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We are continuing our series in the Gospel of Matthew. One of the clearest and most important things in this gospel is who Jesus truly is, especially in light of who we truly are. I hope that as a result of going through this book you are better appreciating the wonder of God’s chosen king and savior, God himself in the flesh, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Our chapter today, Matthew 14, opens with the beheading of John the Baptist — Jesus’ cousin, the herald of his mission, the greatest prophet, and the man who prepared his way. When Jesus heard the news, the text says he withdrew. He got in a boat, alone with his closest disciples, to go to a desolate place. He went to grieve and to contemplate what lay ahead for him, as he followed in John’s footsteps.
Despite their best efforts to get some time to recuperate and reflect, their solitude is invaded by the multitude. Their rest is interrupted with a ruckus of needy people.
What follows are three key scenes — each one pushing the disciples (including modern day disciples) up against the same unwelcome reality: “We don’t have what it takes.” And each time, Jesus answers their bankruptcy by being — who he is — the supply every disciple needs.
The passage is not about miracles as something to wonder about. It is about who Jesus is and what he does with people who are needy and empty by themselves. And that is, really, the only kind of person who will understand the truth about him and us. Only those who know how needy they are will find their needs truly met in Jesus.
So, let’s pray and ask for God’s help as we prepare to read and hear God’s word proclaimed.
Matthew 14:13–36 (ESV)
Let me summarize what we learn from this passage.
Jesus is our answer. He gives where we have nothing, reigns where we are overwhelmed, and heals where we are powerless — and he does all of it graciously, providing abundantly for those who bring him nothing but need. He is everything for those who have nothing. Is he your everything?
Matthew 14:13–14 (ESV)
Picture this. Jesus is processing devastating news. He wanted solitude. He rowed for it. He needed it. But when the boat grounds on the shore, there are thousands of people waiting and pressing in. Loud, needy, sick people.
The text says he “saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them.” That word — compassion (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, esplagchnisthē) — is from the word for intestines or guts. It is a gut reaction of caring. He was not merely doing his duty. He felt their need. And the first thing he does is heal their sick.
Matthew doesn’t tell us how long this took, but “healed their sick” in a large crowd is not a brief footnote. This is likely hours of sustained, interpersonal, taxing ministry. Before the feeding there are long lines of him pouring himself out in healing.
He could have said: “I’m grieving. Come back next Thursday.” He didn’t. Grief and need did not make Jesus stingy. And this is important to say to a congregation that will face seasons, perhaps even lifetimes, where we feel we have nothing left to give. There is key truth here we need to ground ourselves in.
The disciples needed this lesson. Take a look at verse 15 and following:
Matthew 14:15–16 (ESV)
The disciples’ analysis is reasonable. “Desolate place.” Check. “Day is now over.” Check. “Lots of people need supper.” Check. Therefore, “Send the crowds away.” This is simply good administration. What they said was understandable. What they missed was the most important part of the checklist. “Infinite eternal gracious God Man with us!” Check.
His response is almost comical in its frankness: “They need not go away. You give them something to eat.” Jesus is not blaming their lack of administrative skill in neglecting to plan for supper. He is exposing what is too often in all our hearts – our inventory of life fails to acknowledge the goodness, power and presence of God.
Matthew 14:17–18 (ESV)
Their answer is “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” Was that true? Yes, but no. They had five loaves, two fish, and the gracious Lord of all creation standing right there. The inventory was incomplete.
This is a key discipleship moment in the Gospels. Jesus doesn’t rebuke them for their lack of insight and faith. He reveals himself through their inadequacy. The “only” in their sentence is the key word. When Jesus is in the frame, our “only” is never the full picture.
What situation in your life right now are you facing knowing you don’t have the resources you need? As your pastor, I could name a few going on right now. I can probably name at least one for each person I know here. The question isn’t if but when. And more importantly, what will be your inventory?
One of the most important things we can do for each other in crisis is to remind each other of the full inventory. We might only have five loaves and two fish, but we always have the one who owns a cattle on a thousand hills and spoke the universe out of nothing. Encourage each other in this truth.
Matthew 14:19–21 (ESV)
Five thousand men. Probably ten thousand people, counting women and children. There were twelve baskets left over. Why twelve? Commentators offer different explanations. I think the simplest in line with what is going on here is that there is one for each disciple. Each disciple had a living lesson in their hands of Jesus’ abundant provision despite their lack – both of resources and the heart to help.
John’s Gospel tells us what this sign ultimately points to. The next day (John 6), the same crowd follows Jesus across the lake specifically to get more bread. And Jesus says to them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger.” The feeding is not a miracle about carbohydrates and protein provision. It is a sign about who he is and what he came to provide, ultimately.
