Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

Faith over Fear: Matthew 14:22-36

Published November 1, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 14:22-36 (GW)

²²Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him while he sent the people away. ²³After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.

²⁴The boat, now hundreds of yards from shore, was being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind.

²⁵Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. ²⁶When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, “It’s a ghost!” and began to scream because they were afraid.

²⁷Immediately, Jesus said, “Calm down! It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”

²⁸Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”

³¹Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”

³²When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. ³³The men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus and said, “You are truly the Son of God.”

³⁴They crossed the sea and landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵The men there recognized Jesus and sent messengers all around the countryside. The people brought him everyone who was sick. ³⁶They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.

Read Matthew 14:22-36 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

The event in this passage that we most often pay close attention to is the main storyline where Peter steps out of the boat and walks to Jesus.

However, while this event in itself is amazing, we often read ahead too quickly and let the significance of Peter’s faith be overshadowed by his fear.

Jesus has spent the night alone on the mountain praying, and in the early hours of the morning, He decides to walk out to them on the lake. When the disciples see a figure walking towards them on the water, it freaks them out, but Jesus tries to calm their fear by saying who He is.

Peter then responds, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” (v. 28)

Perhaps Peter is trying to call a bluff, or maybe he wants to see if this ghost would actually respond to a question. Jesus responds to Peter in verse 29 by saying “Come!”, and this leaves Peter no choice but to expose his lack of faith and break his word, or get out of the boat.

We are really quick to focus on Peter’s failure and on the time when he begins sinking that we forget to notice the simple fact that only one of the disciples had the faith to even step out of the boat in the first place. Peter’s faith and Jesus’ invitation prompt Peter to make one of the biggest steps of faith possible: Step out of the boat during a storm because Jesus asked you to.

Granted, Peter sets up the request, so technically, Peter is partially responsible for Peter being challenged to step out of the boat.

With all this said, faith trumped fear in Peter’s life that prompted Him to step out of the boat. It takes an extraordinary level of faith – a level that only God can give – to step out of the boat during a storm when Jesus calls you to come to Him.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Flashback Episode — Loving to Heal: Matthew 20:29-34

Published October 31, 2022 in Audio Journal Entries

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As we move forward through the gospels looking at Jesus’ miracles, we come to the last normal miracle that the gospel writers record prior to the crucifixion. When I say normal, this means that it is a miracle that prompts those present to give praise to God and it’s a miracle where someone involved displays a level of faith. While there have been miracles that fall outside of these boundaries before this point in Jesus’ ministry, from this point forward leading to the cross, we don’t see the normal details of faith and praise like we do in most of the miracles we’ve focused in on previously.

Also, as I shared in the previous episode, the miracle in this episode is often listed as being parallel to the miracle we focused on in the last episode. However, while there are similarities, I think enough differences are present to call this a separate event.

Let’s read what happened, and discover what we can learn from this event. Our passage and miracle for this episode is found in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 20, and we will read it from the Good News Translation. Starting in verse 29, Matthew tells us that:

²⁹As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd was following. ³⁰Two blind men who were sitting by the road heard that Jesus was passing by, so they began to shout, “Son of David! Have mercy on us, sir!”

³¹The crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on us, sir!”

³²Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

³³“Sir,” they answered, “we want you to give us our sight!”

³⁴Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes; at once they were able to see, and they followed him.

In this passage and miracle, this sounds a lot like the previous miracle. When comparing these two miracles, both miracles happen just outside of Jericho, both miracles have the crowd wanting to silence those desiring healing, both miracles have a similar dialog, and both miracles relate to restoring eyesight. I can definitely understand how many people would connect these events into being descriptive of one event.

However, when we look at the details in each miracle, we discover some interesting distinctions. Unlike the miracle from our previous episode, this miracle happens when Jesus and His disciples are leaving Jericho rather than when they are arriving, and in this miracle, we learn about two men verses the one man in the previous miracle. These distinctions alone suggest two very similar events, but there is one other distinction present. In our miracle from our last episode, Jesus simply commands the man to see again, while in this miracle, we see Jesus touching the men’s eyes in order to restore their sight.

In my mind, these are two similar, but distinctly different, miracles. Since the gospel writers had to scale back what they included in their gospel letters because of space concerns, it wouldn’t surprise me if Matthew, having read Mark and or Luke, decided to place a different miracle in his gospel story than was written in these other two gospels. While there is a lot of overlap between the gospels, there are also very distinct details in each. It is also interesting to note that every one of the four gospels includes a miracle that is unique to it. Each gospel has a miracle included that the other three gospel writers chose to exclude.

However, what can we learn from this miracle that isn’t the same as what we learned in our last episode. While there are plenty of shared themes, a theme that this miracle shows that the other one doesn’t comes at the start of verse 34, where Matthew tells us that, “Jesus had pity on them”.

