Opening illustration: You may have heard the story about a man who gets too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon, looses his balance, and slips over the edge. Just before falling 1000 feet, he grabs on to a root sticking out from the edge. "Help me!" He hollers. "Is there anyone up there? Help me! Save me! Is there anyone up there?"
A voice answers, "I am the Lord. I can save you. Do you believe in me? Do you really want me to help you?" "O, yes, Lord, I believe in you, more than you’ll ever know. Please help me."
"OK," the Lord says. "I’ll save you. Now, let go."
"What!"
"Just let go of that root you’re holding on to, and I’ll save you. You just have to trust me."
The man pauses a moment, and then shouts out, "Is there anyone else up there?!"
Introduction: Herod, having heard the fame of Christ, supposes him to be John the Baptist, risen from the dead. A circumstantial account of the beheading of John the Baptist. Five thousand men, besides women and children, fed with five loaves and two fishes. The disciples take ship, and Jesus stays behind, and goes privately into a mountain to pray. A violent storm arises, by which the lives of the disciples are endangered. In their extremity, Jesus appears to them, walking upon the water. Peter, at the command of his Master, leaves the ship, and walks on the water to meet Christ. They both enter the ship, and the storm ceases. They come into the land of Gennesaret, and he heals many diseased people. And all these people now want Him to be King.
Not quite the drama we see in our reading but close to it. Let’s remember what was going on here. The disciples had just spent a day feeding 5,000 men (no telling how many women and children there were), and then had collected up all the uneaten food. And then Jesus tells the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side. The Greek says that He strongly urged them to get into the boat and go to the other side. And the next thing you know, along comes a storm.
What does it take to be a water walker?
1. Facing the storm ~ faith builder (v. 24):
Tossed with waves - Grievously agitated, plunged under the waves, frequently covered with them; the waves often breaking over the vessel. The wind came rushing down from the mountains, and in attempting to make land at Bethsaida, where the Lord had directed, it was in their faces.
When you are serving God, and trying to be obedient to Christ, you will have to face storms. I’m not talking about physical storms that are common in nature, but the storms of trials and difficulty. Even sitting here today, you may be going through a storm. Maybe it’s money problems, or problems in a relationship. You might be having family problems, or problems at your job or school. We all have storms in life. Anyone who tells you Christianity is smooth sailing doesn’t understand what the Bible teaches about serving the Lord.
Remember, the disciples were in a storm because they were trying to be obedient to Christ. Now that’s not the only reason storms come in the lives of believers. Remember Jonah? He had to go through a storm for correction, but on this occasion, for the disciples, this wasn’t a corrective storm because they were doing what Jesus had commanded them to do. Verse 22 says “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side” And they did, or at least they tried to. And six hours later they had not made much progress. So remember first of all, obedient water walkers will face storms.
Application: In life the wind is often contrary. There are times when we are up against it, and when life is a desperate struggle with ourselves, with our circumstances, with our temptations, with our sorrows, with our decisions. At such a time no man has to struggle alone, for Jesus comes to him across the storm of life, with hand stretched out to save, and with his calm clear voice bidding us to be of good courage, and not to be afraid. It does not matter how we take this incident; it is in any event far more than the story of what Jesus once did in a storm in far off-Palestine; it is the sign and symbol of what He always does for His people, when the wind is contrary, and when we are in danger of being overwhelmed by the storms of life.
2. Recognize God’s presence in the storm (v. 25 - 27):
(a) God approaches you ~ Jesus went to them - The Lord saw their trouble from his mountain-top, and through the darkness of the night, for his heart was all with them; yet would he not go to their relief till his own time came.
Walking on the sea - This suspension of the laws of gravitation was a proper manifestation of omnipotence and unlimited power. He was also the ‘Lord of the seas.’ Jesus did this by his own power; therefore Jesus showed forth his Godhead. In this one miracle we may discover 3 things -
(i) Though at a distance from his disciples, he knew their distress.
(ii) He found them out on the lake, and probably in the midst of darkness.
(iii) He walked upon the water.
Application: Often during our own lives… we are tormented by waves of disappointment and doubt. And we are no better at recognizing his presence than they were. Probe with me a little today… what was Jesus up to, walking around on the lake at 3:00 am in the morning? Mark tells us that Jesus “intended to pass them by” on the water, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost. Why did Jesus want to “pass by them?” “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them” (Mark 6:48)
Basically… Jesus wanted them to be able to trust him also in the storms. The problem was… “they just didn’t get it.” God was visiting them while walking on the water but they couldn’t see it. Matthew wants his readers to know that Jesus often comes when least expected – 3:00 a.m., in the middle of a storm. I believe that human extremity is a frequent meeting place with God. These are those divinely appointed defining moments that come into all of our lives. And… if you’re not looking for him, you just might miss him.
