Jesus Walking on Water

Good morning. Last week I shared about the amazing miracle of Jesus feeding the Five thousand. It is amazing still to think about that miracle and what God did in that moment. There is no doubt that his glory was shown in fact In John’s gospel He shares how powerful and influential this miracle was to the people.

John 6:14–15 NIV

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus Withdraws

Jesus withdrew. He knew that what the people wanted was not what the people really needed. They wanted a new king. A leader a man who would overthrow the roman empire. The wanted this so much that they were prepared to force this upon him even if he didn’t want it.

Jesus Withdrew and he also knew that he needed to get his disciples away from this. He sends them off. The crowd is dismissed it is gone and Jesus is alone. Yet, he needs to catch up to his disciples.

He then performs one of the most well known miracles even outside of the church of walking on water.

Matthew 14:22–33 NIV

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.”

Jesus Authority

Have you ever really thought about this Miracle?

Is there any greater way that Jesus can show his authority over the things of this world than walking on water.

Nothing we can do to do this gravity defying act. Sure there are lots of tricks and ways that we can “walk on water”

I mean I did it once.

I know what your thinking right now there is no way.

Well when you mix enough water with cornstarch and you have a big plastic tub of it you can walk across water too. Well mostly water.

Obleck is a great invention if you aren’t familiar with it. It is a substance that is has different properties based on how much force or stress is put on it. Hit it hard and quickly its like walking on solid ground Stand still too long you sink in.

I used this trick to help show some kids once in my life this very story. Even with Oobleck there is one thing that stays consistent when working on it. You can’t take your eyes or focus off what you are doing or you will start to sink.

That isn’t really walking on water though its just a neat trick.

Jesus though has that authority. It is amzing to think about.

The Disciples

I want us to all put ourselves in their shoes for a few minutes. Think about what it must have been like to see Jesus walking on the water toward them.

I think some of us might be thinking.

“If I was in that boat i wouldn’t have been scared. I would have known it was Jesus, I mean who else could have it been.”

Right…if that’s you keep telling yourself that.

WE know that the disciples were Terrified.

Matthew 14:26 NIV

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

The Word used there in the greek for Terrified is an interesting one.

Tarasso can be understood not only as Terrified but Disturbed, confusion, troubled, startled.

I admit I think I would be disturbed if I saw something in the distance walking toward me in a place that it shouldn’t be. It would definitely cause some confusion too.

Fear

Fear took hold though. Fear was in the disciples hearts and minds. Fear of what they were seeing.

It is in the confusion, the disturbance that we can connect even more to this story.

How many of us are afraid about something today?

How many of us worry about where our country is currently?

How many of us are worried about a loved one?

How many of us are worried about what is being taught to our children?

How many of us are afraid for our saftey?

How many of us are afraid of the end of the world?

Fear of life

Fear of Death

Fear of choices

Fear of so many things.

Our world is gripped with the very essence of fear.

Fear: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

This is the state we too often find ourselves. This is where the disciples were in that moment and then something amazing happens.

Jesus Calls Out

Jesus calls out to them

Matthew 14:27 NIV

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Take courage, don’t be afraid.

He calls to his friends his disciples to help them see that he is there. That they have nothing to fear but that they can be at peace and have courage because Jesus is the strange thing coming too them.

Peter Steps Out

Matthew tells us that it was in this moment that Peter. Oh that Peter. Calls out and boldly asks something of Jesus yet again.

Matthew 14:28 NIV

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

And what is Jesus simple answer.

Come.

Peter got over his momentary fear to do something bold. He walked toward Jesus. He was willing to overcome his fear.

It is here in the story that I Noticed a couple things.

Where were the rest of the Disciples

Why do we only ever look down on Peter.

The Other Disciples

Think about it. 12 guys in a boat. Sailing. They see Jesus walking toward them.

There first response is fear. Yet when Jesus calls out to them what did they do. They stayed in the Boat.

None of them were as bold as Peter was. They didn’t see the possibility that was in front of them. They were focused on the wind, the waves, and probably still trying to make sense of what was happening before their eyes. They had a moment where they did not see the full potential of the situation that they were faced with.

Peter’s Boldness

Peter though was too excited. He moved to his default position and decided to be bold. He wanted to get to Jesus. He didn’t want to wait till Jesus was on the boat he wanted to walk on the water toward him.

He is able to do so. He walks on the water when his eyes are fixed on Jesus. The moment though that he allowed the wind and the waves to distract him and let fear creep back into his heart he stumbles and begins to sink.

Peter’s Failure?

Have you ever thought about it this way before? Did Peter fail?

I think that’s a trick question.

Did he fail. Yes, He still let doubt enter his heart and he started to sink.

Did he fail? No, because Peter was the only one who was willing to get out of the boat and do what is only possible when we are focused on God.

Peter showed himself and the other disciples that they had no reason to fear. That if they had faith they could do amazing things.

Think back to last week when they were getting ready to send the people off to the various towns. They did that because they saw no possible way that they could feed the people.

Jesus expected them to do it. Yet, they doubted and Jesus had to step in. Jesus commanded them and they failed.

Peter asked a question this time of Jesus and he at least attempted to answer and show his faith. He stepped forward. He has improved.

Still no where near where he needs to be but he was stronger.

The Disciples or Peter

The truth is that we may all find ourselves at different points when it comes to trust in God. We are told that we can trust him to care for us. That we have nothing to worry about. That if we have faith we can walk on water and move mountains. Yet, we often fall woefully short of this kind of faith.

The quesiton becomes are we a disciple in the boat or are we a Peter.

Are we so afraid we have to stay in the Boat or are we bold enough to even try to walk toward him?

Are we living in fear of what might be?

Or are we trusting that God has bigger plans then we can possibly imagine?

We all want to get to the point that we are walking on the water toward him and that we don’t sink at all. However we have to remember that no matter what happens in life that...

Jesus reaches out his Hand

Jesus will reach out his hand when we fall short. Peter walked on the water and he sank in the water. Yet, Jesus saved him in his moment of doubt. That is the power of the relationship that we share with God.

Even when we are facing what seems like impossible situations he doesn’t expect us to sink or swim.

He wants us to trust that we can walk on the water but if we fall short he is there to lift us up. To carry the weight to help us through our doubts and fears.

Think of the classic poem

Footprints in the sand

One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Faith over fear

We are to live a life that is full of faith not fear. We can not sit back and be afraid to live our lives following after God.

This means that yes there will be a lot of scary things in the world around us.

We will have a lot of reasons to be afraid and be scared.

It is in those fears we have to trust and we need to work on our doubt and know he will save us. That he will push us to be better to stop doubting and to trust.

This is the life he calls us to. This is the life of a Christian.

What are you afraid of this morning? Do you need to bring it to him? Let’s do this in prayer.