Most of us have gone through something that has dramatically changed the way we view the world. Graduating high school, getting married, having kids, getting a job, fighting in a war, seeing someone die, having someone special to us die, and many other events can change the way we view the world. In the gospel of Matthew we find an event that takes place that changed the way the witnesses viewed the world and can dramatically change the way we view the world today. We seem to have a handle on the world we live in but Jesus’ miracles can change that, and give us a different worldview.
We seem to have a handle on the world that we live in. We have a pretty good grasp on this environment where we live our lives out and the laws that pertain to it. Gravity keeps us on the ground, something isn’t created out of nothing, a man that is crippled from birth can’t walk because we tell him to, a person that has been dead for days doesn’t come back to life, and the list goes on. It is because we have a good grasp of the laws of nature that are around us that we can confidently perform our everyday tasks.
It’s ten p.m., you are out at a large lake by yourself on a pier. The wind is blowing, it is a little cold, and the waves are chopping. You stand there, daydreaming, relaxing, and waiting for the fish to bite. All the sudden you notice something on the lake out in the distance. It is something white, hovering over the water, and you can’t make out what it is. It slowly draws closer to you; the wind feels to increase and the temperature continue to cool. You begin to get uncomfortable and anxious; fear begins to creep into your thought process. You begin to make out what it is, but surely it couldn’t be. It looks like a person, clothes waving in the wind, walking towards you, walking on water! It’s a ghost!
How would you react in that scenario? Would you scream, yell, and run away at a full sprint? What in the world would you think that it was, a ghost coming at you? Perhaps we would react the same way the disciples did,
“When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.” Matthew 14:26
The disciples understood the natural world that they lived in much like we do today. They had been out on that body of water many times and had probably experienced everything naturally possible. But what they witnessed wasn’t natural at all. It was that unnatural event that changed the way they viewed the world. It challenged their thought process so much that full grown men trembled in fear and audibly cried out. It might seem kind of humorous when we read what happened but I probably would have reacted the same way. If true, and I believe that it is, this event should change the way we view the world as well.
The miracles of Jesus can change the way we view the world. Naturalism, agnosticism, and deism are three worldviews that are shattered by this supernatural event. Naturalism promotes the belief that there is nothing beyond the natural universe. Agnosticism promotes the belief that we cannot know if there is a God or not. Deism promotes the belief that there is a God but He has not and will not work within the universe He has created. Walking on water, having another walk on water, and stopping the wind can only be done by someone that has authority and power over the natural laws that we are accustomed to. Through these miracles we can see that there is a powerful Being that exists, has authority over the physical, and is active in the physical world. These miracles destroy the worldviews of naturalism, agnosticism, and deism.
The miracles provide us with a different worldview. These miracles provide us with a worldview that includes a loving God that counsels us. In response to these miraculous and unnatural events the disciples worship Jesus (Matthew 14:32-33). This Man that professed to be God confirmed His testimony by the miracles He performed (Mark 16:20). He didn’t merely say He was God but He proved it (John 5:18). Jesus showed us that God is not absent but rather is at work in bringing mankind into a right relationship with Him and instructing men how we ought to live (John 3:16; 8:31-32). The miracles of Jesus stand out as events that can dramatically change the way we see the world.
We have all gone through various situations that have drastically changed the way we view the world. From graduating high school to having your first child, we all know what it’s like to have our worldview change. Accepting the truthfulness of the events that occurred in Matthew 14:22-33 can cause one of those life changing moments. We seem to have a handle on the world we live in but Jesus’ miracles can change that, and give us a different worldview.
