Matthew 14 -
Jesus Walks on the Water
22: Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while He sent the crowds away.
23: After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening,
He was there alone. 24: But the boat by this time was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them.
25: And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26: 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 He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”
28: Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29: He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water
and came toward Jesus. 30: But when he saw the effects of the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31: Immediately Jesus
extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32: And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33: Then those in the
boat worshiped Him with awe-inspired reverence, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
Mark 6 -
Jesus Walks on the Water
45: Jesus immediately insisted that His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while
He was dismissing the crowd. 46: And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.
47: Now when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land. 48: Seeing the disciples straining at
the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.)
He came to them, walking on the sea. And acted as if He intended to pass by them. 49: But when they saw Him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost, and cried out in horror; 50: for they all saw Him and were shaken and terrified. But He immediately spoke with
them and said, “Take courage! It is I! Stop being afraid.” 51: Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased; and they were
completely overwhelmed, 52because they had not understood the miracle of the loaves [how it revealed the power and deity of Jesus];
their heart was hardened [being oblivious and indifferent to His amazing works].
1. Jesus sends you into a storm
Storms in life hit us all. Storms are part of your life's journey and everyone is going to go through a storm somewhere on the path, mostly it's going to be a lot more than just one storm. There's nothing you can do to stop storms. You can't avoid it. It's inevitable. It's like standing on a beach while a tsunami is rushing down on you. You lose your job, your relationship are suddenly on the rocks, one of your loved ones is dying, your business is in trouble, you get sick, someone in school bullies you, your grades look really bad, you don't get selected for something you'd like to do or your finances are in shambles.
Maybe you've just been through a storm or you're about to move into a storm. There are different storms in life: small ones, big ones and often you don't know how big the storm is that you are experiencing or where in this storm you are now.
In Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52 we read of a storm that struck the disciples and how Jesus quieted this storm...
This passage about the storm takes place right after the great miracle where Jesus multiplied the loaves of bread and fish and fed five thousand. The crowds attending this miracle were so impressed with Jesus that they wanted to make Him their king. They said to each other, "See how He multiplies food. If He is our king we will never go hungry. We'll never have to worry again about where tomorrow's food will come from."
They wanted to crown Him as the king of prosperity.
But Jesus came to wear a crown of thorns.
The crowd wanted more: "He is the one who can free us from the Romans. He can become our Rebel leader."
Jesus had no plan to be the leader of a rebel group. He did not come to kill, but to die Himself. He wanted to achieve salvation from sins and gain eternal life for people.
His disciples became excited by the expectation that He would become the Rebel leader who could throw off the yoke that the Romans had put on them. We read in Mark 6:52 that the disciples had no insight into Jesus' ministry and did not really understand what the increase of the bread meant.
...because they had not understood the miracle of the loaves (how it revealed the power and deity of Jesus); but (in fact) their heart was hardened (being oblivious and indifferent to His amazing works)...
Because Jesus' disciples had so little insight and saw Jesus as the Liberator of the Roman Empire like the crowd, He quickly steered them away from the crowd before they could become even further enthusiastic and get caught up in the euphoria of the crowd. He sends them to the other side of the sea, a six-kilometer cruise so that He can send the 5 000 people home.
Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away.
Matthew14:22
He sends them right into the storm. It's a big risk to send the whole church, in one boat, into the storm. It was Jesus' will that they move into the storm. He sends them to the other side of Bethsaida into the storm because He wants to teach them to trust Him. They didn't do anything wrong. They are in the boat because they obey Jesus' instructions.
They're in the right boat.
They paddle in the right direction.
Jesus Himself gave them the command.
They are obedient to Jesus.
Many times when you get into a life storm you say, "Oh, satan is attacking me like this again. He made me lose my job or made me sick."
Yes, you sometimes get into a storm because you've made wrong choices, but many times it's Jesus who sends you into the storm.
2. Jesus prays for you in the storm
We read in Matthew 14:23 that after He sent the people away, He went up the mountain to pray.
After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone.
