Jesus Walks on Water
-
Jesus Walks on the Water
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
-
Overcoming Adversity
Walking on Water
In this dramatic story, Jesus walking on the water, we have the most unusual of all Jesus’ miracles. It is a miracle that showed Christ’s divine power over nature, gravity, over the sea; but for no obvious reason. This miracle wasn’t needed; the disciples didn’t cry out, they weren’t in trouble. The scripture simply says, Matthew 14:24: “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against them”.
Most miracles are rescues: someone is in need (wine at weddings, demons, hunger (feed 5000), sickness, raging storms calmed Matt 8v24ff). This miracle was unquestionably a supernatural statement that God is ‘able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.’ Eph 3:20.
On this moon-lit windy night ~3am the disciples were confronted with the reality of the supernatural. The disciples knew Jesus was special, but they still didn’t fully understand who he was: the Messiah that the prophets foretold. When Jesus walked on the water, their tentative belief became devoted worship of their Jesus, the Christ, the Lord.
Three Sections in this Passage to unpack
Jesus Disappears
Jesus Appears
Jesus Speaks
Jesus Disappears
Matthew 14:22-24a
In v13 we learn that Jesus had just heard about his cousin, John’s death. He was looking for a solitary place to grieve when 5000+ people found out where he had gone!
Matt 14:13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
He had compassion on them [v14], healed, preached and fed the 5000 and afterwards he withdrew to a Mt to pray. In his grieving, in his business and exhaustion, his priority was to seek his Father’s face. Immediately, He made them get in the boat, v22. ‘You head off to the other side of the lake, I’ll finish up here, lock up, put the chairs away!’
What a lesson it is to us in the first verses of this passage – even the son of God prioritised finding a quiet place to be still before God to pray. If that was His pattern, how much more should it be our pattern to set aside time to be 1:1 with our heavenly Father. He fed 5000+ Matt 14:22 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.’
Jesus knew where his batteries would be recharged. There are times when we all feel that everyone wants a piece of us. ‘Do this that and the other!’ Jesus didn’t allow his friends to pressurise him ‘he made them get in the boat’ then he dismissed the crowd, then he went into the mountain to pray.
Susanna Wesley - The Apron Tent: In a busy life, she set time aside to pray.
For us it is not just about recharging; it’s about growing in faith and service, praying for people, rebuking the evil one who would like to ruin your day. Take the time, find a place and make the space in your everyday life to be with your Lord Jesus.
Jesus Appears
Matt 14:24b-26 ‘The boat was already a considerable distance from land.’ V25 During the 4th watch of the night- after 3am – Mathew understates the supernatural, ‘25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.’ ‘26‘It’s a ghost,’ they said and cried out in fear.’ No it wasn’t, it was Jesus. Why did Jesus walk on the water? A simple answer is that he needed to get to the other side! But as I said in my intro, most miracles are rescues of some sort and this miracle bucks the trend.
In truth, this walking on water miracle is a “rescue” from doubt. Having been with Jesus for 3 years they still don’t apply their knowledge of who he is and what he can do in and through them. Even after feeding 5000 they still thought JC would lead a political uprising (Mt 16:9). And so he appears, walking on water!
I believe he did it to reveal who he truly is. This is revelation time for the disciples and for us. Jesus is God and our personal Saviour.
This miracle is a display of divine power, purely for their benefit.
It is surprising miracle that show us and reminds us who he really is and the difference that knowing the miracle worker should make in our lives.
Dr TA became aware of the loving presence of the Lord Jesus as the light shone through the stained-glass windows in the hospital Chapel where I worked. He said ‘all my doubts subsided. I knew he was the one who could walk on water and that he could rescue me.’
Does this miracle dispel your doubts and scepticism? I hope so.
“Ego eimi” (ἐγώ εἰμι)
‘I am’ or ‘It is I” — Matthew 14:27
Jesus Speaks
Notice, when they saw him (thinking ghost) he reveals who he is by saying Ego eimi (ἐγώ εἰμι) "I am" or It is I (v27) Jesus gives the divine name as his own name. It’s the same as God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:11) YHWH. ‘I am’ is personal yet transcendent. Jesus speaks ‘I am’ and reveals he is not a ‘life force’ or ‘higher power’ he is both personal friend and almighty God. There is nothing he cannot do. It was not an illusion - I’ve seen magician Dynamo walking on the Thames don’t know how, but it’s an illusion. He is all-powerful; Jesus is Lord. He didn’t wade through the waves as if he were knee-deep in water on Ventnor beach; he strolls on the water (3 miles John 6:19)! Jesus is Lord over all storms. The storm or flood was an ancient sign of chaos. Ps 29 says that God “enthroned over the flood.” Ps 107:25. Jesus is showing his power over chaos, any terror.
Jesus speaks again after Peter said “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matt 14:28-31.
Peter trusting Jesus stepped out and ‘water-walked.’ It wasn’t until Peter felt the strength of the wind that he started to sink.
A sea storm is a metaphor in life of unpredictable and uncontrollable life events, things beyond our control or comprehension. (Sayings: all at sea, weathering the storm, Batten down the hatches). Life storms can blow up quickly and we feel weak, fearful, helpless. How can we walk on water or walk through life-storms? The only answer is, trust in Jesus. I like this quote of Timothy Keller “If the sight of Jesus bowing his head into that ultimate storm [the cross] is burned into the core of your being…you know that he did not abandon you in that ultimate storm; what makes you think he would abandon you in the much smaller storms you’re experiencing right now? And, someday.. he will return and still all storms for eternity.” 2
When we are trusting in JC, there is nothing he can’t handle. The message of Peter’s water-walk miracle is that we must continually, regularly, and persistently trust in Jesus (not a one-off response, a whole of life affair), in prayer, in scripture, in worship.
Peter cried out Lord Save me. Sometimes the storms of life bring us to the point, like Peter, where we cry out, “Lord, Save me” (Matt. 14:30). Our security is not based on the strength of our faith but on the object of our faith: LJC.
Our faith may waver in the storm, Jesus is all-powerful is also all-personal and reaches out to us in our time of need. That’s what I discovered – Lake of tears.’
They Worship
DACarson said that the climax of this story is not Jesus walking on the water, not Peter’s water-walk but the worship of the disciples: (Matt.14:32-33) when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Yes Jesus’ walking on water and calming the storm displayed His supernatural power; the surprise in this passage is in v33 the disciples worshiped Jesus! As they declared that Jesus is truly the Son of God, their worship finally reveals the purpose of the miracle and shows that the penny had dropped; no more doubt, they were fully convinced of His divinity, and they worshipped him.
The same can be asked of us do you know Jesus in that personal way as Lord and Saviour, through the storms, through life? Hear his word to Peter, ‘come!’ He is reaching out. Abandon your self-coping and put your trust in Jesus. Worship him as your Lord and Saviour. Your worship flows from this revelation that he is Lord.
If you take him on board, you will be eternally secure. Jesus descended into the depths so that we can go through every storm that comes our way.
This prayer from the song Oceans can be our response…..
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine‘Oceans’ — Hillsong