Twelve disciples sat in the boat and we don’t know how the other eleven responded to that voice. Were they confused? Did they respond with wonder? Disbelief? Or perhaps… a little of each! But one of them, Peter, was about to become a water walker. He recognized that God was present – even in the most unlikely place. He realized that this was an extraordinary opportunity for spiritual adventure and growth.
(b) God hears and responds to your cry ~ this is a natural reaction to seeing something unfamiliar and frightening. Instead of crying out to the Lord in fear of Him, they should have cried to him for the situation they were in.
God’s response ~ Here I should prefer to give it this meaning: Christ says not merely, "It is I, your Friend and Master;" he says, at least implies, it is the "I AM," who is coming to you, the Almighty One who rules wind and waves, who made them, and whom they obey.
3. Stepping out in faith from your boat ~ check your faith (vs. 28 – 29):
Bid me come unto thee on the water - A weak faith is always wishing for signs and miracles. To take Christ at his word, argues not only the perfection of faith, but also the highest exercise of sound reason. He is to be credited on his own word, because he is the Truth, and therefore can neither lie nor deceive. [No reasoning or being logical]
And Peter answered (Peter’s Character)
• Here is an instance of the characteristic ardor and rashness of Peter. He was impulsive in jumping on any exciting bandwagon, which amused him. Remember he cut off the ear of a Roman soldier in the garden of Gethsemane. And denied Christ thrice.
• He often failed and came to grief. A great deal of Christian failure is due to acting upon an emotional moment without counting the cost.
• He had less real faith than he supposed, and more ardor than his faith would justify. But before stepping out or taking any kind of decision he asks permission from the Lord [which many of us would want to avoid].
• He was rash, headlong, incautious, really attached to Jesus, but still easily daunted and prone to fall. He was afraid, therefore, when in danger, and, sinking, cried again for help. Thus he was suffered to learn his own character, and his dependence on Jesus: a lesson which all Christians are permitted sooner or later to learn by dear-bought experience.
• But Peter never finally failed, for always in the moment of his failure he clutched at Christ. The wonderful thing about Peter is that every time he fell, he rose again; and that it must have been true that even his failures brought him closer and closer to Christ. Peter’s failures only made him to love Christ more and more.
Result: Jesus called him the rock on which He would build His church.
Peter blurted out to the water walker, “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28) Why does Matthew include this detail? Why doesn’t Peter just plunge into the water? I think it’s for a very important reason. This is not just a story about risk taking; it is primarily a story about obedience. That means I will have to discern between an authentic call from God and what might simply be a foolish impulse on my part. Courage alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment. Matthew is not just glorifying risk-taking. This is not a story about extreme sports. It’s about extreme discipleship! This means that before Peter gets out of the boat – he had better make sure Jesus thinks its good idea. So he asks for clarity, “If it is you, command me…” I don’t know… but in that darkness – I think Jesus smiled. Maybe he laughed because one person got it. Peter had some inkling of what it is that the master was doing.
And he said, Come. I suppose the Lord bade Peter to come in order to teach him a lesson.
Not only that, Peter had enough faith to believe that he too could share the adventure. He decided he wanted to be part of history’s original water-walk. “Command me.” Water walkers will face storms. Water walkers recognize God’s presence. Water walkers discern between faith and foolishness.
Put yourself in Peter’s place for a moment. You have a sudden insight into what Jesus is doing – the lord is passing by. Jesus is inviting you to go the adventure of your life. But at the same time, you’re scared to death. What would you choose – the water or the boat? The boat is safe, secure, and comfortable. On the other hand, the water is rough. The waves are high. The wind is strong. There’s a storm out there. And if you get out of the boat – whatever your boat happens to be – there’s a good chance you might sink! But… if you don’t get out of the boat – there’s a guaranteed certainty that you will never walk on the water. If you want to walk on water –you’ve got to get out of the boat. I believe there is something – someone – inside us who tells us there is more to life than sitting in the boat.
You and I were made for something more than merely avoiding failure. There’s something inside you that wants to walk on the water – to leave the comfort of routine existence and abandon yourself to the high adventure of following God. So let me ask you a very important question:
What’s your boat?
