How-To Walk on Water

Peter can walk on water when his eyes are fixed on Jesus. Peter rejects everything he “knows to be true” to go where Jesus is and do what Jesus does. The command of Jesus includes the power to carry it out. When Peter’s eyes drift to his scary circumstances, he loses his faith and his footing. Look to Jesus, Seek His Command, Step out on the Water.

I Can Do All Things

Today is a How-To lesson. How to Walk on Water.

I have a bit of experience. Lots of experience in the water. Lots of that.

A little experience trying to ride above the water on the surfboard, not so good at that.

One time on water skiis, 12 years old in Catalina… that actually went well, until the boat stopped, I slowed, and back under I went.

And finally, most epically, this.

Inflatable Manta Ray Tube, pulled behind my cousin’s boat in Michigan. You skip on top of the water, but if you get balanced JUST right, you can jump, catch air, and fly for a 100 feet. Until you get ever so slightly unbalanced, the whole thing flips around, wraps you up in the wings, and slams you BACK in the water again and again until the boat stops and, hopefully, gets you out before you drown. Like, theoretically ;).

That was the best.

This is one of those miracles that have captured the imagination of so many. By filling a pool with cornstarch and water, you can turn it into a non-Newtonian liquid called Oobleck. Got to move quick, though.

Or, in the technically correct camp, we can do this in Colorado. Walking on ice is “technically” walking on water.

None of those are what Jesus does. No tricks. No cornstarch. No motor boat. No ice in the Sea of Galilee.

And he calls Peter out on the water. So maybe we can too?

I can do all things in Christ, so jot that down. ;)

Recap

Jesus has just fed 5000 men and the women and children with them, so maybe more than 10,000 people. John tells us they were so impressed that they were ready to make Jesus king by force!

And, if Jesus were planning to become a political force, a worldly king, no better time. 10,000 self-motivated fully-fed army, you could roll over some local outposts and get the revolution started right then.

But that isn’t what Jesus is here for. So, he does something different. He withdraws.

Walking on Water

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

It’s closing time. Go home. Well, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Again we see Jesus practicing, prioritizing, time alone with God. If you think you can “do without it”… Jesus didn’t seem to think He could. Or didn’t want to live life that way. Be like Jesus. Prioritize time alone with God. Silence and Solitude, time in prayer.

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

“long way” literally “many stadia.” Stadia = 607 feet, it’s the word we get “Stadium” from, and the lake is 70 stadia at the widest. So they are “somewhere out there.” Out of sight of land… because it’s nighttime ;).

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

Fourth watch, that’s between 3-6 am.

Matk tells us that Jesus was intending to pass by them.

Mark 6:48 ESV

48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

That’s a statement of the incarnation, by the way. Jesus lived a human life, his every intention was not carried through perfectly as he expected. That isn’t what it means that he “lived perfectly.” He failed to carry through his immediate intention here, he got spotted.

I love that picture. Jesus is taking a quick jog across the water, a shortcut. It makes me wonder how many times, perhaps, he jogged across the water in the middle of the night and no one saw him. Not frivolously, but maybe he only got the teleportation powers post-Resurrection. Now he has walk-on-water powers, super useful if you leave near a lake and all the cities you want to reach are scattered around it.

Is he manipulating the surface tension of the water? Is he moving his feet so fast they slap the water, like Dash from Incredibles? Perhaps a force field right underneath each step? I have questions, how did this work?

It is almost always placid water when I see pictures of this, but that isn’t what is happening.

The water is choppy, rough waters, is that impacting Jesus? Is it like walking on unsteady ground, does he power through the waves or do they part around him? Is he leaping from crest to crest?

Is it more efficient than flying? Would it be easier just to Superman over the waves?

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

This stuck out to me. Peter doesn’t just run to Jesus, he seeks the command of Jesus.

Maybe it is identity verification. It has that vibe to it, possibly. “if it is you, command me…”

But that can’t be all of it. That would be better like “If it is you, what’s your Mother’s maiden name?”

Maybe this is me projecting, but I see a dude walking on the water… I want to try that! I want to walk on the waves. I’ve been near the water, near the ocean all my life. I’ve dived in, I’ve swam under, I’ve been in the boat, I’ve jumped out of the boat, I done a flip, I jumped off the roof, I’ve even water skied behind the boat, which is maybe closer to walking on water than Peter ever got before this. I see Jesus walking on the water…

I. Want. In.

And, exhausted, rowing all night, left Jesus behind, maybe Peter just wants to be where His Master is.

Any of these things. All of these things.

“Lord, command me to come to you on the water.”

And Jesus says “Come”.

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Could Peter swim? Maybe, as a lifelong sailor, maybe he had picked up a thing or two. But odds are, throughout history, even for fishermen and sailors, almost nobody knew how to swim. Mostly a modern conceit.

But I bet Peter knew plenty of folks who had gone out on fishing boats and never came back. A storm out on the lake, headwinds all night, maybe bodies washed up on shore weeks later. He knew the dangers, he knew the risks…

Peter knew what happens to folks who get out of the boat in the middle of the lake.

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Peter of little faith??? I don’t see anyone else stepping out of the boat!

But of course, this is like Jesus’ pet names for all the disciples. He calls them “little-faiths” often enough. They have this tiny faith, but it’s growing. And it grows each time in something like this.

Sparking, fanning, sputtering as he looks at the wind and waves…

I bet when Jesus’ hand grabs his, sparks again.

Indeed, what do they call him?

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

There’s a statement of faith right there.

I don’t think they know everything that means, just yet. Peter’s confession of Jesus as the “Messiah, the Son of the Living God” is coming in chapter 16, and “Son of God” is used of angels in the Bible and other people serving God’s will.