Nowhere in our previous miracle do we see Jesus showing pity on the man, even if the idea is present. I imagine Matthew wants to draw our attention onto the importance that Jesus loved those who He healed. This detail might be easy to dismiss, but it is powerful when we stop to focus on it.

When Jesus healed people, He had no ulterior motive. There was nothing in Jesus’ miracle working that even hinted at Jesus desiring followers, fame, or wealth because of His help. Jesus helped because He loved, and because Jesus loved, we see Him help.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be like Him, and being like Jesus also includes loving like Jesus loved, living like Jesus lived, and helping others like Jesus helped. While we might not have the ability to miraculously return the sight to a blind person, this shouldn’t stop us from helping where and when we can. And this also should not stop us from letting the Holy Spirit use us where God needs us. Don’t ever discount the possibility that the Holy Spirit temporarily gives you the ability to do a miracle to help someone in need.

God has called us to lean on Him and on the Holy Spirit for direction, help, and guidance in our life – and this is exactly what Jesus did. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see examples of Him leaning on the Holy Spirit to work miracles, and when the disciples were sent out in pairs, they worked through the Holy Spirit as well.

In this miracle, we see faith demonstrated by the one being healed, and we see Jesus love those He healed. Jesus loves you and me, and He is actively working, in heaven and through the Holy Spirit, to bring us safely home with Him for eternity!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

Keep seeking God first in your life and intentionally lean on Him. Place your trust, faith, hope, and belief in Jesus and in what He has done for us and in the work He currently is doing for us as well. While we are alive on this earth, God has a mission and a plan for our lives, and I’m positive He wants us to walk with Him on the journey He has set before us.

Also, always pray and study the Bible for yourself to keep growing closer to God each and every day. Learn to filter what you read and hear through the pages and truth contained in the Bible, and trust that God has kept His message safe throughout history. Above all, trust in what Jesus has done for you and in what He is doing for you as He leads all of us towards eternity.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Flashback Episode: Year of Miracles – Episode 44: As Jesus was leaving Jericho, we see a miracle very similar to one that occurred before Jesus arrived in the city, but one where we get to see a glimpse of Jesus’ heart and His love for those who needed healing.

Thrust Into the Spotlight: Mark 5:21-34

Published October 28, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Mark 5:21-34 (NCV)

²¹When Jesus went in the boat back to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him there. ²²A leader of the synagogue, named Jairus, came there, saw Jesus, and fell at his feet. ²³He begged Jesus, saying again and again, “My daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so she will be healed and will live.” ²⁴So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed Jesus and pushed very close around him. ²⁵Among them was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She had suffered very much from many doctors and had spent all the money she had, but instead of improving, she was getting worse. ²⁷When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his coat. ²⁸She thought, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹Instantly her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her disease.

³⁰At once Jesus felt power go out from him. So he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

³¹His followers said, “Look at how many people are pushing against you! And you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

³²But Jesus continued looking around to see who had touched him. ³³The woman, knowing that she was healed, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. Shaking with fear, she told him the whole truth. ³⁴Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace; be healed of your disease.”

Read Mark 5:21-34 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

When I read different events in the Bible, and specifically events in the gospels, I occasionally will look at what the writers tell us about the people who interacted with Jesus, and I ask myself questions about the personality or character of the people who were present.

When Jesus pauses on His mission to heal a little girl from dying to draw attention to a woman and miracle that wanted to remain hidden, I wonder about the woman who was healed.

Was she introverted and not interested in being in the middle of a crowd? Maybe, but probably not, since she had to push her way through a crowd to get to Jesus.

Was she simply shy, and scared of being in the spotlight? Possibly, since she was trying to stay anonymous.

Was she embarrassed about her illness? Perhaps, since it was an issue that was a little more personal and one that all the doctors she had been to were unable to fix.

Was she humble? Probably. she didn’t want to bother Jesus when He was already in the middle of an important task.

Was she determined? Absolutely! Nothing would stop her from making her way to Jesus.

The woman who was healed was not interested in drawing attention to herself, or even in disturbing Jesus, but that didn’t stop Jesus from choosing to “be disturbed”. This woman displayed an extraordinary level of faith to believe in her heart that just touching the corner of Jesus’ robe would heal her.

She didn’t need to take any of Jesus’ time, attention, or touch. All she needed was a split second while He was occupied doing something else, and that would be enough. She got her moment, but with it, she lost her anonymity. Jesus was too aware of what was happening around Him, and she was caught.

But in this event we are drawn to pay attention to this woman, because Jesus singles her out. The woman realizes she was caught in the act and she expects Jesus to be mad at her, but instead Jesus tells her: “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace; be healed of your disease.” (v. 34)

Jesus holds this event up as an example for all of us about faith and belief. This woman’s faith could not remain hidden, because it would become an example to all Christ-followers throughout the years following this event about the extraordinary power of belief when our faith and trust is placed in Jesus.

