READ: Matthew
14
In this chapter we see a few clues that John the Baptist had an
interesting relationship with King Herod. First, the king obviously was
acquainted with him well enough to have heard John preach about sin and he
didn’t like it. This is why John was in prison. He had offended the king. Herod
cared enough to hate John. And even though he wanted to kill him, he really
wanted to make a good impression on the people so he didn’t kill John. At least
at first. But after Herodias’ daughter asked for John’s head on a platter,
suddenly Herod felt sorry. This gives us another clue about the relationship
Herod had with John.
Although they were by no means friends, Herod probably held out some
kind of hope, or perhaps had a soft-spot for John. Herod was known to be a
harsh man, yet there was something within him that maybe had softened toward
John - otherwise he wouldn’t have been sorry over his death. Perhaps he hoped
he could win John over, or that John could talk to his God for him. We don’t know.
This we do know: No matter how important our connections, no matter how
high in government our friends are, our only hope is in Jesus. He is the only
One who can save us. We also learn from this that being connected to a godly
person doesn’t ensure you have safety in spiritual matters. Just because Herod
hadn’t killed John, or felt sorry for him when he was killed, doesn’t give
Herod any ‘brownie points’. It doesn’t matter who we know, it matters that we
know and obey Jesus.
Jesus had been doing all kinds of miracles. Healing the sick, raising
the dead, forgiving sin, and the disciples saw it all. They knew He was God and
He could do the impossible. After all they’d seen and experienced so far, they
should have had a different answer when Jesus asked them to feed the people. We
might have expected them to say – with full faith – “Jesus, we know you do
miracles, You can make food!” Yet their thoughts were very mundane and stuck on
the problem. Yikes… the money it would take to feed them all! How would they
even get all that food to that location?
Jesus in His gentleness didn’t chastise them though. He didn’t say, “You
fools! Don’t you know I’m the miracle man?” No. He just did it. He did the
miracle. Just like that. And He didn’t say anything. The miracle happened and
people ate.
The next miracle happened in a stormy sea. The most remarkable thing
about this is that Peter is so excited about seeing Jesus in the storm that he
is willing to walk on the water, risking everything. Just looking at Jesus and
seeing Him in such a dark and stormy place made it worth the risk. Often we
think we’ll wait to obey until things have settled down. Peter was actually
walking on water with Jesus in the midst of the crazy storm! Later, when the
water was calm, Peter didn’t walk on water. The adventure and the miracle was
in the midst of the chaos. How many times do we miss the miracle because we’re
waiting for things to calm down instead of racing toward God’s call in the
midst of the chaos?
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
Sometimes we want to get close to important people at church, leaders or
decision makers, so that we feel better about our spiritual journey. Do you
know someone (perhaps at work, politically, in church, or even your family) who
you sometimes think will help you get a good position with God or with others?
Ask Jesus to speak to you about this. What about when you get into trouble or a
disaster happens? Do you run to Jesus first or do you find yourself going first
to the people with means to help? Ask the Lord to give you a word, thought or
picture that will motivate you to keep Jesus as your main source of help.
2.
Are you in the midst of a struggle? Ask the Lord to reveal where your
thoughts are anchored: are they stuck on the problem and the mundane troubles,
or are they firmly planted on the truth that God can change it for your good and
His glory? Ask God to grow your faith to be able to take your thoughts off the
mundane and plant them firmly on the One who can do miracles.
3.
Ask Jesus if there is something He has asked you to obey but you haven’t
because things seem too risky. Or is there something you are waiting for before
you obey? Confess to Jesus your fear of trusting Him in the chaos. Ask Him to
give you courage to get out of the boat in the midst of the storm. Ask Him for
a word, thought, or picture you can hang on to when that call from Him comes
for you to take that risky step.
