Matt 14:22-36? Peter gets out of the boat

Questions I have: Why did Jesus walk on the water? What did it prove? Was He just showing off? Why not just appear in the boat? Why did Peter want to join Him?

1.	22 Immediately

2.	He made the disciples

a.	get into the boat and

b.	go ahead of Him to the other side,

3.	while He sent the crowds away.

1.	What word begins the story?

a.	Immediately

2.	What does that communicate to you about the action that follows?

a.	It happens right after the previous action.

3.	Which is?

a.	The Feeding of the 5000–specifically the gathering of 12 basketfuls.

4.	Who initiates the action that follows?

a.	Jesus

5.	And He makes the disciples do what two things?

a.	get into the boat, and

b.	go ahead of Him to the other side,

6.	While He is doing what?

a.	sending the crowds away.

Interp:

1.	Why does Jesus send the disciples away while He (personally) dismisses the crowds? This is a little bit unusual–it separates Jesus from His disciples. He has to walk on the sea later to meet up with them again. Why couldn't they help Him dismiss the crowds–why does Jesus seem to want them gone so urgently?

a.	It almost seems He didn't want them to interfere with His dismissal.

b.	Also He wanted to be alone to pray–v. 23.

2.	Do we have any evidence in the context that He might have good reason to expect their interference?

a.	There seems to be an attitude of expectation among the crowds. John has just been killed, and they've followed Jesus out to a remote place and won't even go away to get food–almost as if they are sure He's going to do something and they don't want to miss it.

b.	Perhaps there's been a little confusion over where to be a crowd–around John or around Jesus? Now the confusion is over. John's gone, and everyone's hanging around Jesus now, wondering what He'll do.

c.	Under these circumstances it's entirely possible that the disciples were as expectant as the crowd and were plotting to make Jesus king.

3.	Why is Jesus willing to dismiss them Himself after feeding them while He was not willing to do it at the disciples' request before feeding them?

4.	Why is it significant that this happens immediately after the feeding of the 5000? What does it suggest about the atmosphere and mood of this occasion?

a.