Jesus removes Himself from the people and goes to a quiet place to pray. Jesus was a man of prayer and for Him to pray here is not unique. There are special passages in the Bible that describe when and where Jesus prayed, usually before He had to make major decisions or before major events.
We read about how He spent an entire night in prayer before choosing and calling the disciples.
We also read how He separated Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane and went to pray alone and away from everyone on what layed ahead for Him with the crucifixion.
And then we read here in Matthew 14 where Jesus' ministry is in crisis and how He is then going to pray for His disciples. They need to see Him for who He is. He prays for the Father to make them understand that He is the Son of God and not a Rebel leader.
Today Jesus is in heaven and He intercedes for you as you battle the storms here on earth. He intercedes for you with the Father that you will have faith to help you through the storm and that you will realize who He is.
Jesus prays.
The disciples fight for survival in the storm.
The wind was terrible...
The waves sky-high...
The boat is off course...
But the boat by this time was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them.
Matthew 14:24
3. Jesus sees you in your storm
Seeing the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.)...
Mark 6: 48
On the mountain where Jesus was praying, the boat was visible to Him: The boat is in the middle of the sea, and from the mountain He saw them struggling to row in the storm. They aren't getting any closer to the other side because of a strong wind blowing at them. Because they didn't see Him, it doesn't mean He didn't see them.
You are also plagued by your circumstances. In your storm, the wind represents opposition such as pain, insecurity, anxiety and depression, weaknesses, bullying, illness, finances that don't add up, dire working conditions, struggling relationships and other oppositions. Jesus sees you in your storm. He sees the exact circumstances you're in now. Not seeing Him now doesn't mean that He isn't seeing you.
4. Jesus comes to you in your storm
And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14: 25
They were trapped in the storm for hours. Later, they were too tired to row and just hung on the ropes. Jesus' eyes were on them all the time but He didn't come immediately to bring them relief because He wanted to fully reveal Himself to them. He watched them and had no intention to drown His church. Only at dawn He came—hours after He sent them into the storm.
He walked on what they feared most, the water. He walked on the dreaded water to show He's stronger than their problem.
In the darkest hours of your storm, Jesus isn't going to let go of you either. One may pray that you may get out of the boat and away from the high waves and harassing wind...
The problem must go away;
You want out of this marriage;
You want out of your work situation;
You want to get out of your debt;
You want to get out of the hospital bed;
You want to get out of the storm;
You want to get out of school.
In a storm, however, it's better to pray and ask Jesus to change you, make you grow, take away your pride, take away the bitterness and anger and fear. Pray to become more like Jesus.
In Mark 6:48, we read the strange words that Jesus wanted to pass by them:
Seeing the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) He came to them, walking on the sea. And He intended to pass by them.
It's weird and people wonder why did He want to pass by them? Didn't He exactly want to go to them? Why does He pretend to walk past them?
For the answer, we have to go back to the Old Testament. When God has revealed Himself in a visible way in the Old Testament, one calls it a Theophany. It is a visible display to human beings to express the presence and the character of God that is invisible.
With Moses and the burning bush one gets a theophany.
With Abraham, where the torch passes among the sacrificed animals, one gets a theophany.
At one point, Moses wanted to see God and asked him, "Please show me Your glory." And God answered him, "Moses, I will let all my goodness pass before you." We find this poignant theophany in Exodus 33:18-23:
Then Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory!” And God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion (loving kindness) on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”
Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
When God moves with His glory, He seems to pass by you because no one is allowed to see His face. And that's exactly what's happening here. Jesus is unconsciously in a theophany. He comes to show His divine glory in this storm. The glory of God goes beyond them.
Do you understand the enormous message it carries? In your storm, the glory of God Almighty is there. The Almighty God reveals Himself in your hospital bed, in your home, where you sit with your head in your arms, or where you sit outside on the bench with tears flowing.
When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
Matthew 14: 26
They scream because of panic because they are afraid He is a ghost or spirit that brings disaster.
This is intense fear.
It's a panic that has no way of processing what they're seeing now.
