Jesus Can - Week 1 - St. Peter - Pastor Tim Glende
Jesus Can
Week 1 - St. Peter
Pastor Tim Glende
I don't know what your favorite book was when you were growing up as a kid. And a lot of new books have come out over the years as my kids were younger and now my grandkids are young. There's a whole lot of books that are new and are ones that you read. But when I was a kid, one of the books that I loved the most that I enjoyed reading, the most was one written in 1930. And the title was “The Little Engine That Could” like anyone ever read that book, you know, that book I just want to see at least one young hand, like, it's still in libraries, right? Like it's so much of a classic that it hasn't been that outdated yet. I think there's a reason for it. Why it resonates with kids.The story of the underdog, the little engine, all the big engines said, no, we're not taking that trip. We'll never make it, absolutely not, the little engine believes that he can all the way along is talking to himself encouraging himself. I think I can, I think I can, and every step along the way, there might be fear or wonder not no certainty. But the desire, the drive, the belief that he could.
It's kind of like the encouragement behind the book like you can do anything your mind that you set your mind to. How many parents haven't said that to their kids? Like tell yourself, I think I can I think I can, I think I can, this belief that no matter what the odds that they'd be against you, no matter what the obstacles you might find in in your way. Believe that you can over and over again, this book repeats that message gets to the last and final pass. It's the hardest path, pass he slows down because he doesn't want to burn out his engine and he makes it over the top and he goes from I think I can I think I can to “I thought I could. I made it in life. There's a lot to be said for that idea and belief that you think you can.
To pursue things to believe, things to push through things, like in a lot of times it helps, it gets us there. It's essential and it's needed because there are times in life that are hard circumstances that are difficult challenges that are unique and to think I can to be followed by, “I knew I could is a powerful thing, and a good thing.”
But that book, as great, as it is, as much as there's power in thinking that you can It forgets a truth and sometimes we forget it in our world that there are times
It's a tension of this series. There are times in life when we just can't.
The circumstances are too much. The abilities needed are not ours.
The strength that it would take to get through. It is not there. The plate is too full. Like there are a whole lot of circumstances, times, things, diseases, relationships. Whatever it might be that as much as we want to believe, we can as much as we have the desire to do it to get through it. We simply can't and that tension is a real issue.
That's why we need to and want to address it in this series like the issue. That comes in those times in life, when we can't. Then shoot is to us spiritually when we can't. The frustration that is real. When we can't. The response that we have in life in those times, in those circumstances, in those situations when we can't, it is so vital and important to get right?
Because if we don't, if we go to the wrong places, we turn to the wrong things. If we forget the truths about God in those moments. When we can't.
We might spiritually, you put ourselves a great risk and engraved danger.
Which is why I pray that over the course of the next several weeks. You are blessed. As we look at events from Jesus' life, truth about our God, that remind us of what he did and that he can, For the times in life, when you can't. When the circumstances are too big when you don't know where to turn, when your faith is paralyzed or endangered of being paralyzed at those times when we just can't, this series is, is meant to to bless you in your life of Faith to help you have stronger, Jesus roots. To remember that when you can't Jesus God,
So if you're with me, if you need that, if you're going through a storm in life, right now, if there's something that you can't deal with, or you're struggling with, facing, this series is for you. And if you're not and life is good right now and the waters are calm. Trust me. You're going to want to hold on to these truths of Jesus can because they will be times when you can't. Until that day, when he calls us home, all of us need this, reminder, that Jesus can And have a strong faith for the times and moments. When we can't,
And the gospel of Matthew is going to be our textbook over the course of the next few weeks. All about Miracles, all from Matthew, all found in his gospel. And here's why I think that's such an important thing to consider of the four gospels, Matthew and John, two of the authors of the gospels, were one of the 12 disciples, Mark, most likely people believe, spent a great deal of time working with the Apostle Peter. So many of his accounts of the things God inspired him to write. We're also based on the accounts of another disciple. So when Matthew speaks to us when he records these truths for us, we are talking about real-time. Real Jesus, real important things that Jesus did that Matthew understood were important for people. He was writing to who never saw them. Never were going to experience them firsthand. These are eyewitness, testimony accounts of the things Jesus did to help us in our spiritual life, understand who God is. And what that means for us. Now, before we get into our miracle for today, maybe a little bit of background about Matthew. Already told you, he was one of Jesus' disciples one of the 12. Remember Matthew. He was born a Jew. But he was as by occupation, he was a tax collector, got Jesus called him to be one of his disciples even though he was one of those people who you weren't supposed to love, hang out with do anything with. So Matthew's life had been changed by Jesus himself.
