JOURNEY WELL

This message is from Luke 5: 4 - 11; Matthew 14: 24 - 31; Luke 22: 56 - 62; John 21: 7b - 19 (NIV)

What does the word “journey” mean to you? If you ask ten different people, you may get ten different answers - it could be a destination, a means to an end, an adventure - and all those answers may be adequate. However, what does it mean to journey well? Clarifying this one question may garner a much more descriptive answer - it could mean financial independence, a significant/long-lasting relationship, or another tangible objective, but what we should be attaining is to spiritually journey well - as a church, and as humans, towards Jesus. Today we’re going to look at some examples of Jesus journeying while on earth - we’ll look at some moments in his life and take some of the principles of interactions that He had as leads of how to journey well. 

As humans, we fail often - and we see many examples of failures through Peter in the Bible. Yet, despite his flaws, Jesus used his shortcomings, his doubts and weaknesses, and ultimately his skills and abilities for His glory and His good.  

Have you ever experienced a “silver lining” or “lemonade from lemons” moment where God turned a negative situation into a positive one?

To set the scene for this first case study - the first recorded interaction between [Simon] Peter and Jesus takes place on Peter’s boat. Jesus had been preaching for some time at this point and had begun to gain a little notoriety, so he needed some space to effectively deliver his message to the crowd of people that had gathered. He hops in a boat of a man he didn’t know very well - Peter - and after Jesus talked, they left for some quiet time to go fishing on Lake Galilee. Jesus asks Peter to let down the nets in deep water, and Peter responds that he’s already attempted as much. Fishing was Peter’s livelihood and maybe it was off-putting for someone to instruct him on how to do his day job - but he acquiesced. The nets filled with so many fish that they began to break, and after filling two boats they began to sink. The miracle of these fish was so astonishing, so obvious, that Peter and all the other fishermen in the two boats left everything and followed Jesus.

What does acting in faith mean? Have you ever had a moment where you went “all in” towards something?

The Journey Begins with Following Jesus

In our next scene, we pick up just after Jesus has performed one of his most well-known miracles of the “bread and fish” - feeding nearly 8,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish after an afternoon of preaching. He’s physically tired after the day, so he asks Peter & company to get the boats and arranges to meet them on the other side. He retreats into the wilderness to pray and spend time with his Father to refresh his spirit. While this is occurring, the wind picks up and begins tossing the boats around heavy waves. Around 3 am, Jesus walks towards them on the water, and the men are absolutely terrified. To pick up a recurring theme - Jesus reassures them to not be afraid, have courage, and again - to follow Him.

Have you ever had to have courage in what feels like an impossible situation? What was it?

Think about this imagery, and put yourself in Peter’s place - enormous waves that feel like they will snap your only vessel in two and pull you down in the depths of the dark water; strong winds that will toss you overboard into a chaotic watery chasm in the middle of the night; feeling the pressure of problems, issues, anxieties, circumstances, and beginning to literally and figuratively sink under them. And then - the actual creator of these winds and waves appears in front of you - and extends the same supernatural, water-walking miracle that you are witnessing. You hold on for just a moment, but rather than have full faith in Him, you lose focus and crumble under the weight of insecurities and fear. As you cry out to your Savior, He says that He’s had a hold of you this entire time. He’s never let go.

Is there a time when hindsight has revealed God’s faithfulness during a difficult time?

Jesus performed miracles throughout and beyond His earthly life. On His last night, after He is betrayed and has eaten His last meal with His friends, He prophesies again that Peter will deny knowing Him three times. Of course, this indeed comes to pass, and Peter again is ashamed, having succumbed to the weight of his insecurities and uncertainty; having gotten caught up in situations out of his control; having taken his focus off Jesus.

Focus on the Face of Jesus - Keep Eye Contact

John 21 begins with a dark period for Peter. He’s in a space of sadness, of self-pity, brokenness, and feels like he can never be used in God’s ministry again. He’s denied Jesus, who has now died, and feels un-save-able - so he goes back to what he knows - fishing. He goes out all night, casting all nets, and despite that doesn’t catch a single fish - only adding to his despair and certainness that he’s doomed. However, once again, Jesus shows up - in the early morning, they hear an [unknown]  man call from the shore asking if they’ve caught anything. When they reply that no, they haven’t - the voice tells them to simply throw their nets on the other side of the boat. Immediately the nets are full with hundreds of fish - but the nets do not break. It’s incredibly obvious at this point that another miracle has occurred, and Peter & company realize that the voice on the shore is no ordinary person - it’s Jesus. In this moment, Peter is unencumbered with joy and jumps out of the boat with the same sort of fervor that Forrest Gump feels when reunited with Lt. Dan; the same sweeping relief that the shepherd feels when he is reunited with his sheep.

What does the gift of completely free, overpowering joy mean to you?

Full-Circle Faith

Imagine the roller coaster of emotions that Peter has encountered - and throughout this entire time, he is met with the same loving, steady, focused support from Jesus, who repeats a simple request - to feed His sheep and follow Him. Peter’s sin, doubt, and worldly struggles never disqualified him from Jesus’ love, even from beyond the grave. And Jesus holds us in this exact same regard. The relative truths of this world are not a reality - our truth isn’t a what; it’s a who - Jesus.

Make a Move: The storytelling of this message painted a vivid picture of Jesus’ faithfulness. Over and over again, through circumstances of danger, hunger, and even death - Jesus never took his focus off the people He loved - and He has never taken His focus off you. Where are your eyes fixed?

Do you have a friend or family member that you would love to bring to church? Ask God for an opportunity to invite them! Is there a situation where you are currently struggling and need a miracle? Pray for a clear path for God’s will to be done, and find a consistent time and place to pray so that you can discern His voice with no doubts. Do you need to readjust your focus? Pray for courage to weather the storm and stay focused – God keeps every promise according to His will.

Prayer Prompt: Jesus, thank you for constantly revealing Your faithfulness, and for giving us your Holy Spirit to be with us always. Help me dispel doubts and avoid situations that will cause my eyes to lose focus from You. Reveal to me what it is to journey well, and create a clear path for me so that I can be who You have called me to be. Keep me secure in the plan You have created for my life, whether it be a hill, valley, or lake that I have to overcome. I love how well You love me.

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