THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST (Part 12).
Matthew 14. Verses 23 – 27& 32 read:
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid……..And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
In heaven, Jesus affirmed supremacy as the Creative Word by whom things came into existence. Once the Word was declared, it activated life, and things happened. The spoken Word never returned to the Father void, but it accomplished without fail what it was sent to do. Refer to Isaiah 55 verse 11. In due season, the Word became flesh or a man. Hence, on earth, Christ’s primary identity was the Son of God. This identity demanded that he depended on the Heavenly Father and obeyed Him in order to express supremacy. Refer to Hebrews 5 verses 7-8. It was, therefore, Jesus’ practice to separate himself from men for exclusive engagements with the Father. These engagements kept him accurately tuned to God and empowered to do the will of the Heavenly Father and thereby affirmed his supremacy.
From today’s text, Jesus had dispatched his disciples to go ahead of him whilst he went to pray. Prayer was the means by which he perfectly aligned with the Heavenly Father, whom he represented on earth. Whilst in the midst of the sea, contrary winds and waves arose, which began to toss the ship to and fro. In the last watch of the night, Jesus went towards them walking on the sea. This was unthinkable because no man had ever walked on water. In their fear, the only conclusion they could draw was that it was a ghost they were seeing. Jesus quickly interjected and said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
By walking on the water, Jesus was affirming his supremacy over the sea and, by extension, over every created thing. Scripture continues to say that the moment Jesus entered the ship, the wind ceased. Once again, we realize that the winds and storms were subject to him. Storms and winds can also be likened to contrary and unpleasant situations of life. Beloved, there is no situation of life that Jesus can not surmount. Jesus’ supremacy as a man was primarily founded on his walk in the fullness of his sonship through a life of total dependence on God and absolute obedience to him. Our Saviour and Lord rules and reigns over every situation of life.
SHALOM 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