In the exchange of the cross, Jesus gives his very self where we have nothing – or worse than nothing. We have only our guilt, our shame, our sin, our shortcomings, our just condemnation. We have nothing to offer God — no moral credits, no accumulated merit, no spiritual currency, nothing in ourselves to pay our way into his favor. We are like that thief on the cross: a convicted criminal, dying, bankrupt, a failure, empty-handed for a perfectly good and holy God. And Jesus says to the thief: Today you will be with me in paradise. He says the same to us and all who look to him from that place of desperation for the only help that truly works. Today you can be rescued by me. He gives life for the bankrupt. He dies for our sins and offers his perfect life in exchange. This miraculous bread in the wilderness is that future transaction made visible for all of us to see.
But he is not yet done with his disciples. The lessons are yet to sink in, just like with you and me. Read with me.
Matthew 14:22–23 (ESV)
Notice the word “immediately.” Jesus does not delay there. He dismisses the crowds, goes up the mountain to pray, and sends his disciples into what will be a traumatic time on the water. This is intentional on Jesus part.
Why the immediacy? John 6:15 tells us a little more: the crowd, after the feeding, “was about to come and take him by force to make him king.” This is a messianic coup, from the bottom-up. But Jesus will have none of it. He will not be king by popular vote nor the momentum of a mob. He dismisses the disciples — probably to get them out of the political frenzy — and he dismisses the crowd. He will not be their kind of king.
Popularity is often if not almost always an unhelpful thing for a leader. Jesus consistently withdrew from it or exposed it as unhelpful. The disciples had just experienced an extraordinary miracle – and it would have been tragic to have that turned into a worldly response contrary to God’s will.
Instead, he goes up to the mountain to pray. He desires his Father’s fellowship and his Father’s will. Jesus’ prayer life is worth noting. He prays before great tests (Gethsemane), after great victories (here), and as a regular part of his life and ministry. It is where he went for strength and refreshment. If he did so, how much more must we!
But he doesn’t remain there. Look at verse 24 and following with me.
Matthew 14:24–27 (ESV)
It is the fourth watch of the night, between 3 & 6 a.m. They have been on the water rowing against the waves and wind for hours. Now, these are experienced Galilean fishermen. They knew the Sea of Galilee, with its sudden violent storms. They know they are in genuine danger. And they are going nowhere — “beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.” They are at the end of their rope.
And Jesus comes to them. Walking on the sea.
What does that look like? We don’t know exactly – just that he was walking on the water amidst the waves and wind. When Jesus walks on it, he is not performing a supernatural trick because he could. He is demonstrating his complete dominion. He walks on the chaotic sea the way you walk up the sidewalk
Their first response: “It is a ghost!” — the Greek word is φάντασμα (phántasma) — is a phantom, an apparition. Not a ghost in the Casper the Ghost sense; but something terrifying and unnatural. They are more frightened of him coming to them than they were of the storm.
Immediately Jesus spoke. He addressed their fear without hestitation. He said three phrases: “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.”
"It is I" is, in Greek, ἐγώ εἰμι — ego eimi. That is “I AM.” This is the name of God throughout the scriptures, in Hebrew, Yahweh. Now Matthew probably doesn’t mean for us to read the full weight of the divine name into every occasion of ego eimi, but given this context — walking on water, commanding the storm, and the disciples’ response of worship — it is appropriate to understand it as a divine revelation. He identifies himself with the one who is the self-existent, ever-present Lord.
And this same one also tells them to take heart. Don’t let your emotions take over and overwhelm you. Be at peace. He says, “Do not be afraid!” He wants them to know that this frightening scene is meant for comfort amidst the storm. How we need to hear the same words in our storms – “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Jesus loves to show up when we are totally overwhelmed. He loves to rescue us when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances. He is full of mercy and wisdom.
I remember my friend Gary talking about the night his house caught on fire. He and his family escaped with their lives, but there was much loss of property. He stood out on that lawn in his pajamas amidst the fireman and the crowd, overwhelmed, fretting and angry at God. But those emotions were soon transformed to gratitude and joy when his insurance agent showed up and wrote him their first check to cover their pressing needs. Gary held that check and cried like a baby in gratitude. Whether you get a check like that or not, Jesus is the King over our chaos. We can trust him.
Matthew 14:28–32 (ESV)
Peter’s answer to this is remarkable. It is not mere impulsiveness. It is an act of strong faith. He says: “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” This isn’t a test for Jesus. Peter is not doubting. His, “if”, reads more like our “since.” If this is you Jesus, as I know it to be, then you can allow me to come to you on the water with you. This is remarkable faith.
So, Peter gets out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. This is amazing. This is a normal human being walking on the water. While his eyes are on Jesus, Lord of all, the laws of creation that normally make this impossible are overridden. It is amazing. I hope to high five Peter someday for this.