• Your boat is whatever represents safety and security to you apart from God himself.
• Your boat is whatever you are tempted to put your trust in, especially when life gets a little stormy.
• Your boat is whatever keeps you so comfortable that you don’t want to give it up even if it’s keeping you from joining Jesus on the waves.
• Your boat is whatever pulls you away from the high adventure of extreme discipleship.
Do you want to know what your boat is? Your fear will tell you. Just ask yourself this: what is it that most produces fear in me – especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith? Vocation? Relationship? Successes? Failures? What area(s) in your life are shrinking back from fully and courageously trusting God? Fear will tell you what your boat is. Leaving it may be the hardest thing you ever do. But if you want to walk on the water, you’ve got to get out of the boat!
4. Focussing on God alone (vs. 30 – 31):
When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid - It was by faith in the power of Christ he was upheld; when that faith failed, by which the laws of gravitation were suspended, no wonder that those laws returned to their wonted action, and that he began to sink. He stepped into the water, but the roaring winds and rushing billows were too much for his faith. It was not the violence of the winds, nor the raging of the waves, which endangered his life, but his littleness of faith. He was afraid - Though he had been used to the sea, and was a skilful swimmer. But so it frequently is. When grace begins to act, the natural courage and strength are withdrawn.
So Peter goes to the side of the boat. The other disciples are watching closely. They have seen Peter shoot off his mouth before – in fact… he did it a lot. They wonder how far he will take this thing. He puts one foot over the side, carefully gripping the edge of the boat. Then he puts the other foot. He’s holding on with for dear life.
For a while it’s as if Peter and Jesus are present on the water. Peter is beaming with delight. Jesus is thrilled with his student. Like master, like disciple. Then it happens – Peter” saw the wind.” Reality sets in, and Peter asks himself, what was I thinking? He realized he was on the water in the middle of a storm with no boat beneath him – and he’s terrified!
Now… nothing has really changed. The storm shouldn’t have been a surprise – it had been there the whole time. What really had taken place was that Peter’s focus had shifted from Jesus to the storm. We are all the same. We start something filled with hope – then reality sets in. Setbacks. Opposition. Unexpected obstacles. You see the wind. It should be expected. The world’s a pretty stormy place. But somehow trouble still has the power to catch us be surprise. Because of the wind – some people decide to never leave the boat. If you get out of the boat, you will face the wind and the storms out there. But you should know… there is no guarantee that life in the boat is going to be any safer.
Peter faced a choice, as we all do. The choice to follow Jesus – the choice to grow – is the choice for the constant recurrence of fear. You’ve got to get out of the boat a little every day! Here’s a deep truth about water walking: the fear will never go away. The fear will never go away. Why? Because each time I want to grow, it will involve going into new territory, taking on new challenges. And… each time I do that – I will experience fear again. As you see in this story… you will always have choices… risk and comfort. Every time you get out of the boat, you become a little more likely to get out the next time. It’s not that the fear goes away – but that you get used to living with fear. You realize that it doesn’t have the power to destroy you. On the other hand… every time you resist that voice, every time you choose to stay in the boat rather than heed its call, the voice gets a little quieter in you.
Application: Sometimes when the storm and the waves in our lives are too intense and ragging from all corners and you have no place to run or take refuge. You may at this time become so discouraged, nervous and loose hope for everything (have little faith). This is the time you start sinking, even though you may get hold of the situation, but are unable because our total dependence of faith in that God cares, allows situations and has everything in His control starts diminishing rapidly.
Jesus . . . caught him . . . said, O thou of little faith! Peter’s act did not exemplify his faith, but his doubts. True faith never attempts wonders merely for the sake of doing them. It is a fact that ought to be noted that the Gospels narrate the failures in miraculous power on the part of the apostles as well as their success. No book of myths would do this. At the same time it is always made plain why they failed.
Wherefore didst thou doubt? Waver, fluctuate, or was divided between faith and fear. He was worthy of reproof, since he had had the order of Christ to come to him upon the water; and an experience of his power in supporting him thus far; and was now so near unto him, that he had no room to doubt, whether it was he or not, nor of his power to preserve him.
Illustration: As a result of seeing the wind and giving in to fear, Peter began to sink into the water. So here is the question: Did Peter fail? Before I offer you an answer let me make an observation about failure. Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about an event. Failure is not something that happens to us, or a label we attach to things. It is a way we think about outcomes. Did you know for example that ~
• Before Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for polio that finally worked, he tried 200 unsuccessful times.