Imagine records for us in the gospel, a lot of things. But up to chapter 8, his readers would have learned about this chapter. One and two were about Jesus' birth and younger years. Here Matthew records, the story of the wise men coming to visit Jesus. Uh, Matthew chapter 3 is Jesus' earthly ministry begins with his baptism by John. John, the Baptist is preparing the way, uh, in Matthew chapter 3 in, Matthew chapter 4, Jesus tempted in the wilderness by the Sate by Satan. So, Matthew is recorded for, for people, that Jesus faced the devil, head, on and overcame temptation said no later on. In chapter four, you have the disciples being called a few miracles, being done. And then you got this transition after all those things are built up, are building up and amping up in a Jesus ministry. There's a pause. For a big event. A sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5, 6 and 7. His use a sermon on the Mount, maybe his longest recorded sermon on the pages of scripture, where he has a whole lot of strong words, a whole lot of calls to action a whole lot of things of encouragement. He talks about times in life, when there are things that will cause you worry. Matthew chapter 6. Do not be, do not be worried seek first is Kingman is righteousness The Sermon on the Mount ends with a very famous section. Have you ever heard the story of the wise man who built his house on the Rock? Jesus spoke those words end of the sermon in the Mount, Matthew chapter 7, so that when the rains came and the winds blew and they beat against that house, it did not.
Jesus uses a visual of a storm. And the importance of your faith being founded on. The truth.
And then we roll into chapter eight. In chapter 8, all of a sudden from the sermon on the Mount, these powerful words is just Filled with Miracle, after Miracle after Miracle of Jesus, you have a miracle of him, healing, a leper, who from a distance calls out and says, save me, Lord, just say the word Jesus does and he's healed. Jesus can. The leper knew it, and he did. The next account is Jesus healing a centurion, uh, centurion six soldier. The Centurion found him came to him. He's walking with Jesus. He says, Jesus, I don't deserve to have you under my roof, but if you just say the word right here, right now, he'll be healed. You can and Jesus did.
Like the disciples saw two examples of what Jesus can do. The power. He has over disease. And those stories are really important in the chronology of this, I believe and the account of this because those two sections, we're not just about the miracle but the faith The person had in Jesus. Like Jesus identified that Centurion had a strong faith, so strong, Jesus hadn't seen any of like it in Israel. The leprehead such a faith that from a distance he could cause a Jesus, like the miracle is one part of it, but the faith of those individuals they believe God could. Right after that, Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law.
She had a fever, she was sick and she was ill and Jesus healed her. So one of the disciple's own family members but came into contact with the power of Jesus, and what he can do right after that, he driving out demons out of people. Okay? So miracle Miracle, Miracle, Miracle Miracle, and they're right before this section right before, we're gonna see where this miracle takes us before. What happens next? Jesus told us disciples’, you will endure hardship and persecution and carry crosses as a result of following me.
Storms.
Like hey, there's going to be relational storms, because you're a Believer.
Storms. Like physically emotionally, you're going to be persecuted.
Like Jesus. Was proving who he was over and over again, but he was reinforcing to them. As great as these things are hold on to these things, you've seen these things, remember these things and hold on to these things, like all these things come together. These things are taking place like in a few days in a matter of weeks, maybe a month that most I would guess. Uh, maybe a little longer but Miracle, Miracle, Miracle. Reminder, reminder, storms happen.
Visible reminders. This is who I am.
Right. Coming off of that conversation. Here's what happens? As our text takes us into Matthew chapter 8 verse 23. Then he got into the boat. And His disciples followed him. Like it's a matter of fact, it's one of those tasks, you would say, Pastor Tim, why are you wasting our time on this today? Uh, just so that you understand the truth about the author, the author’s telling you the facts that happen, he got into the boat, this happened, we got into boats and followed him this happened, he's sharing with you real-time, history of what transpired before his eyes of Jesus.
