Peter - The Man That Walked On Water.

TEXT: Matthew 14:26-31

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

PETER, THE FRUSTRATED FISHERMAN

One of the most astonishing sentence of the Holy Scriptures is found in Matthew 14:28, "And when Peter was come down out of the ship, HE WALKED ON THE WATER, to go to Jesus. Peter actually walked on water briefly; the only human to have accomplished such feat without magic. Peter, like you and I, had good, bad and ugly moments in his life and ministry. Peter's life reflects that of many disciples today. Jesus met him one early morning washing his fishing nets with his crew after a fruitless night at sea. You can actually hear the lamentation and frustration in his voice when he told Jesus in Luke 5:5, "...We have toiled all night and taken nothing..." It was the voice of a broken business man. Frustrations and failures sorround us and the fear of not measuring up to the standard of society plague our thoughts daily. Jesus feels our frustrations, hears our lamentations and is ready to help us if we obey him.

THE FISHERMAN AND THE FISHER OF MEN - A DIVINE ENCOUNTER

At the lake of Gennesaret, Peter had a life changing encounter with Jesus. He loaned his boat to Jesus to preach the gospel and got a turnaround in his business. He obeyed Jesus command to launch into the deep after that frustrating night and had a net breaking catch. The greatest he had ever experienced as a fisherman (Luke 5: 4-7). He was so astonished that he fell at the feet of Jesus and confessed, "....Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8). Jesus responded and said, "Fear not, from henceforth thou shall catch men" (Luke 5:10b).

Peter and his crew left everything and from that day became Jesus disciples.

Have you had an encounter with Jesus? Have you confessed your sins to him? He is knocking at the door of your heart, ready to receive and turn things around in your life and business.

HE WALKED ON WATER, BUT...

This same Peter was at sea with the other apostles and saw Jesus walking on the water towards them in the night. They thought he was a spirit and were alarmed but Jesus reassured them that he was the one. I don't know what came over Peter, but he said, ".... Lord, if it be thou, bid me to come unto thee on the water" (Matthew 14:28). When Jesus told him, "Come", Peter stepped on the water and WALKED on water. In the preceding verse (Matthew 14:24), we observe that the ship was being tossed about in the sea. It was in this stormy and boisterous conditions that Peter boldly stepped into the sea. BUT, when Peter, "saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me". Peter doubted and started sinking but Jesus saved him. How many times have we doubted and taken our eyes off Jesus and focused on our problems and human help? We are like Peter.

A REVELATION FROM GOD THE FATHER

This same Peter was the one that declared with the help of the Father that Jesus was the Christ. The Lord declared in Matthew 16:18, "And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". The church of Christ is built upon Peter's declaration.

This same Peter boldly declared that he will never deny Jesus, but ended up denying Jesus three times and cried bitterly after what Jesus told him came to pass (John 18:25,27). How many times have we preached to others and denied him with our words and actions? We pledge to do God's work but give excuses when are to be at our duty posts. We are like Peter.

HE ABANDONS THE WORK

This same Peter, after the death and resurrection of Jesus declared to the other apostles in John 21:3, "... I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing". Peter abandoned the work Jesus gave him as as fisher of men and returned to his former business, taking the other disciples with him. Jesus had to intervene once again and three times asked Peter this question: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? ...... Feed my lambs" (John 21: 15-17).