Jesus Walks on Water - Matthew 14:22-35
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.”
Reflection: This is one of the great stories of the bible with many facets for our understanding how God works with us and for us, and how faith is at the heart of our relationship with God through Christ. The context for today's story is that Jesus has dismissed the crowds after miraculously feeding them. We know from John's gospel that they tried to get hold of Jesus and make him lord by force. Almost seems like the mob mentality had set in. Jesus knew it wasn't his time yet, and also needed some time alone, so he constrains the disciples to go into the boat to the other side.
And what does Jesus do after that? He goes up alone on a mountainside to pray. And it would seem as if he were in prayer a long time. Then later that night he realizes a storm has hit the lake. The disciples are fighting against the wind, which is buffeting the boat and keeping them from getting to their destination. Then it would be easy to miss but notice it is not until early before dawn (literally the fourth watch which was between 3am and 6am) before he went and walked on the water to meet them. Jesus commands them to go out and then allows them to struggle with this stormy trial before intervening.
And then the plot thickens as Peter courageously asks Jesus if it is him to bid him to come out to him. Note how much courage this took for Peter to not only ask this question, but then to take the first step on to the water after Jesus invites him to come out to him. And for a minute Peter's faith becomes sight, and he too is walking on water. Then note what happens. Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and puts them back on the winds and waves and began to sink. At which point Jesus upbraids him for his doubting. Notice too Peter in the moment where he was sinking cries out, "Lord save me!" One can only imagine how urgent Peter's plea was, as he was sinking like a dead weight. Jesus, ever the merciful and gracious one, reaches out his hand and saves him.
There is so much material here and so many lessons for us to take from the scene recorded by Matthew. First, we see where Jesus' power comes from, prevailing prayer! Before Jesus could do anything, He met and prevailed in prayer alone into the wee hours of the night. Even though Jesus is God, in his humanness he needs to completely rely on His Heavenly Father, when the toil of ministry and the demands of the people and even his own disciples sucked him dry. If Jesus relied so much on prayer, would we need to any less? And we see the type of prayer was heartfelt and intentional, and for a time Jesus set aside the needs of everyone around him to pray. This is where his power and discernment came from prevailing prayer!
Second, we can learn a lot from Peter. Why? Because we are so much like him! How often do we start with our eyes on Jesus, but then when a storm comes we take our eyes off of him and start sinking. When do we start relying on our own strength versus keeping our eyes on the One, who apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5) But one thing Peter knew well enough was that when he started sinking he called out to The Lord. And Jesus heard his cry and saved him. Jesus allowed him to sink, but then in mercy saved him when he called out.
So I would ask you? Where is Jesus calling you to step out of the boat and trust Him completely? In what areas of your life have you started to have some success, but now taken your eyes off Jesus and are sinking? Jesus allows us, sometimes even commands us to go into stormy sea. As we keep our eyes on Him, we can handle the wind and the waves. And if you are sinking why don't you try what Peter did?
Jesus, thank you that you meet us in the storms of our lives. Strengthen our prayer lives so that when the storms come we can keep our eyes on you and you will help us to keep walking in Your grace. And if we are sinking, hear our cry Lord save me! Amen.
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.”
Reflection: This is one of the great stories of the bible with many facets for our understanding how God works with us and for us, and how faith is at the heart of our relationship with God through Christ. The context for today's story is that Jesus has dismissed the crowds after miraculously feeding them. We know from John's gospel that they tried to get hold of Jesus and make him lord by force. Almost seems like the mob mentality had set in. Jesus knew it wasn't his time yet, and also needed some time alone, so he constrains the disciples to go into the boat to the other side.
And what does Jesus do after that? He goes up alone on a mountainside to pray. And it would seem as if he were in prayer a long time. Then later that night he realizes a storm has hit the lake. The disciples are fighting against the wind, which is buffeting the boat and keeping them from getting to their destination. Then it would be easy to miss but notice it is not until early before dawn (literally the fourth watch which was between 3am and 6am) before he went and walked on the water to meet them. Jesus commands them to go out and then allows them to struggle with this stormy trial before intervening.
And then the plot thickens as Peter courageously asks Jesus if it is him to bid him to come out to him. Note how much courage this took for Peter to not only ask this question, but then to take the first step on to the water after Jesus invites him to come out to him. And for a minute Peter's faith becomes sight, and he too is walking on water. Then note what happens. Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and puts them back on the winds and waves and began to sink. At which point Jesus upbraids him for his doubting. Notice too Peter in the moment where he was sinking cries out, "Lord save me!" One can only imagine how urgent Peter's plea was, as he was sinking like a dead weight. Jesus, ever the merciful and gracious one, reaches out his hand and saves him.
There is so much material here and so many lessons for us to take from the scene recorded by Matthew. First, we see where Jesus' power comes from, prevailing prayer! Before Jesus could do anything, He met and prevailed in prayer alone into the wee hours of the night. Even though Jesus is God, in his humanness he needs to completely rely on His Heavenly Father, when the toil of ministry and the demands of the people and even his own disciples sucked him dry. If Jesus relied so much on prayer, would we need to any less? And we see the type of prayer was heartfelt and intentional, and for a time Jesus set aside the needs of everyone around him to pray. This is where his power and discernment came from prevailing prayer!
Second, we can learn a lot from Peter. Why? Because we are so much like him! How often do we start with our eyes on Jesus, but then when a storm comes we take our eyes off of him and start sinking. When do we start relying on our own strength versus keeping our eyes on the One, who apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5) But one thing Peter knew well enough was that when he started sinking he called out to The Lord. And Jesus heard his cry and saved him. Jesus allowed him to sink, but then in mercy saved him when he called out.
So I would ask you? Where is Jesus calling you to step out of the boat and trust Him completely? In what areas of your life have you started to have some success, but now taken your eyes off Jesus and are sinking? Jesus allows us, sometimes even commands us to go into stormy sea. As we keep our eyes on Him, we can handle the wind and the waves. And if you are sinking why don't you try what Peter did?
Jesus, thank you that you meet us in the storms of our lives. Strengthen our prayer lives so that when the storms come we can keep our eyes on you and you will help us to keep walking in Your grace. And if we are sinking, hear our cry Lord save me! Amen.
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