They don't recognize Him. They have been in the storm for at least eight hours. They're exhausted. They have no power left. Jesus comes when the hope and power are no longer there.
He comes to you in pain, in the diagnosis, in the darkness, in distress, in loneliness, in failure.
5. Jesus talks to you in the storm
Jesus reassures them. We read in Matthew 14:27:
But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”
"Rest assured, it's Me." These words of Jesus make all the difference in the world. It's not a ghost. It's not an angel who's going to escort them to the other side. It is Jesus himself.
Maybe it's been a while since you heard the voice of Jesus. Open your Bible and hear what He wants to say to you in the storm. God's Word speaks to you like nothing else in the storms of life. When the waves rumble and the winds blow, the Bible invites you to take refuge in Jesus.
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises..
Romans 15:4
Jesus encourages them not to be afraid.
He's with them.
He knows they're in the storm.
He saw them.
He comes to save them.
He's with them.
Jesus knows your storms. He knows everything. He comes to you in your need when the situation seems hopeless and everything around you is dark.
Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:28
The boat is full of screaming men, the waves are sky-high, and the wind blows terribly. Fear and anxiety can make you see things that may not be there. Although Jesus tries to reassure them to say it is He, Peter is not yet sure who is here. Full of doubt, Peter says: “... if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He is terrified inside the boat and from past experience He knows that Jesus can take control of the wind and weather. He thinks he's better off with Jesus in the water than away from Him in the boat.
6. Jesus gives you direction in your storm
In Matthew 14:29 Jesus answered him:
He said, “Come!”
Jesus answered with one word: COME. He doesn't instruct Peter how to walk on the water. He doesn't give him details. He only gives Peter direction.
It is often difficult for you not to understand everything in your storm. You're looking for more information but the answers don't always come. Ask the Lord for direction in your storm.
So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:29-30
Peter walks on the water...
His eyes are on Jesus.
Then he looked at the wind. It's not easy to keep faith when you walk on water.
You will also walk on water many times in your life but then you look at your health symptoms, financial statements, news about country affairs and other difficulties and you have doubts. Get your eyes on the grace and goodness of God and not on the wind or you're going to start sinking into despair.
Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”.
Matteus 14:31
If you stumble when you look at your circumstances, Jesus is never far away. He catches you. You just have to ask for mercy, and Jesus is right there: "I'm drowning in the storm. Please Lord, save me." Grace and faith go hand in hand. With grace, through faith, God is going to get you through your storm. Your faith is small but God is Great. He has you and won't let you go.
7. Jesus quiets your storm
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him with awe-inspired reverence, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
Matthew 14:32-33
When Jesus got into the boat, the wind settled down and the storm subsided. One moment the wind was so loud you couldn't hear anything else and the boat was thrown around by the high waves and the next moment everything was quiet. They worshipped Jesus and realized who He was. He was not a Rebel leader but the Son of God. With the miracle of the fish and bread that increased, they did not understand that Jesus was actually God and not a military rebel leader. What Jesus prayed for became true. What He sent them into the storm for, happened. They fell silent and knew He was the Lord. The church in the boat worshipped Him: "You are the Son of God".
They moved from fear to trust.
From anxiety to worship.
From trembling to confession.
In your storm, the Lord is going to bring you to a place where you know with grace and by faith that He is Lord. He knows your pain, your darkest hour. He's with you. He gives you strength.
In John 6:21 we read that when Jesus got into the boat they were not far from the place where they wanted to go ashore. Jesus brought them through the storm to the place where they needed to be. There are two miracles here: Jesus walking on the water and that they were suddenly on land. They were safe on the beach. The storm taught them about themselves and who Jesus is.
8. Jesus helps you to get through the storm safely to the place where He wants you to be.
Jesus helps you to complete your journey. He brings you through your storm and gives you peace. He brings you to safety.
“Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”.
Psalm 46:10
Jesus quiets your storm and takes you safely to the destination where He wants you and where you need to be. There is no safer place to be than the exact place God wants us to be.
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