man whose intentionality consists of intentionally doing nothing except what pleases him because God in his sovereignty is so thoroughly ruling, what is in his heart must have been decreed. Wow! I believe our two extreme examples of modern discipleship are they themselves missing the boat. Let’s dare to explore the heart of God in Christ as he walked on earth.

After he had miraculously fed the 5,000 people Jesus had an appointment but things needed to be done first. The preliminaries involved getting rid of the people around him. First; the disciples; He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go. Another translations read; He made the disciples get into the boat and go. The Message reads; “he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go.” Next; the crowds; He sent the crowds away. The same Jesus who said suffer not the little children from coming to him was now intentionally shooing people away. Talk about intentional! His motives become clear though….

 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

Popular preaching has had Jesus dragging his exhausted ministry-depleted self up the mountain so he could get his batteries recharged (by praying) so he could get back to the business of saving the world ASAP. I don’t think so. I don’t see missions-minded Jesus reasoning, “I must pray. Souls are cascading into Hell until my batteries are recharged.” No. I see a love-driven Man simply responding to his heart’s longings to be with his Father alone. Recall (before, in the beginning), Jesus spent considerable time alone with the Father and has reserved it as a trysting place – a place where two people enjoy the intimacy of their relationship – often a reserved place where a rendezvous has been intentionally planned and is jointly anticipated. Upon reaching the summit, I envision Jesus taking a big deep breath and simply saying, “Oh how I love you Father!” I am sure that Father replied, I love you too Son. You are the absolute joy of my heart.”

Here in the middle of mysteries-a-plenty, between men fearful of a miraculous-less life and those fearful of initiating prayer (unless the urge strikes them of course) lest they trample on the grace by which they have been saved, I am envisioning the fundamental act of our intentionality playing out similarly to that of the scene I have portrayed of Jesus alone on a mountain with his Father. This is the essence, as best I can tell, of having a personal relationship with God. Without this dynamic in play, I am not sure what we have as Christians. A creed?

I do not envision our union with God in Christ any less miraculous than walking on water. The things below the feet of fallen man are far more threatening than what lurked beneath Jesus’ and Peter’s feet. Jesus has rescued us every bit as much as he rescued Peter. And he continues to do so as we cry out to him. Our problems are legion if getting out of the boat and following Jesus means getting out of bed and attending a church service. Really, how is this working for us? Hearing Jesus call to us and responding is better portrayed as us intentionality making a place where we meet with God, acknowledging and personally discovering the intimacy which is reserved for us there.

Many have acknowledged the merits of this idea. Few follow through where it becomes a lifestyle – an engrained habit, an anticipated joy. I do not see a great deal of hope for our world without men, women and children pioneering and inhabiting this place of personal intimacy with God. Without it all we have is a sterile, lifeless parody of life in Christ, one which has led the western world into the post-Christian era in which it appears to be firmly entrenched.

I am not without hope though. No man comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him. (John 6:44) Isn’t Father still drawing men to himself? Perhaps this is Father’s next move in the earth. Perhaps we are actually in a Pre-Christian era where a new wave of intimacy is about to be discovered where love displaces obligation as our heart-motive.

To be sure, at this time, our boat is a long distance from the land, battered by the waves with very contrary winds. However I know something about Father, without fail he rescues those who cry out to him. I also know that he is present, standing ready to meet with anyone who will get rid of the noise around them. Without fail those who do, eventually make the discovery that he has been there all along. FYI: This place I continually refer to is our hearts, not just a physical address.

I believe the fundamental prayer (or conversation) of authentic Christianity sounds like this, “Oh how I love you Father!” And Father replies, I love you too child. You are the chief joy of my heart.” I could see a day when the onlookers (and by the way, we are being watched) say, “You certainly are God’s sons!” If an old man is permitted to dream his dreams and make his proclamation this shall be mine.

Father, help us to discern the weather. Help us to understand our times. Give us courage to step out of our routines which so systematically exclude you. Even though it is frightening to step out onto the unfamiliar let us find that in you we are buoyant, that we can indeed walk with you who have overcome this world in all its wickedness as well as its busyness. Help us to discover that for us, who are in Christ and have Christ in us we can be deliberate, knowing that you are able to rescue us whenever our dependencies become misplaced. Draw all men unto you to that place where we privately and regularly celebrate our miraculous union. Let this be Father. I love you too.

P.S. The simple reason I give Blue Books away is that they are one of the Father’s best invitations to Relationship With God 101, a course in the original School Of The Miraculous. The Blue Book introduces you to the hearts of others who have been drawn out of the boat to walk with Jesus in greater intimacy. I have found it provides a loose approach (not a formula) to fashion this time to suit both us and the Lord who draws us.

Note: If you don’t know that word (“tryst”) please look it up. This post and the ideas presented therein will make more sense after you read the definition. It puts an entirely different spin (I suspect a missing one) on the essence of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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