But… it says here they “worshiped him.” That isn’t supposed to be something directed to anyone but YHWH, God alone, Elohim. They are more and more recognizing who Jesus is.

Step Out on the Water

Here’s the temptation. Here’s the call to action. Step out on faith. Step out on the water. The trial before you, the challenge before you… no matter what it is, step out on the water. Don’t look at the Wind and the Waves, eyes on Jesus and You. Can. Do. It.

It reminds me of this famous verse.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

This is Scripture, and this is true… but there is a VERY important first step or we fall into “Bumpersticker Christianity.”

I heard it this way:

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through verses taken out of context

No kidding, that’s on a t-shirt.

The context of that verse is being content in all circumstances, in all situations, hunger and plenty, low and high, abundance and need… he can be content because Jesus gives him even that strength.

The temptation is to see the wind and the waves as any challenge, and with faith defined as an inner gathering of courage in the face of fear to JUST DO IT, to try hard and harder, to grit and JUMP out of the boat.

And Jesus will make it happen, make it possible, and you too can walk on water.

I’ll say this. There’s a whole lot of disappointed soaking wet Christians doggy paddling and wondering why Jesus failed them. They missed the absolutely critical FIRST thing Peter does.

Peter doesn’t just see that walking on water would be cool, or want and desire to go to Jesus and then do whatever he felt like doing.

He does the right thing. He does the disciple thing.

Matthew 14:28 ESV

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Peter seeks the will of Jesus. The will of His Master. The Command of Christ.

Without the Command of Christ, Peter is going swimming.

Matthew 14:29 ESV

29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

He, Jesus, commanded “Come.” Erxomai.

And ONLY in response to the Command of Christ, the Call of Jesus, Peter steps out of the boat.

The command of Jesus includes the power to carry it out.

The command of Jesus inherently includes, necessarily includes, always includes the power to carry it out. It is His Word.

Peter doesn’t say “give me the power to walk on water.”

I think that’s how I would phrase it. Give me the power. It’s not a great super power, but still pretty cool.

I would ask for the power… then I would test the power. Preferably in a controlled environment first, escalating levels of difficulty, maybe shallow water first, then deep.

Peter asks for the Command

The command of Jesus contains the power to carry it through. The power to obey. The power to overcome the obstacles.

Jesus’ command contains the power to obey it.

He says “Come…” and the Wind and Waves are now irrelevant, the boat is now optional, go to Jesus.

He says “Go there” and mountains will move out of the way.

The Command of Christ gives you all the power needed. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you… and He strengthens you to do the things He has commanded you to do.

So, the million dollar question, the Walking-on-Water question is this:

What is Jesus calling you to do?

Called On the Water

Jesus says “Come.”

This is what we are, this is where the word “church” comes from. Called out ones, Ekklesia. Called out from the world, to His purpose.

And I love this picture. Called out of the boat, to His hand.

What is Jesus calling you to? If you don’t know… ask! Ask boldly, call out to Jesus. Again and again.

Seeking His voice, testing His voice even, “Lord, if it is you…”

And when you hear the voice of Jesus calling you, you listen and obey. This is discipleship, if “Christian” means anything, it means this. He is your Lord, He calls, you answer.

And with eyes on Jesus, nothing can stand in the way.

Peter faltered only when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the barriers. The things he knows. He knows the Wind. He knows the Waves. And what he knows, everything he knows about them says that this is impossible and dangerous.

He knows some “True-ish” things. Things that are mostly and usually true.

But the Truest thing he knows, the Truest One he knows is there before Him calling. He falters, he doubts, he looks away.

But even in his faltering, he speaks the other best words:

Matthew 14:30 ESV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Lord, command me.

Lord and Savior.

And Jesus does. Of course he does. Faithful and true. Lord and Savior.

Jesus took hold of him. Is Peter safe after that? Don’t know if he went cinematically below the waves, or Jesus caught him as he started to sink, how far Peter made it… but Jesus had him.

Of course, he always had him. Peter was never in danger, he just got confused for a minute.

Can you imagine if Jesus just walked away at that point? “You have been found wanting, bye.” No, of course not, that’s not Jesus. That isn’t his character. He is Lord and Savior, Savior in a much deeper and more profound way than lifting Peter up from the waves.

Oh, little faith, why do you doubt.

This is compassion and grace for us when we falter in following the commands of Jesus, the Call of Christ.

We sometimes get confused, we get distracted. Here are our words. “Lord, save me.”

Behold our Lord and Savior.

Lord: the Power of Christ gives us the power.

Savior: He is there to Rescue when we Falter.

So, again, what is Jesus calling you to?

His command empowers you. He will save you when you falter. There’s no fear here, only faith.

I know many of your stories, times God had you step out on faith in a big way and He used you in a big way.

What is He calling you to next?

I know a few things He is calling us all to.

First and foremost, he is calling you to recognize Him as Lord and Savior. This is the cry of your soul for Jesus. In this, the whole world is Wind and Waves, Jesus the only shelter from the storm. Recognize Jesus as your Lord and Savior… and he will lift you up.

He is Calling you to tell His story, to make disciples, teaching them everything He has taught you. There are specific times, specific people, specific ways He has shaped your story to tell His story, those are all details different for all of us… but it should be our FREQUENT experience that we are led by the Holy Spirit to boldly share His story. That’s scary, that’s intimidating… but there is the Command of Christ that includes the power. Step out of the boat.

And He is Calling you, uniquely gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to serve in and among His Church, His Called Out People. That’s different for each of us, and can be different in seasons of life. He never calls Peter out to walk on water again… He calls him out to lead his church in Jerusalem for awhile, then to the Gentiles for awhile, then ultimately to crucifixion in Rome.

When Jesus Calls, you are filled with the power to obey. Don’t let the obstacles distract you, with eyes on Jesus, get out of the boat.