"The Coming Crisis in Jerusalem" 

We now see Jesus spending much time alone with His disciples, preparing them for the coming crises in Jerusalem -- His crucifixion. Keep in mind that even the disciples, at this stage, thought in terms of an earthly, political kingdom; and His teaching about a cross seemed foreign to them. But, it was necessary that He prepare them for this faith-testing experience.


There are three main sections to this chapter:
1. The death of John the Baptist (1-12)
2. The feeding of the 5000 (13-21)
3. The miracle of the storm (22-36)


There are also three characteristics to this present age that relate to the servants of God:
1. Persecution (1-12) - Christ's servants will suffer and die for Him.
2. Provision (13-21) - Christ's servants will minister the bread of life to man.
3. Protection (22-36) - Christ will pray for His servants and rescue them.


PERSECUTION -- 14: 1-12


John had been in prison for several months now (4:12), and I suppose he had been slain prior to the events recorded here. See verse 3-12. Matthew puts John's death at this point in the Gospel because it illustrates the attitude of men toward the King; for, by slaying His messenger, they are rejecting the King Himself. "He that receiveth you receiveth me, " said Jesus in 10:40; and the reverse is also true: to reject the messenger is to reject Christ. John's death is a prediction, so to speak, of Christ's own death.


HEROD: (Do not be confused by the different Herods of the NT. 
"Herod the great" was the Herod who slew the children (2:16-18)
"Herod Antipas" was a younger son of Herod the Great. He was not really a king, but only a ruler over a fourth of he kingdoms. He is the Herod who had John killed, and before whom Jesus was silent
(Luke 23: 5-12). "Herod Agrippa" is the Herod who slew James and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12). He was a grandson of Herod the Great. "Herod Agrippa 2" was the Herod before whom Paul was tried (Acts 25:13), and he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great. All of the Herods hated the Jews. They were treacherous rulers who in the Bible typify the "god of this age" and the spirit of Antichrist. All of them were liars and murderers. (John 8: 44)


John's ministry was now complete. He had heralded the coming of the King and had faithfully preached God's truth. Christ must increase, and he must decrease (John 3: 30). Any Christian who is faithful to the Word of God, as John was, will suffer persecution. The world is not the friend of the Christian. They have rejected the King, and most of them will reject His messengers also.


PROVISION: -- 14: 13-21


Jesus now withdraws (vs 13). I believe there were several reasons for this withdrawing: (1) The report of John's death, (2) the growing angry of Herod, (3) the disciples' need for rest after their preaching tour (Mark 6: 15), and (4) His need to get alone with His disciples to teach them.


It is also important that we get alone from time to time to hear God's voice and refresh ourselves physically and mentally. John 6 makes it clear that the miracle of feeding the 5000 was a sermon in action. Christ, through His Word, is the Bread of Life on whom we feed. It is a privilege - and responsibility - of His servants to give this bread to the hungry multitudes. The servant receives that bread personally from Christ, then passes it on to others.


This miracle includes other miracles also: (1) Christ can take our little and make it much, (2) whatever He blesses, He brakes. ARE WE WILLING TO BE BROKEN? (3) Men today are in the wilderness of sin (vs 15) and need Christ. (4) Christ can overcome EVERY difficulty and feed the multitude. The disciples had many excuses -- not enough money, the wrong place, the wrong time, -- but Christ took what they ad and met the need. He can and will do the same today!


PROTECTION -- 14: 22-36


Men will follow anyone who promises them the material things of life, but Jesus will not have "bread and butter" disciples. Today Jesus is in heaven interceding for us while we fight the storms of sin on this earth. His coming seems a long way off, yet just at the darkest hour He will return. He stills the storm and takes His own safely to their destination.


Peter's experience gives us the individual application. Peter could walk on the water because he had faith in Christ's Word - "COME". "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10: 17) But when he forgot the Word and stopped looking unto Jesus (Heb. 12: 1-2), he began to sink. The secret of overcoming the storm and doing the impossible is simply to believe the Word of God and keep looking to the Son of God. Yet, even when we fail, Jesus helps us. How well-prepared Peter was to write in 1 Peter 5: 7, "Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you."
This present age will be one of storms for the church. Don't forget the disciples were in the storm, not because they disobeyed Christ (as Jonah did) but because the OBEYED Him. If we obey the Word of God, there will be suffering and persecution; but Christ is praying for us and will someday soon come to take us home. The secret is FAITH. Doubt and fear always go together, and faith and peace always go together. MAY WE NOT BE SO "LITTLE FAITH" CHRISTIANS.


This entire chapter shows the course of this age. The King withdraws and there is persecution against His servants. It is through His servants He distributes the Bread of Life to a hungry world. We as His servants all go through storms and testing, but Christ returns to give us peace and rescue us from the enemy.


HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOUR !!