Title: Faith is Looking to Jesus
Contents
"Faith is looking to Jesus"
The boat the disciples of Jesus were riding in met a storm in the middle of the sea. At this time, we are well aware of the incident that Jesus, who came to the distraught disciples, calmed the storm. But today I want to share with you a new lesson for us.
1. Mission is life
The background of the text is right after the miracle of the Five Byeong-Eye. Jesus fed the first 5,000 men to their fullness, and filled twelve baskets with overflow. (20-21) How exciting and thrilling can you be just imagining this moment? For this reason, the mother of the son of Zebedee seems to have had dreams of adoption, such as asking Jesus for the position of the sons in the future. (Matthew 20:20-28) It was because she thought of Jesus as the political Messiah. (John 6: 15)
That is why Jesus removed them from the scene of this miracle and excitement.(22) Because disciples are people who have the mission of preaching the gospel, not the honor or authority of the world. (Matthew 4:19, 5:5-7) , 28:19~20)
After sending the disciples to the other side, Jesus went up to the mountain and prayed alone.(23) He must have prayed for the fruits of his mission and ministry, and for the weak disciples (Mark 1:38, Mark 10:45). There is a saying by Livingston that the reason is because there is a given mission. A mission is a person's life, that is, the reason for existence. (John 1:19~29, Acts 20:24, 2 Tim. 4:7, Romans 1:14)
We are people who have been called for the mission of evangelism. (1 Peter 2:9) Therefore, we must be faithful for this mission, even if we are in season or out of season, and sometimes persecute or tribulation for the purpose of preaching the Gospel (Matthew 28:19). ~20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8)
2. Faith is looking to Jesus
① Acknowledge that life is a path of hardship. (24~26, Romans 13:12)
Satan and his powers are losing strength (1 Peter 5:7), and unwanted suffering continues, and the winds of suffering and the wave of suffering do not stop (Job 5:7). This is because of sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23) The sufferings of life do not end without the resolution of sins. Jesus Christ is the only solution to this sin and suffering. (Romans 4:25, John 3:16, Romans 5:1-2) The resolution of the storm was when we were with Jesus.(32) When Jesus is with us, we are safe and secure. , peace, prosperity, and victory. (Genesis 39:2~3, 2 Samuel 5:10, 8:6)
② Faith is looking at Jesus.(28~29)
It is to look to Jesus and look forward to a hopeful future (Hebrews 11:1). We believe and look forward to our prosperity through the Lord. When he looked at Jesus, he was walking on the water, but when he saw the wind, he fell into the water. (30~31) So, what you look at is important. Look at the opportunities in problems rather than problems. All the miracles recorded in the Bible took place in problematic situations. God sees our faith through problems and makes us grow.
③ Faith is obedience to the words of Jesus
At the call of Jesus, Peter got off the boat, walked on the water, and went to Jesus.(29) Despite the still storm, he obeyed the word and got out of the boat. When we obey like this, we experience miracles. The Word is power, light, truth, life, and blessings. (Psalm 119:105) There is no need to be afraid of the future and circumstances to come. This is because the way to obey the word is the way to be blessed and prosper (Genesis 12:4)
After experiencing the storm, the disciples worshiped Jesus and confessed that the Lord is God and the Savior and Messiah. If there are those of you who are afraid and weary of the storms of life, look to Jesus with faith, who will calm the storms of our lives. And thank you. We earnestly hope that the confession, “Truly, you are the Son of God” (39) fills our lives.