So hold on to that, remember that? Understand that. And this wouldn't have been an abnormal occurrence for the disciples. Remember, several of them were fishermen by trade. Many of them hubbed around the Sea of Galilee, where the event of this account took place. They would have known those waters. They would add access to boats. They would have known the best way to get across the lake, they would have also understood there were times to be in a boat. And times to not be in a boat.
And some of you would say I don't like going in boats period because I get seasick. Okay, I get it. Like, but there are times when even the newscast here, today tells you the waves are going to be high on Lake Michigan. The winds are going to be up. You might not want to be boating. Like wisdom tells you in certain circumstances, depending on the size of your boat, uh, or where you're headed, or what's going to transpire? You shouldn't be on the water. The disciples would have known this. They would have made educated decisions. They want to put their life in danger like if it was thunder and lightning out at this point, they went into the boat.
And then have weather forecasts, but they get in the boat. They need to get from point A to point B, starting in the middle of the night.
And this is what happens next. Suddenly a Furious storm came up on the lake so that the waves swept over the boat. If you read the, the Greek
Uh as God inspired it to be written by Matthew. These words are very choppy. These words are very all over the map. There's not they're not really good English sentences. You can almost imagine God inspiring Matthew to write them with his own first-hand experience of what he was feeling like. Have you ever been in a storm before? Like, my wife does not like driving in snow storms because she's driven through an accident, that was really bad. She watched a lot of it. She got through it but just the thought of snow sometimes causes her heart to to beat a little bit faster. Like that's why I imagine Matthew doing right now is he's trying to write his words are coming out really choppy but he's recording some keys to the truth. Suddenly Snap out of the blue. Like,
They weren't expecting it, they didn't see it coming. And it was a furious storm. The words that's used here as almost similar language to to what takes takes place and transpires during holy Week, as Jesus has died in the Earth shaking. Uh, Matthew's using similar language, like they're the storm is Furious, it is violent. Like everything is going wrong so much so that Matthew's descriptive of it is at the wave swept over the boat. It wasn't just rocking the boat. It wasn't just splashing a little bit in the boat, which can sometimes be fun. The ways were literally sweeping over the boat last night before I fell asleep. Castaway was on perfect timing. As I'm watching him go under and the plane going down in the storm. He makes it out alive, but the waves are going up and down. Sorry if I'm making you seasick right now. Like that's the visual it is overwhelming them. The boat is filling up with the water. They can't see a thing. These expert fishermen.
And you might wonder how is this possible? Well, nature is uncontrollable.
And the region that they were in would have made this happen. Like, they didn't have your Fox 11 app on their cell phone that was going to beat for them and tell them, hey, a storm is coming. Lightning’s on its way. Like storms come up out of nowhere around here, it ties that we just get warnings. We get sirens.
Amount Herman was about 30 miles off in the distance of the Sea of Galilee 10, 000 feet into the air this mountain reaches, and stands.
But as you're coming towards the Sea of Galilee from the west to the east, these mountain ranges would collide, with the cold air up above and the warm air of sea of Galley, which was below, sea level. You have a 10 000 foot difference, in a matter of 30 miles, Like those two things hit and you can have a violent storm out of nowhere. Like when Fronts Collide here in the state of Wisconsin, you get some crazy storms in summertime, right? The cold air hits the hot air thunderstorms tornadoes Those things happen. That's what's happening.
And you can imagine.
There was a concern.
But before we get to what happened next, what the disciples concern was about what was taking place Matthew records. This as Luke and John are Luke and Mark also recorded it. The storm is Furious. The waves are sweet sweeping over the boat but the second half of verse 24, Jesus was sleeping.
Can't tell you how can't tell you why? I could make some guesses about it. He had started sleeping earlier. Like Jesus was human.
I know what happens to me after I preached three times on Sunday morning. I go home. I have lunch. I crash. Like there would be a lot of things that it would take. Sometimes to wake me up, like I don't hear things, I might not hear my alarm, go off if I try and set it sometimes. Like so I get that Jesus was sleeping. I get that even a light rocking of the boat might not cause him to be awake but I'm shocked and I can't fathom how water is going over the top of the boat. It's splashing on him in the stern of the boat. It's rocking and tipping. These disciples are screaming, they're trying to do everything. I'm maneuver the boat but he is sleeping.
