Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 8

Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 8

Subject: Our Greatest Example of Getting Out of the Boat

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." 

–Tonight I want us to look at our greatest example of courage and willingness to get out of the boat...Jesus Christ. None of us would ever have the privilege to get out of the boat if it were not for Jesus.

1. Jesus stepped out of the boat when He stepped out before the foundation of the world to save us.

1 Peter 1:17‑21 (NKJV) 

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 

21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

–The decision had already been made. It had been ordained since the beginning of time that Jesus would step out of the boat (out of heaven) to save us. What kind of King lays all His glory aside to save others?

Romans 5:6‑8 (NKJV) 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

2. Jesus stepped out of the boat when He entered the city of Jerusalem knowing what fate awaited Him.

--During His triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem people waved palm branches and shouted for Him. Listen to Jesus after Mary sister of Martha anointed Jesus feet with costly perfume.

–She was saying...the most uncomely part of Jesus (His feet) was more precious than anything beautiful about man...He is worthy of our worship!

John 12:7‑8 (NKJV) 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 

8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." 

–Jesus knew He was stepping into the city to die for the salvation of mankind. The crowd cried:  "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" 

–Truly their King was stepping into what God had planned for Him...how tough it must have been to know they would soon be crying “crucify Him!” How quickly things can change. 

3. Jesus stepped out of the boat when He submitted to the will of God.

–I hope you see how Jesus was tested like us and how difficult it was for Him to get out of His boat...humanity.

Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                           18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. 

Hebrews 4:14‑15 (NKJV) 

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

–Was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin...see His struggle...He not only was facing the pain and suffering thru His abuse but also becoming sin for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

Matthew 26:38‑39 (NKJV) 

38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 

–Matthew says he was sorrowful, deeply distressed, exceedingly sorrowful even to death.

Luke 22:44 (NKJV) 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

–Doctors indicate that this is the most extreme stress a person could be under. What was He saying? I am struggling to get out of the boat but, Father, if You want me to...I will!

4. Jesus stepped out of the boat by not reverting back to His divine power.

–Never under estimate what Jesus could have done:

Mark 15:29‑31 (NKJV) 

29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 

30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 

31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 

–When we are faced with the trial of our lives we have a tendency of reverting to whatever brings us comfort. Jesus simply submitted to the will of the Father even in His pain. They did not take Jesus’ life.

John 10:18 (NKJV) 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."  

–You see, the Bible says Jesus could have used His position as Son and His divine power to escape or crush…

John 10:39 (NKJV) 39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. 

Matthew 26:53 (NKJV) 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 

John 18:5‑6 (NKJV) 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 

6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. 

Philippians 2:5‑8 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

5. Jesus stepped out of the boat by His death, burial, and resurrection!

Luke 24:1‑7 (NKJV) 

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 

3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 

6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 

7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " 

–“Why do you seek the living among the dead?   He is not here, but is risen! 

Acts 2:22‑24 (NKJV) 

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know‑‑ 

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 

–So why stay in your tomb...your boat?

Romans 8:11 (NIV) 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 

–The Spirit of God can bring you out of your tomb or your boat!

Ezekiel 37:12‑14 (NKJV) 

12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 

13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 

14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'