WALK ON WATER

Walk on Water 

 Matthew 14:22-33

by Pastor Mark Taylor

In this passage from Matthew's gospel, we hear the story of Jesus walking on water, a miracle indeed. The disciples have just experienced Jesus' miracle in feeding the thousands, and now they are traveling by boat to the other side of the sea, leaving Jesus with some time to pray and to regroup. 

Out on the sea, the winds begin to blow, rocking the boat to and fro. the disciples are nervous and scared. And then, through the raging storm, they see a figure. Someone appears to be walking across the sea! Who is it? A ghost? Who could it be? They don't recognize Jesus at first, not expecting to see anyone walking on water. The image takes them so by surprise that they don't recognize their master coming toward them. But Jesus speaks to them: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 

These precious words give Peter some courage, and he tries to join Jesus on the water, a show of his faith.  Soon, however, he is overcome with fear of the storm raging around him. He realizes just what he is doing - trying to walk on water, crazy enough in itself, but doing so in the middle of a terrible storm. It's too much for Peter to handle. He begins to sink, and cries out, "save me!" Jesus catches him, and with disappointment you can hear in His voice, saying, "you of little faith, why did you doubt?" When the winds finally cease, the disciples worship him, calling Him the Son of God.

The fact that Peter eagerly volunteered to join Jesus on the sea suggests that we need not be bound by probability or predictability either. Lord, if it is really you, let me join you. 

Peter, through the eyes of faith, saw himself as an imitator of Christ - even in walking on the water. Later, Jesus would tell all of us that we would be able to do the works that he did and even greater works as we bring glory to God.   With God, the scriptures tell us, all things are possible, and by extension, with God's help, the people of God face no impossibility."   We hear that if we have faith, we can move mountains.  I believe our Lord Jesus is talking about figurative mountains in our lives that seem impossible.  We are not given the power to move literal mountains because of the destruction we would cause, or walk on water because of the pride we would have of doing something others cannot do.   But there is no impossibility in God meeting our needs and giving us the desires of our heart that are from God.  There are times we may desire things that are harmful to us or others, and God will not grant selfish requests. "You ask, and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3).  We should always pray like our Lord prayed:  "O my Father, it it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."  (Matthew 26:39)

Think of the things that are possible today that were at some point impossible: a one pound baby, born 3 months early, can grow into a healthy child, after a few months of special care. Isn't that a miracle? We can get into an airplane, and be lifted into the air, and travel great distances at great speeds - we can even travel to into space, and land on the moon. Isn't that a miracle? We can type on a computer, hit a button, and have instantaneous communication with someone half way around the world. 

How is it possible? All of these can be explained away by science, technology, and practical reasoning. But the truth is, were it not for the faith and hope of some inventive people, these tools might not be available today. Someone had to believe that lives could be saved despite the odds. Someone had to believe that we could fly, even without wings. Someone had to believe that there was a way to communicate across continents.  These are only the beginning of things that are possible when God is involved.

God reminds us: "Eye has not seen, nor has the ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him."  (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Jesus asks us to believe that in God we have the only resource we need for miracles to happen.  Our miracle may be a healing of the body or the mind. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your inquiry, Who heals all your diseases." (Psalm 103: 2-3).  Our miracle may be that we have lost our way spiritually and need direction from Him.  "Make me to know Your ways, O Lord: teach me Your paths."  (Psalms 25:4)  Our miracle may be that we need financial help. "Behold the fowls of the air...your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:26).   Jesus calls us to have faith, to step out of our boat, to walk on the water, and see what miracles can happen when we believe they are possible.