You're sleeping.
Which is where we see the disciples. Turn into him. In the next verse, the disciples went and woke him saying. Lord save us, we're going to drown Literally, we are dying here.
Not in danger. Not we're scared not, this is a really bad one. No, this is the ultimate storm. The worst storm, the perfect storm. It came out of nowhere. We're in the middle of the lake. We've tried to turn around, can't we try to move forward? Can't we've tried to angle the boat. The right way. Can we tried to bail water out? Can we die? The storm is that bad. And that big,
And maybe as a last resort, that's how I visualize it now does the first resort.
They come to Jesus and say, Jesus, help. We can't and at first glance, you might think to yourself, they did the right thing. They went to God.
And Matthew records for us, they called out for him to save us, we're going to drown, but Mark tells us this the disciples woke him and literally said this teacher, don't you care if we drown.
Like the storm was bad, the storm was raging. But the spiritual storm that was going on inside of them, was they were looking at Jesus. And they questioned his love and his care.
Like dude, your sleeping in the middle of the storm, don't you care? Don't you love us?
That's why it's important sometimes to read all of it in Scripture, like it wasn't wrong, that they went to Jesus. There's an element that they knew we have nowhere else to turn. But my gut instinct tells me that they were trying to overcome the storm on their own and when all hope was lost, the last measure and line of defense, was to lay it out for Jesus, that, we're going down and we are all dying.
It wasn't a faith like the leper who called out, save us, deliver me. Heal me, it wasn't like the centurion. Who said, “all you got to do is say the word.”
No Jesus. You don't care.
Because here's the thing, I want you to see what oftentimes when we can't what happens to us. It was happening to the disciples. Like people who have knowledge firsthand who had seen firsthand, what Jesus could do in this moment. Fear, got the best of them.
Oftentimes, when we can't, What happens is fear makes us it makes us wonder if God cares.
Like, when the storm is raging, when the storm is going on, when you, in faith, understand the significance of it, how bad it is and you can't change it. Have you ever wondered if God cares?
That God, you don't see this. You don't know what's going on. Where are you? God like God. Have you ever wondered if God cares fear?
Oftentimes, in the midst of storm, makes us wonder if God cares.
Question is love. And sometimes, then it also does this. Fear makes us forget what God that God can, maybe you can't.
I think you can. I think you can. I think you can. I think you can. Like spiritually, the little engine that could should be.
Stronger than think. But oftentimes fear causes to doubt. I think you can.
And sometimes it turns us into the other little engines who said I can't. And you can't.
Like that even God is bigger than this. God doesn't care. God doesn't love. God can't.
Again, life events happen. Some good, some bad, some in your control, some not in your control, and when events happen, we get thoughts.
We're gonna die. And thoughts produce feelings. You don't care.
And feelings produce Behavior. Doubt.
Like, in life, when events happen. What thoughts do you have? What feelings follow what? Behavior flows. Like in the storms of life, you can identify and see where the events lead to thoughts lead to feelings. And lead to action. And oftentimes our action is not trust in God, but doubt God. That's what's going on here with the disciples, like they knew Jesus was the last line of resort and the only way for help, but their faith had doubted along the way that he cared.
But Jesus can and Jesus did look at what happens next. He replied, “You of little faith. Why are you so afraid? He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves and it was completely calm.”
Gets up, he speaks and he acts it all goes together in one quick motion. Mark records it in an opposite direction. Mark begins with the actions of Jesus, the calming of the storm, and then the words, I think they're simultaneous. As I envision, the story, as both of them are describing it, he's speaking and he's acting. It's all going together. It's happening in a matter of seconds if not milliseconds. Mark's words where he got up rebuked the wind and the waves. Quiet. Be still literally two words. Zip it. And sit down.
Like, when you have to yell at your dog or something like that, like, sit down, stop barking. How many of your dogs listen to you all the time?
Mine never did. Like literally.
Quiet. Still. And it was.
