Moving on to Matthew 14:33, I find this verse humorous, interesting, yet also quite profound. Using the English Standard Version translation, we read:
“And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
“Those in the boat” are his disciples of course. I haven’t done any in-depth research on which of the disciples were present, but my assumption is that all twelve were there. These closest followers of Jesus perform two actions: (1) they worship him and (2) they pronounce him to be the Son of God. Why do I find this to be humorous?
Several events have occurred in Matthew 14 before this verse. Briefly recapping them, his disciples had seen Jesus take five loaves of bread and two fish and feed five thousand. When they picked up the scraps, they filled twelve baskets. The only words recorded in the Gospels concerning this event are spoken by the crowd. “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). If the disciples had any response, it was not recorded.
Next, the disciples take the boat and begin their journey across the Sea of Galilee, battling the wind for several hours. Jesus suddenly appears walking on the water. Scripture records the disciples’ response to this sight. They are terrified and they believe Jesus is a ghost.
Peter requests to walk on the water with the Lord and the request is granted. So, not only could Christ walk on water, but he could enable others to do likewise. The eleven in the boat would have witness this, but, once again, no response from them. Peter does cry out to the Lord to save him once he begins to sink.
Jesus and Peter finally enter the boat and the winds immediately cease. Even more miraculous, recall the disciples were about two-thirds across the lake when Jesus arrived. John 6:21 adds to the ceasing of the wind. “... and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” IMMEDIATELY!
A chapter like this one causes me to briefly chuckle. Miracle after miracle and no response. These men must be blind and stupid! “Why, if I had been one of the twelve, I would have fallen at Christ’s feet after He fed the five thousand!” Sure, I would! I am just as blind and stupid as they were. Why? Because of sin.
How many miracles must Jesus perform before the disciples respond to Him? Oh, as sinful beings, our hearts and minds are hardened by sin. These disciples have been eyewitnesses to these events and only now do they finally acknowledge Christ’s uniqueness.
Many throughout history have witnessed miracles in their own lives, attesting to the existence of God and His Divine Son. But sin has them in bondage. Perhaps they narrowly escaped a vehicle accident or survived one. Maybe they were overcome by some illness, weren’t responding to treatment, yet survived. Or they were persecuted by some entity and almost gave in. But strength came from somewhere to enable them to endure. There was a time when they had little money with bills overdue and suddenly they received an anonymous gift of cash. How many of us have experienced similar incidents and failed to recognize the God who was performing them? Well, the disciples appear to have missed them as well.
Here in verse thirty-three, the story changes. NOW they worship Him. NOW they call Him “the Son of God.”
We can’t know another man’s heart. Certainly, the worship offered by these twelve men was not pure worship for at least some of them (maybe all). Judas Iscariot is among them. Maybe he sincerely dropped to his knees and admired this amazing man before Him. But, apart from the indwelling Spirit of God, there is no true worship (John 4:24). I doubt if any of the twelve Scripturally worshipped Christ that day.
Again, how many of us do the same? Our churches are filled with followers of Christ who are not born again and do not possess the Spirit. They come to church and offer “worship,” but their worship is not received by the Lord. Furthermore, I fear there are times when true believers also perform worship out of habit but separated from their heart. Sin and Satan continue to work against even the believer.
And, as noted, these twelve also call Jesus “the Son of God.” Perhaps they sincerely meant what they said. The things they had witnessed that day convinced them Jesus was unique among men. The only explanation was He must be God’s Son. But, as with worship, you might genuinely believe Christ is “the Son of God,” but remain a lost soul. Your head has accepted that truth. But your heart has not yield, you have not repented, and you have not turned to Christ with saving faith, trusting Him with your eternal soul. You are just like the demons. They believe in doctrine, but shudder before God (James 2:19).
My call to those who read this post is to make certain you are a true believer in Christ. Do you truly worship Him? Is He truly the Lord of your life? To believe in Christ is to trust in Christ and to trust in Christ is to follow and depend upon Him. Is that you?
Do you truly believe He is the Son of God, God in the flesh? The Creator, the Redeemer, the Intercessor, the Judge; do you truly believe these things? Have you bowed your knee and put all your trust in Him? If not, please do so today. Confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to forgive you. Turn from your sinful ways and trust Him to do so now and for the rest of your life.
Praise the Almighty, Jesus the Messiah IS the Son of God!
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