Faith to Walk on Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus Walks on the Sea

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

Many Touch Him and Are Made Well

34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Jesus immediately dismissed his disciples after the miraculous feeding of five thousand people come to Him to be healed in body and spirit according to His word.  While they headed to the boat to cross to the other side He sent the crowd home and took time to pray alone.  While praying the disciples’ tiny ship was tossed in boisterous waves of the sea overtaken by a windy storm.  Jesus of course knew this and had delayed His appearance to deliver them from the danger and fear of the circumstances.  He came walking on the water to comfort and save them in the middle of the night and so scared the disciples who likely imagined that a ghost was coming for them as they were about to die in the storm.  But Jesus called out to them with reassurance that it was He and told them not to fear the supernatural but have faith in Him to save.  Impetuous Peter immediately asked to be called out to join his Lord on the wave tops to test if it was really Jesus and not an apparition.  Jesus said, “come” and Peter began walking on the water by faith, one surging wave at time.  Then he looked around at the circumstances of the storm surrounded him and let fear overcome his faith in the Lord to allow him to walk on the water.  Peter of course began to sink as he cried, “Lord, save me!”  He was taken by the hand of Jesus and asked why Peter’s faith was so small to begin to doubt instead of continuing on to meet Him there on the water.  When they got back in the boat, immediately the storm’s wind and waves settled to calm and they all worshiped the divine Son of God who calmed the storm and brought them peace to take their fear away.  When they landed, Jesus continued to visually remind them of His divine nature by healing many who were brought to Him by those recognizing who He was.  He made many perfectly well and whole again by faith in His working.  We also are often like Peter, jumping in the stormy situation with trust in Jesus until the circumstances turn dangerous and we fear instead of trusting with the faith of His call to join Him in the storms of life as we demonstrate and preach the gospel by our witness to His ability to save out of all the storms and hopelessness of life because of our sin.  We need the initial faith of Peter to walk on these waters, but also the steadfastness not to let the circumstances take our eyes off Him and His working in us to give the faith and abilities we need to persevere.  We need to have Faith to Walk on Water, a trust in God’s work and watchcare over us as we follow Him.  He is the divine Son of God.  Trust Him, only trust Him.