I think Mark records it in that order because that's what stood out to him. I think Matthew records in the other order because he highlights at the heart and center of the issue was their flawed premise in God, their faith that was not strong, but their fear that was real big like their faith was little but their fear was high. And she's identified the issue and in the matter right here in the middle of the storm, you are lacking Faith. Your faith is little, why are you afraid? You are in the boat with God?
Like, you've seen what I have done. You know, what I can do? If you remember, in my words, they're going to be storms, you're going to face difficulties. If you remember my words before, when the winds blow and the waters rise.
The wise man builds his house on the Rock. I am the Rock.
A disciple your premises flawed. Your premise is built on the fact that you thought I didn't care and don't love because the storm was raging.
But it's not about the storm. Storms can come and storms can go, storms can remain, but my love does not change in the storm.
My presence does not disappear in the storm.
Do you still have no faith?
Like understand what's going on in that moment too. Like you know what, almost every ancient culture and still the day would say the most uncontained, uncontrollable power of nature is water. Like the Ancients believed that human beings could not control the sea, it was a monster that would rage and would rise up and would come and get you at any moment. Like you couldn't contain it, you can't control it. Like every ancient religion had a God that they prayed to to help control the ocean. Remember, Neptune, Little Mermaid? He had this magic wand. He could stir the waters, they could rise up and he could calm them down. Like, people could call on hit the gods. Because only the gods could control nature. You know what Jesus was doing in this moment, you know what, message Jesus was saying? In this moment, I don't have to call on a higher power. I am the power.
I don't have to call on a God to to calm the storm. I'm God. Who can calm the storm.
Be still, and it was be silent and it was just like that.
If you're thinking of how the story goes on, and what happens next, look at what the disciples did. The men were amazed and asked, “what kind of man is this?” Jesus. God, Jesus, man, even the winds and the waves obey and they're connecting the dots, like only Gods can control the water and this man literally stood up said, two words and it went from the worst storm we've ever experienced like hurricane force winds on the Sea of Galilee to, to still as glass.
They went from being afraid of the storm to to be in terrified of the man.
In a, in a fearful faith way. Like who is this dude? What can this dude do? Yeah.
In life, there will be storms when we can't. The devil would love for you. To be paralyzed by fear to be driven to behavior that doubts and questions God's love. But in the storm when you can't remember Jesus and he can, we can't calm the storm you and I can't stop some of them. Some of them are beyond our control, we think we can, we can try anything and everything, but there might be times and we'll be times when you are in a storm physically, emotionally relationally worldly when you can't comment. It's beyond you. Remember this?
Jesus can.
When you can't control the storms, Jesus can because of who He is.
Remember who He is.
His true man, who understands what it's like to be human and be in storms.
The reminder of him sleeping in the boat. Don't let it fall on deaf ears. He's human. Just like you and just like me in his life. He went through and endured storms, physically, He knows what storms are like, He knows when storms rage, He’s gone through them. He understands the human heart. He understands how frail you are But remember who He is? Not just true man, He is God.
All powerful, Almighty God. It's one of the great things about this miracle in real-time. Real power.
It's one of the few miracles, the bottle records for us. In fact, it's the only Miracle really that outside of healing and everything else. Providing like when Jesus performs a miracle over the powers of Nature. If you want to know God, the Ancients would have said only God has the ability to do this.
Jesus can. Because He is God.
Jesus can calm the storms because of who He is. God, and man, and because of, as God and man, what He did.
Mark's gospel of this account mirrors and mimics the language of an Old Testament account. That is very similar of a storm.
Like there was a boat and there were sailors. There's a man in the water. A man of sleep in the boat while the the waters and storm are raging.
There are our sailors who are on the boat. Who, who says we're going to die? The storm is that bad?
God in our intervenes, calms a storm in a snap, same picture, same visual and the sailors are more terrified, after the story of Jonah.
The only difference between the story of Jonah and the story that we read in Mark in Matthew and in Luke Is that one person is thrown overboard to save the lives of the others.
Like salvation and rescue is found in one life being Sent to the bottom of the ocean.
And so you might not see the similarity. And think of that storm until you remember that. Jesus one time said I'm the greater Jonah.
And just like the life of one spared the life of all.
Jesus went through the storm. The spiritual storm.
