Jesus had demonstrated his power over the sea earlier. Yet his disciples hearts were still hard and faith small. Jesus not only demonstrates another miracle, he shows us that faith can do miracles in our lives as well.
Overview
Matt 14.22-33; Mark 6.45-52; John 6.16-21;
Jesus walks
Peter walks
They walk together
…..on the water
Bible Passage
Matthew 14:22 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.
Bible Passage
Matthew 14:25 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.”
Bible Passage
Matthew 14:29 “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.”
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.”
Bible Passage
Matthew 14:29 “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.”
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 walks on the water
Catching up with his disciples after a busy day, Jesus defies, gravity, the wind, waves and rapidly walks on the water heading towards the other shore.
His disciples are terrified thinking it is a ghost
He reassures them.
Location
John’s account mentioned they had rowed 3-4 miles before Jesus came. Mark indicates they went to Gennesaret though people were searching for them in Capernaum.
Starting point was near Bethsaida (where the feeding of the 5000 took place.
If Philip wasn’t so closed Jesus may have done the miracle through him.
Jesus walks on the water
Catching up with his disciples after a busy day, Jesus defies, gravity, the wind, waves and rapidly walks on the water heading towards the other shore.
His disciples are terrified thinking it is a ghost
He reassures them.
Jesus walks on the water
This miracle is only for the disciples
Not for the crowds.
Not just for the miracle but to show them the importance of faith
To grow their faith
Not to show them that he is superhuman
But that they can do miracles in Jesus’ name
They already had gone out in twos and experienced God’s power through their lives.
They were still learning …
Peter walks on the water
Peter is excited to see Jesus
He is excited to see Him walk on the water.
He wants to meet His master
Also probably have a taste of the water walking..
He knows the power of Christ’s word and ask Him to say it
Jesus says “Come”
A powerful command keeping the powers of nature at bay.
Discussion
In what ways has Jesus helped you do the impossible (walking on water)?
Stay on the Boat unless invited
The girls were so disappointed they could not attend camp. They came to the conclusion THAT JESUS WANTS US TO GO TO CAMP, SO WE WILL WALK ACROSS THE SWOLLEN RIVER. Several days later the 3 bodies were found, 3 girls died
Stay on the Boat unless invited
The media talked to Doctor Chou. Can you explain this tragedy? Chou said It is easy. WHAT THE THREE YOUNG GIRLS FORGOT WAS: JESUS BID, JESUS INVITED PETER TO WALK ON THE WATER. YOU BETTER STAY IN THE BOAT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE INVITATION: COME.
Waters of faith tested
Peter leaps
Peter walks on the water (his eyes on Jesus)
He starts sinking (his eyes on the turbulent waters)
Waters of faith tested
Many times we start a journey of faith
We’re excited to do great things for God.
But as the storms start brewing
.. Criticisms
…failures
…personal challenges and disappointments, etc.
…trauma, stress, death, etc.
Our faith flails and fails.
We start sinking
It is at these times that we need to keep our eyes on Jesus
Discussion
What are the situations that overwhelm us and make us sink?
How can we remain on the surface?
Jesus stretches out His hand
Does Peter realize it is the powerful hand of God reaching out to him?
The hand that heals millions
The hand that will rule the nations
The hand that will crush His enemies
The hand that holds us in our difficult times…
Jesus stretches out His hand
And says “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Peter feared the ocean
When the Lord of the ocean was before Him.
We often do the same
They walk together on the water
Master and disciple hand in hand
When storms overwhelm us, Jesus is walking with us
He is yoked to us
Always by our side
Peter’s fear would have vanished
Side by side with Jesus
Love Walks
In the early 1990s, gang violence of 8 gangs with daily killings erupted in Los Angeles.
A group of 70 women who met for prayer read together the story of Jesus walking on water ….
That night, they brought food, guitars, and love
Love Walks
The gangs were disoriented, baffled; the war zones were silent.
The women called their nighttime journeys “love walks.”
Together they developed a tortilla factory, a bakery, a child-care center, a job-training program, etc.
Still surprised??
Mark 6:51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
The disciples too were still weak in their faith.
This is the second time He is demonstrating power over the seas.
And nth time He is demonstrating powerful miracles
More than any prophet has ever done before
Not to mention a perfect life.
They’re eyes were just opening. They worshipped Him as Son of God.
Still surprised??
Matt 14:32 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.”
Did they really believe it?
It would still take a lot of time and testing
But they were in the boat with Jesus.
Still surprised??
Why were the disciples hearts hardened?
In spite of miracles, power, authority?
Desire for greatness? Inability to acknowledge Jesus as Lord? Motives not completely true?
We don’t know.
We only know how easy it is for our hearts to get hardened.
To have less faith.
Are we keeping our eyes on Jesus despite stormy situations?
Still surprised??
Mark 6:51 Then he climbe
The winds died down as soon as Jesus entered.
Even inanimate objects change their behaviour when Jesus steps into the boat.
He says “I am with you always”
What more do we need?
Peace in Storm
The most turbulent situations in our life calm down in the presence of Jesus.
The Lord of the storm is also the Lord of peace
How have we experienced this calm?
Peace in Storm
When we demonstrate this peace in our storms, it encourages and lifts others up in their storms.
https://www.facebook.com/alberthomyak/videos/733979514677629
Ukrainian soldiers singing “when God’s spirit fills me up I sing like David” – March 2022
Related Posts
