Who do you say I am? #4 - Taking back his World

This sermon is going to be of a different kind. Rather than preach on one specific text, I’m going to try to pull together all kinds of texts. Rather than trying to preach one specific narrative, I want to try to preach on the big narrative, the metanarrative. Rather than try to show what Jesus is doing in this specific text, I want to try to show you what Jesus is doing in all the texts. It’s going to be a different sort of sermon and I’m praying that it will be a blessing to you. 

We’re looking at the account in Matthew 15:29-39 together with all of the other accounts, we’re going to ask one big question and get one big answer: What is Jesus doing in all of these miracle accounts?  See, we’re going to read about another massive feeding of people. This time Jesus feeds 4000 with seven loaves and a few small fish. Last time Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves and two fish. There are some differences, but there are some major similarities. So, we have to ask the question: What is Jesus doing in all of these miracle accounts? What is Jesus doing?

Who do you say I am? #3 - Crumbs from Jesus

What makes Jesus’ jaw drop? What amazes Jesus? What makes him stand back and say, “Wow”? There can’t be much. Is there even anything? He is, after all, the one who made the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He is, after all, the great poet of the sky who created all creativity. He is the one about whom the angels say, “You are worthy of all glory and praise.”

What makes Jesus’ jaw drop? There is something. It is the faith of a Canaanite woman who came to him about her demon-possessed daughter. It is the faith of a Canaanite who persistently pursued the ear and attention of Jesus until he finally heard and answered her. It is her faith. About her faith, he said, “This woman has great (i.e. mega) faith.”

We’re going to be studying Matthew 15:21-28, and we’ll discuss this woman’s faith. At the same time, we’ll learn to find joy in “crumbs from Jesus.” For more on that, listen in. 

Who do you say I am? #2 - Selfless and Mighty

The disciples were growing in the understanding of who Jesus was. It was happening in them by Jesus’ teaching and the Spirit’s work from the moment he called them. Even after he rose from the dead, they had learning to do. Jesus looked at two them and said, “How slow of heart and how foolish you are…” (Luke 24:25). You can be sure of this: they are growing.  You can see it in their response to those moments when Jesus saves them from the storm. The first time they were amazed and asked: “What kind of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27). The second time they knew exactly who he was, they weren’t confused anymore. This second time they worshipped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

We’re growing too! Our understanding of who Jesus is and what Jesus did and is doing in our lives is still limited and weak. But Jesus is patient to show us and to teach us who he is. He is relentless in his work to help us grow up in our understanding of who he is. He is gracious to show us who he is so that we fall in humble worship of him.

Jesus will continue to show us who he is this weekend as we continue in our series: Who do you say I am? We’ll be looking at the account of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:22-36. We worship him, who is the Son of God.

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Who do you say I am? - #1 - He Satisfies.

After the series of parables in Matthew chapter 13, Matthew begins to narrate for us a major emphasis in Jesus’ earthly ministry. More and more he clarifies for us, the identity of Jesus, both for his disciples’ sake and for ours. All of this reaches a high point when Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter answers with crystal clarity (cf. Matthew 16:15-16). God grant us the same clarity of confession and of faith as we learn of Jesus. 

Who do you say that he is? He is ... We’ll learn how to answer that question with clear confidence as we continue on in the book of Matthew.

You can read the parable in Matthew 14:13-21