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Worshiping Like Soldiers: Mark 15:16-20

Published October 27, 2022 in Audio Journal Entries

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As we continue in Mark’s gospel, we come to Jesus’ last stop before He carries the cross out to be crucified. While this may be among the most graphic parts of the gospels, within the cruelty of this event we discover a powerful truth that is easy to miss or ignore. While it is unlikely that any of us would intentionally act like the soldiers in this passage towards Jesus today, something we might do today might actually treat Jesus like these soldiers treated Him, even if we don’t realize it.

Let’s read this passage and discover a subtle trap Satan would love for us to fall into. Our passage is found in Mark’s gospel, chapter 15, and we will read from the New International Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 16, Mark tells us that:

¹⁶The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

As I read this passage, did anything stand out in your mind that you could see yourself doing to Jesus, even unintentionally, that is similar to what these soldiers did?

If you’re at all like me, nothing on the surface in this description would be anything like I would do. I wouldn’t twist a crown of thorns together and set it on Jesus’ head. I wouldn’t beat Jesus over the head with a staff or spit on him. And I wouldn’t mockingly call Him the king of the Jews or make fun of Him.

However, while these soldiers were making fun of Jesus, they were likely doing something even they didn’t realize. While mocking Jesus, they were actually giving Jesus empty, meaningless worship. In the entire history of humanity, only One individual is truly worthy of worship, and this individual is Jesus. Jesus deserves our glory, our honor, our praise, and our worship.

While it is pretty clear by their actions and abuse that these soldiers were not genuinely worshiping Jesus, what specific things made their actions towards Jesus not true worship?

Aside from the abuse, the beating, and the crown of thorns, the worship, or homage, these soldiers gave Jesus did not even hint at including humility, respect, or any of the soldiers’ hearts. The “worship” these soldiers give Jesus is empty because the worship these soldiers give is worthless in both the soldiers’ eyes, and it is worthless in God’s eyes as well.

In addition to God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, Jesus is the only One worthy of our worship and our praise. When we come to worship Jesus and thank Him for what He has done for us, are we bringing Jesus glory, honor, and praise in our worship? More importantly than that, are we bringing our hearts with our worship and our gifts and giving our hearts to God within our worship?

As I have read and studied worship more, I have come to realize just how important giving our hearts to God is when we come to worship Him. Above any other gift, God wants our hearts. If our hearts are not included in our worship to God, then our worship is no more pleasing to God than the soldiers mock-worship was.

For a long time, I found myself going to church every weekend because it was a habit, or a routine, and because I felt it was what God wanted me to do. While there is nothing bad about going to church, when we let church become a habit, and simply be a part of our routine, we risk our worship becoming empty and “heartless”. If our worship doesn’t give our hearts to God, then we could call this heartless worship, and heartless worship is what the soldiers gave Jesus before His crucifixion.

Above anything else, God wants our hearts. Our hearts are the gift that God values the most. If you feel like your worship has become empty, shallow, or routine, I would caution you to not give up on or stop worshiping. Instead, while routine worship isn’t the goal, it is slightly better than no worship at all. Realizing your worship needs help is the first step to helping it get better.

If you feel like your worship isn’t where you would like it to be, what are some ways you can bring your heart back in to your worship? Finding the answer to this question is the best way to revitalize your worship experience, and the answer to this question is best found by bringing your request to God in prayer.

While it seems like our conversation has shifted away from the event we began talking about, let’s circle back around at look at what Jesus experienced leading up to His crucifixion. When we take a step back and look at everything Jesus went through, it is nothing short of horrific. The amount of abuse, hostility, and pain that Jesus went through is about as extreme as I can imagine.

However, what is even more amazing is looking at what Jesus went through and realizing that it was entirely within God’s power to write the details of Jesus’ death. Before history began, God knew the plan of action for when humanity sinned, and He wrote into history every detail surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion weekend. Why then would the Godhead write Jesus’ death into history in what was likely the cruelest, most painful way to die?

As we read what happened to Jesus leading up to the cross, I cannot escape the truth that Jesus chose to face the cruelest death, and path to death, possible because He wanted humanity to know that God loves each of us that much more! God was willing to face the worst humanity could come up with in order to show humanity how much He loves us!

God emptied His heart for us as He calls us to give our hearts to Him! This is an invitation to all of us from a God who loves us more than anything and everything we choose to do to Him, and our invitation from God is an invitation to bring our sin-stained hearts to Him and let Him create new, clean hearts within us!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, continue to intentionally seek God first in your life and choose to bring your heart to God with your worship. If worshiping with your heart is challenging, ask God to help you open your heart to Him and to discover how to bring Him the gift He desires the most – specifically the gift of your heart.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to God each and every day. Through prayer and study, we can open our hearts, minds, and lives to God and let Him transform us into the people He created us to be.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year in Mark – Episode 43: When we look a little closer at how Mark describes the soldiers mocking and beating Jesus prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, discover how the soldiers’ actions may be not too different from something Satan would like us to do when we come and worship God!

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