The other side of the

Lake Key verse: Matthew 14:22,

23

By Osee Nlemvo N. Fumakwa

Mathew 14:22-27 NIV

• 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go
on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the
crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a
mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there
alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from
land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
• 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the
lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they
were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
• 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.
Don’t be afraid.”
Context

• Jesus had just received sad news: The death of John the Baptist, killed by
King Herod ( Matthew 14: 6,7,8,9).
• Jesus left that place to go and pray on the other side of the Lake (V. 13).
A great multitude from different villages followed Him there (V13).
• He healed their diseases and gave them something to eat with only five
loaves and two fish (V14-17-18).
• Then the time came when Jesus "…made the disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people
away." (Mathew 14: 22). From verse 22, we will learn several lessons and
notice the purpose of compelled his disciples to cross to the other side of
the Lake.
1. Jesus had compelled them to go to the other side of
the Lake.( V 22)

• The Greek original word is ἀναγκάζω (anankázō), which means to

necessitate, compel by force or persuasion, constrain (
https://biblehub.com/greek/315.htm).
• Jesus alone knew with exactitude why He caused them to leave
the place
• Beyond that causative action of Jesus, there is a purpose.
Lesson 1

• If the Master sends you and I anywhere (Here in AIIAS or anywhere

else), there is a purpose.
• An aim that you may still need to understand.
• But the One who sends you knows clearly.
• No one else is sent there; it is you, you alone, who must cross
there.
The disciples were compelled to cross to
the other side by Jesus.

• That cross toward the other side of the Lake was not made by
someone else but rather by Christ,
• the One who Had moved with compassion toward the great
multitude and had healed their sick and fed them (V13, 14).
• They did not cross by their own will but by the will of the Master,
Jesus.
• So they should not hesitate and be afraid to cross.
Lesson 2

• The One who constrained us to go to another side is Jesus (V. 22)

3. Jesus stayed alone to pray ( V 23)

• Nothing is said about what Jesus prayed for.

• nothing can stop us from assuming that He was praying for his
disciples too.
• Because He was concerned about them and their faith and had
sent them to the other side of the Lake.
• Therefore, He chose to be alone to fulfill that intersession
ministry:
Lesson 3

• It is amazing that the One sending us on the other side is praying

for us.
• He is profoundly concerned about our life and faith.
• The One who sends us to the other side is praying for us. (V. 23)
4. The disciples cried out in fear (Vv 26,
26)

• They saw something unusual as they were crossing the Lake:

Someone was walking on the water.
• Their reaction tells that they had never seen anything like that
before.
• Thus, the phenomenon was quickly considered a manifestation of
the spirit because no human being could walk on water.
Lesson 4

• When we cross over to the other side, we will undoubtedly

encounter phenomena that we have never seen or experienced
before, which will terrify and discourage us.
• Like He assured his twelve disciples, Christ will immediately show
himself to us and ensure us of his presence
• To his disciples, who were "crying out in fear," he said, "Take
courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." ( V 25)
Question: Why the Master has compelled them
to go to the other side of the Lake? (V. 33)

• In all causative God’ action, there is purposes:

• " Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you
are the Son of God.” ( V 33).
• To cause them worship Him
• To understand well the One who is sending them to across to other side
of the lake
• To have a better appreciation of the One who felt the multitudes.
• To be used by the One who is sending us to the other side of the lake.
Conclusion

• It's Jesus who forces us to go to our side of the lake. He is with us

and has a goal for each of you.
• The one who compels us is Jesus
• He who compels us intercedes for us

• Brethren and sisters, we are all crossing over to the other side of
the lake, we are not yet landed, the times will come when we will
bow before the lamb, Jesus Christ and will live up our voice and
sing the song of the Lamb.