• When Thomas Edison was branded a failure in his attempts to create a light bulb he said "I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work."
• Before James Dyson invented the perfect vacuum cleaner he went through 5,127 prototypes.
So… did Peter fail? Probably! He took his eyes off the Lord and sank. But I think there were eleven bigger failures sitting in the boat. At least Peter got out of the water and walked on water – even if it was for a short while. Why? Because he got out of the boat. The worst failure is to never get out of the boat! Water walkers see failure as an opportunity to grow. As soon as Peter asks for help, Jesus was there. “Lord… save me.” Jesus helps him physically by pulling him from the water. But he also helps Peter grow by pinpointing the problem: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” I don’t think Jesus is being harsh or critical here. Jesus makes this comment to Peter while they are still out on the water alone. Jesus didn’t embarrass him in front of his peers. The problem was clear: whether Peter sank or water walked depended on whether he focused on the storm or on Jesus.
It was Peter’s willingness to risk failure that helped him to grow. Failure is indispensable, irreplaceable part of learning and growth. Failure doesn’t shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you. Where did we get to?
Application: Jesus stretched forth his hand - Every moment we stand in need of Christ: while we stand - we are upheld by his power only; and when we are falling, or have fallen, we can be saved only by his mercy. Let us always take care that we do not consider so much the danger to which we are exposed, as the power of Christ by which we are to be upheld; and then our mountain is likely to stand strong.
5. Inviting Jesus in your life (vs. 32 – 33):
… the wind ceased - from blowing with that fury and violence it did before, and there was a perfect calm; which gave equal proof of the divine power of Christ, as his walking upon the sea: he walked upon the sea whilst the wind was blowing hard, and the waves were tumultuous; he comes into the ship, and all is calm; both winds and sea obey him, who is Lord of both. The wind grew weary or tired, exhausted itself in the presence of its Master (cf. Mar_4:39). Not a mere coincidence that the wind ceased now.
Application: These verses finish with another great permanent truth. When Jesus got into the boat the wind sank. The great truth is that wherever Jesus is, the wildest storms become a calm.
Illustration: Olive Wyon, in her book ‘Consider Him,’ quotes a thing from the letters of St. Francis of Sales. St. Francis had noticed a custom of the country districts in which he lived. He had often noticed a farm servant going across a farm yard to draw water at the well; he also noticed that, before she lifted the brimming pail, the girl always put a piece of wood into it. One day he went out to the girl and asked her, “Why do you do that?” She looked surprised and answered, as if it were a matter of course, “why? To keep the water from spilling … to keep it steady!” Writing to a friend later on the bishop told this story and then added: “So when your heart is distressed and agitated, put the Cross into the centre of your heart, to keep it steady!” In every time of storm and stress the presence of Jesus and the love which flows from the Cross bring peace and serenity and calm.
Thou art the Son of God - They mean, the Messiah. Not only did they approach him with an outward un-forbidden gesture of worship, "but they avowed him, for the first time collectively, to be the Son of God ~ Messiah."
Peter learnt a significant lesson that morning but so did the other eleven. Jesus is still looking for people who will get out of the boat. So why should you risk it?
• It is the only way to real growth
• It is the way true faith develops
• It is part of discovering and obeying your calling
Conclusion: I believe that there are many good reasons to get out of the boat. But there is one that stands above them all… the water is calm where Jesus is. The water may be dark, wet, and dangerous. But Jesus is not in the boat. The main reason Peter got out of the boat is that he wanted to be where Jesus was. Matthew keeps referring to this reality. Peter’s request is, “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you.” Then Peter got out of the boat “and came toward Jesus.” (14:28) Because Peter did this – both he and his friends came to a deeper understanding of their master than ever before. So… how about you? When’s the last time you got out of the boat? Then God “passes us by” and shakes up everything. The call to get out of the boat involves crisis, opportunity, often failure, generally fear and sometimes suffering. It is always a call with a task too big for us. But there is no other way to grow closer to God!
So where are you this morning?
Huddled in the boat with a life jacket and your seat belt on?
One leg in, one leg out?
Out of the boat - but the wind looks pretty bad?
Looking into the eyes of Jesus and walking on water?
Maybe there was a time in your life when you were walking on water on a regular basis – a time when your heart was much like Peter’s: “command me. Tell me to come to you.” Or perhaps it’s been a while since you’ve got out of the boat – but the Lord is passing by. Jesus is still looking for people who are willing to get out of the boat!
