Walking on the Sea

Matt.14:22-27

Introduction

Sometimes life goes without our intention. It just flows that way. Sometimes life demands upon us. Life goes into a direction where we do not choose. We as Christians, call it God’s will. Now, be aware not to call it apathetically, without care or concern. Why? Because often times this God’s will lead us into winds and waves. There are things in life we cannot control or did not intend but happens in a way that we don’t like. You didn’t choose many things in your life. Your ethnicity, your family, your first language, your location, and list goes on. Many times, these brings ups and downs of our lives and we just don’t have control over them. Things just happen in a way we don’t choose and in a worse case scenario, luck is not on our side. What do we do then? What does the Bible have to say to this? Let’s hear ‘em out.

Get into the Boat

Today’s story begins with the disciples getting into the boat. But we are good students and not going to miss one small but important grammar. Look at verse 22, who is doing the action? “He”. Who is “He”? Jesus. Jesus made the disciples get into the boat. There is compelling and strong word, made. It’s almost seems like the disciples did not intend to go into the boat especially without Jesus, but Jesus made them get into the boat. Jesus takes care of the business of sending people back home. Then what? Jesus went up to the mountain, not to the disciples. The boat is sailing away from the land and Jesus is not going to catch the ride.

And…? In verse 24 says the boat that the disciples were in “was beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them”. It might have been better if Jesus was with them who put these poor disciples into the boat. But He is not. Isn’t it true for us to feel so easily that God puts us in a difficult moment and Him not there. We call Him and cry out to Him; God help us. God, would you just change this one problem I have? My parents, my friends at school. Can you just do one small favor for me? But He doesn’t reply.

Sometimes, these winds and waves are against us and we are alone on the sea. Sailing away from the land.

If you ever had felt that way before, or maybe you are feeling that at the moment in your sailing, I want you to hear the story out.

He Walks on the Sea

In that dark hour of the night, Jesus came to them. How did He come to them? Was He on the boat other than disciples’? Was He swimming like Michael Phelps? 박태환? Jesus’ one of disciples, Matthew, who happened to be on the boat that night, records that Jesus was walking on the sea. Why is it so important for Jesus to walk on the sea rather than teleport to the disciples or fly over the sea? Why didn’t He do more cool or powerful thing like Dr. Strange, distorting the space, or Iron Man, flying with the suit? Because He is telling disciples with His action. He is showing them who He is and what He is about. Disciples were scared and terrified by winds and waves they were in. What Jesus is telling with His entrance is He is the One who can step on the sea, winds, and waves that they were so afraid of.

Is there a wind and waves in your sailing that make you tremble or shudder? Is it finances? Family issues? Drama at school? Competitive environment that makes you so small? Constant pressure to live up to the certain expectation or standard?

Fear not, because it is Jesus. Take heart, guys and gals, do not be afraid. In the dark night of your soul, Jesus will come to you walking on the troubles, trampling over them.

This picture of Jesus walking on the sea was a manifested hope from long long time ago. What is it mean? Well, the fact that Jesus walked on the sea does not only means that He is powerful than your problems. We know the story of Job. He was a righteous man. Didn’t do anything wrong. But unfortunate events in life just happened to him. He lost all of his children, friends, wealth, flocks, servants, status, and anything you could imagine and he had had vanished. He got illness and things couldn’t get any worse. But in one of Job’s responses, Job 9:8 says, “He is the one who alone stretches out the heavens and who tramples on the waves of the sea”. When Job faced the harsh wind and waves, when he was all alone on the sea, He sought God who will make everything right. Who alone is just and right that He will trample on the waves of the sea that Job was sailing. In this hope, centuries later, as the disciples in the boat were sailing, they saw this Jesus, the God who stretches out the heavnes and who tramples on the waves of the sea is coming to them.

If this is the same hope that Job dare dreamed of and the disciples were able to experience centuries later because of this Jesus, it is still valid hope in our time and in our windy and wavy sea, that this Jesus will come to us, trampling the sea and make things right once again. Even in your darkest night, guys and gals, watch out to the horizon where Jesus is coming from. As Thomas Fuller said in 1650, “It is said that the darkest hour of the night comes just before the dawn”, Jesus is coming to make things right in your life. Hang in there, do not lose hope until you hear His voice saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid”.