But, then he sees the wind. How do you see wind? Well, you see its effects – probably whipping his robe about, probably causing some surf to sail through the air. He replaces the image of King Jesus with images created by the wind. Creation takes precedent over the Creator in his mind. Circumstances overshadow the Christ. And, just like we do so often, he sinks.
And that is the end of Peter. Right? Nope. Even though Peter is failing in faith, Jesus is still present. And Peter is able to muster a desperate cry for help, and Jesus reaches out and grabs him, and keeps him above water. His mercy and kindness is not defined by the level of our faith. Thank God.
Jesus says to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" The word for doubt (δισταζω, distazō) means to stand in two places at once — to divide your weight between two supports. His weight went from Jesus to the wind. The scales tipped away from Jesus. The moment it did, natural law reasserted itself over the supernatural.
Notice that the storm does not stop when Peter walks or when Peter sinks. It stops when Jesus gets in the boat. Jesus is the source of the calm, not the faith or actions of Peter.
The result of all of this for the disciples is worship. “Truly you are the Son of God.” The first time in Matthew’s Gospel that the disciples, not Satan or demons or a voice from heaven, say it. They have arrived somewhere. The crowds desperate need, their cold hearts, the feeding, the leftovers, the storm and the Savior have got them there. And they are meant to get us there, too.
This chapter ends with one final and important scene. It is a repetition we have seen but given to cap off our faith in Jesus. For Jesus heals where we are powerless.
Matthew 14:34–36 (ESV)
They cross over and land at Gennesaret — a fertile plain on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Capernaum. The men of the place “recognized him.” They knew who he was, probably by sight from the previous day or by reputation. They don’t hesitate to send out word “to all that region.” And the people brought to him all who were sick. This is likely hundreds if not thousands of people. The population of that region was likely in the low millions. So, with a mortality rate for those under 40 being about 50%, you can imagine how many were sick. They brought all.
They implored Jesus him to help them. These are not casual enquirers. These are desperate people with nothing left to try. And their request is simple and very humble yet full of faith: “only let us touch the fringe of his garment.”
The fringe refers to the tassels on the corners of a Jewish prayer shawl, worn in obedience to Numbers 15:38–40. These tassels were symbols of the God’s holiness and call to his people to be his. That people reach for the fringe of Jesus’ garment likely means they see him as the embodiment of the holiness and blessing of God. This is a humble and powerful expression of faith in God and in his Messiah, Jesus.
As many as touched. Were made well. There is no failure here. No one reaches and finds the power spent. No one is told to come back tomorrow. No one is told they haven’t believed hard enough. The healing is total, complete, immediate.
Jesus continues to heal through his church today. Many of those who are coming to Christ in Asia are coming because someone they know if healed or delivered miraculously. I know this by first hand conversations and friendships. We must continue to offer healing prayer to people, that they may come to Jesus. We can’t control the results, Jesus alone does, but we can seek to pray for those who are sick, trusting him to work and draw them to himself.
But we must say what Matthew knows and eventually shows: that physical healing, extraordinary as it is, is not the final gift. These same people who are healed will one day die physically. The greater healing is the one Jesus describes in John 5:24: “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” The restoration of the body is a sign pointing to the resurrection of the dead. Many are reached through physical healing; but physical healing is not enough. And Jesus knows this. He is now marching resolutely toward his own death and his own pouring out for those who have nothing to offer.
We have viewed three key scenes, three impossible situations. First, there were thousands of hungry people, no food and exhausted disciples: Jesus had compassion on them and multiplied bread for everybody. Next, we saw desperate disciples in a storm, four a.m., wind against them, no hope of change. And then Jesus walked through their chaos and stilled the storm. Finally we saw a region full of sick people, nothing they could do to get well. And he healed them all in great power.
And none of this was earned. None of it was truly deserved. It didn’t come from the merit of the recipients. It came from the extraordinary character of the giver.
This is a picture of the gospel, shown in symbols before it was fulfilled in action. At the cross, Jesus gave his all when we had nothing — not even five loaves, nor two fish, just our sin and our spiritual deadness. He took that, broke himself for us, and fed a world full of need. He reigned in power where we are overwhelmed — walking through sin and death’s chaos, rising again over it, and entering every heart that turns from self and sin and receives him. He heals where we are powerless — not just the body that will return to dust, but the soul that was made for eternity yet lost in sin.
The disciples ended that night on their knees: “Truly you are the Son of God.” That is the only right response to this chapter. It is not: “I will try harder to have more faith.” Nor: “I will stop looking at the wind.” Nor anything like that. It is just: worship. He alone is the Son of God. And he is extraordinary, powerful faithful, patient, true, and completely and eternally trustworthy.
He says to all of us, “Take heart. I AM. Do not be afraid.”
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