The spiritual storm that endured the very wrath of God. On the cross, the wrath was so big. The ways were so overwhelming, that Jesus said, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, like, like Jesus entered that storm head first, and he didn't doubt, and he didn't deviate, because he knew that in that storm. He was going to face that but he had to go through it.
So that you and I are on the other side would experience the peace and calm of God spiritually.
He said, “it is finished.” The battle is over. He rose Victorious, just like Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days. So is Jesus in the belly of the earth and he rose Victorious. He, He went through the storm, He endured the storm and he came out of the storm. The spiritual storm that is rescued you and me for eternity, that's who He is, and that's what He did. So when you're in the midst of the storm, remember who he is, true man. True God. And what He did is true man and true God to endure the ultimate storm so that you would have the ultimate peace to calm a nervous heart in a world that has a lot of storms.
Which is why I want to leave you with a verse that maybe you can use to help exercise your faith. That's what He called the disciples to, like, where's your faith? Why aren't you relying on it? Why aren't you exercising it? Why aren't in this moment? You going over all the things I just did the things. I've healed, the demons that I've pulled out of people, the the words that I've reminded you of like exercise your faith regularly. So that when the storms happen over you're in the storm exercise, it today to remember who he is and what he did. Because storms are hard and they are big and sometimes they are overwhelming and you might be in one right now. Maybe it's a diagnosis you just got. Maybe it's a relationship that is disintegrating. Maybe it's something mental or emotional. I don't know what storm you are facing. I pray that God takes it away. Because He can.
By nobody promises like He wants you to hold on to just like those disciples that He went through the storm, don't doubt His love, don't question His love. Look no further than the cross to see the love of God who can and has endured the ultimate storm and will help you through.
And maybe Psalm 46, is the way to help you remember some truths for storm survival. God's our refuge and strength our safe city. He's our strength, the power. When you can't, He's an ever-present help in trouble. He doesn't fall asleep on the job. He's not, he doesn't, he doesn't that he doesn't care. He is always there. Therefore, we will not fear though. The Earth giveaway the mountains fall into the heart of the sea of the waters, roar and foam. The mountains quake with their surgeon as bad as they can get as much as Mother Nature could throw at you. The Lord is with us, the god of Jacob is our Fortress.
And I love this, he says, “Be still.”
Like, I never connected the dots before Psalm 46 and Matthew 8. Mark 4. Like the God who spoke two words and the Seas got quiet. The wind completely let down. Not just like a small little wave still coming like glass calm. He said to the storm be still, and it was.
And what he says to you into me and our hearts, Be still.
And why can you be still in the storm? Because you know, that He's God.
Because of who He is. Because of what He did.
Hold on to those words so that you can remember these truths. Storm survival Guide, God's power, who He is and what He did, the storm controller, God's power leads to our peace, hold on to his power. Remember His power what He can do because he has the power to end the storm. But He also has the power because of who He is in the storm to calm your heart, He might not calm the storm.
Take Heart.
Because he's in the boat with you. He promised to never leave you.
Storm survival Guide. Remember God's power and as you're focusing on God's power, Facts, not feelings. The disciples were overwhelmed by their feelings. You and I as human beings are oftentimes overwhelmed by our feelings. Facts. The facts about God and who he is the facts about his promises. And what he says he'll do the facts have to Trump feelings feelings. Will always get the better of you. The facts about God are the best things you can hold on to facts, not feelings. And when you have facts, your faith will be blessed. And it'll help Trump, the fear, like, fear is real. But God says, do not be afraid. Fear is real, but faith in God, the one who calmed the storm faith in God, the one who shut the mouth of the storm and also conquered the grave. That's your God, His power.
But Faith trumps fear.
Some of, you know, the name, John Newton, John Newton is the famous Christian hymn writer, who wrote Amazing Grace, he was a former slave trader, he was on a boat back to Ireland and he got caught in a storm. He was there and then he prayed, he was going to change his life. And years later, he wrote a song about that storm about Jesus about the one he called on to in the middle of it and God spared him. That I want you to maybe hold on to that when there are storms even then can smile and be gone unbelief in his hymn, I will trust and not be afraid. He said my Savior is near and for my relief will surely appear by prayer. Let me wrestle and He will perform.
With Christ in the vessel and smile at the storm. Amen.
