One in Four

Pastor Mike Kuna

I'm from Klang and have been pastoring there for about 5 years. God has been good. GST is Grow, Serve and Transform. For me it Giving Special Thanks because he is good. I also want to thank the church for having Nicole here. She's a miracle child. When Nicole was born she had a low heartbeat because my wife was having chicken pox. We prayed and commit her to the Lord and we were in tears. One of my colleague said she had a vision and saw God carrying her.

I came from a Hindu family. I came to church to play football. When I was born I almost died. I was born in the wash room. We have a small house with one bathroom. Now it's a house with four bathrooms. My mother birthed me and she fainted. Both of us were lying there and I was turning blue. But God is good and saved me.

One in four. Not three in one but one in four.

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is not four gospels but the four writers wrote four different personal accounts of the life of Jesus. We are not Chinese, Indians or any other but one people, Christians or little Christ.

There is only one gospel, that preached Jesus. God's one and only Son. That we will live our life to the fullest, the eternal life that God has for us. God has a plan for us and his will for our life is that we will live and prosper.

The four gospels which speak about the one gospel of Jesus Christ, that he came to die and resurrected for us. The four gospels instead of just one.

To give us a complete picture of who Jesus Christ is. Matthew was writing to the Hebrew and Jewish audience.

Matthew emphasised that Jesus is the promised King, the "Son of David" who would forever sit upon the throne of Israel. He knows everything. The alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He brought everything together in the gospels.

Matthew was one of the 13 disciples of Jesus and got the first hand information that he had seen Peter walked on water. It's only written in this gospel and not mentioned in the others. Peter experienced the miracles of God.

Today we have a lot of facts. You just Google and you have the information. But do we have the truth. Pouring water into a glass does not make it into wine. You don't believe try it. God says he has a plan for us. But how many of us knows the truth and take that step of faith like Peter. I'm sure when Peter stepped out, he took a step of faith which is a risk. How many of us will take that risk before we experience the miracle of God?

Mark was a convert of Peter. He was a second generation Christian. Sometimes the first generation Christian experience persecution. I'm from a Hindu family and had many incidents that almost took my life. I had the fear of death. That was my life so when I went to the temple I asked for long life. But God said he already know us when we were in our mother's womb. This is God. As long as we are obedient.

Mark was a cousin of Barnabas and was a convert of Peter. He wrote to a Gentile audience. He emphasised Christ as a suffering servant who came to serve and not be served. And gave his life as a ransom to many.

He later worked for Paul. He didn't meet Jesus but he experienced Christ at the road to Damascus. There was a transformation. I was transformed because I was a very shy man. My parents did not stop me when I came to the Lord because they know I may be a gangster or in prison if not because of Christ. They did not stop me but my Bible always go missing even when I hide it under my bed. God transformed me because I was a bad tempered person. I would be involved in fights even when playing football.

Luke the "beloved physician" was an evangelist and companion of the apostle Paul. Luke investigated everything and he says he writes everything down. His intention is to show a Christian faith that is based upon historically reliable and verifiable events. He shares many details that are not found elsewhere.

The beloved John gave a more complete picture of Christ. It contains much theological content in regard to the person of Christ and the meaning of faith. It began by Jesus' birth or earthly ministry but with the characteristics of the Son of God before he became man, the word became flesh.

It's like the four gospel is from four different pen but he wrote it. It is God inspired and written by four different men. These are the truth and the truth will set you free. It's to enable us to objectively verify the truthfulness of their accounts. It's to reward those who are diligent seekers. We can achieve nothing with our own ability.

Nothing is Impossible if we call upon him and live in dependence upon his power. The Holy Spirit that's in us is a spirit of love and power. It transforms life.

In world War two many churches and statues were being bombed in England. In one Cathedral, they put up a statue but the arm was not there. It was not complete and this is what Winston Churchill said, we are the arms. That's why it's not there. We are the body of Christ so we need to be united and do the work. Like our harvest mission.

Mark did not include Peter walking on water like Matthew did in his report on this miracle. For me the miracles of God is something that many messages can be formed. But why only Matthew wrote this? Probably it's because Matthew saw it but Peter did not share. Why? John was there too but he did not write it.

John saw Jesus as the I Am. He was just looking at Jesus. Why are there different accounts in the gospels?

Why is there difference in these two accounts of the same event?

Matthew 14:22-23 and Mark 6:45-52.

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus Walks on the Water

14:22-33pp — Mk 6:45-51; Jn 6:16-21

14:34-36pp — Mk 6:53-56

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.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus Walks on the Water

6:45-51pp — Mt 14:22-32; Jn 6:15-21

6:53-56pp — Mt 14:34-36

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

There are many promises God has released but are we ready to step out of our comfort zone and step out? Peter stepped out and he experienced the miracle. Are you willing to take that step of faith? God wants to lift us up if only we will take the step of faith.

In Mark there was no mention of Peter walking on water.

Arise and Advance is our theme by pastor Henry Remayah at Grace Assembly. Invading the darkness with his glory. Isaiah 60:1-2. We are the light. God wants to use you. To live your life to the fullest if only you be obedient to his word.