WALKING ON WATER
“Walking on water” – this is a biblical phrase which has found its way in everyday use. What does it mean? The secular meaning is that a person is doing wonders - but we can’t quite understand how they’re doing it and there’s a hint of danger that it could all go wrong! The saying, of course, comes from the Bible. Anyone who knows the life of Jesus will be familiar with the story of both our Lord and Peter “Walking on Water” (Matt 14:22-33).
I think it’s helpful to ask the question: out of the hundreds of remarkable things that Jesus did, why was this story singled out for preservation? It must be because it’s got some valuable teaching for successive generations of Christian believers. The very first sentence of the story alerts us to the fact that this was a planned event by Jesus. We’re told that “he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him.” Why, you may ask, does Jesus send the disciples on ahead in the boat – to their own danger?
This story is more than an event in a storm in far-off Palestine; it’s the sign and symbol of what He always does for His people, when the wind is contrary and we’re in danger of being overwhelmed by the storms of life. Our Christian pilgrimage is much like being in a boat, shaped by our experiences. But it’s when we’re confronted by the storms on the sea of life that the challenge to our faith becomes a reality.
In the Scriptures, the “sea” is a powerful image of the turmoil of life’s experiences here on Earth. If we’ve suffered from sea-sickness we can be thankful that the book of the Revelation assures us that in heaven there’s no more sea! The “boat” in which we find ourselves is a metaphor of the Church, the Body of Christ. The disciples unexpectedly were caught up in a life threatening situation. Their little craft was “buffeted by the waves”. The word used by Matthew means “tormented”, with the suggestion that the disciples were battling against cosmic forces of evil.
In the culture of that time, there were stories of a primeval watery chaos, teeming with monsters. This imagery is found in the Old Testament. It was only the power of God, who maintains order in the created world, that prevented these flood waters from breaking loose. The psalmist writes, “O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them” (89:9,10). Nevertheless, these enemies are real, as the disciples and especially Peter, found out for themselves.
It’s clear that there was a definite purpose in Jesus’ action, by the strength of the word used: He “compelled” the disciples to embark. This reminds us that the circumstances of Christians aren’t haphazard events strung together, but planned by a loving Heavenly Father, who knows the end from the beginning. The disciples were at the start of a great faith adventure, something that we have in common with them, as someone put it, “in our short and uncertain earthly life and pilgrimage”. So what can we learn from this real life story?
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT JESUS IS PRAYING FOR US
The setting of the story is at night. The previous day Jesus had been ministering to the crowds who were now following Him. We read, “he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (14), and then He had met their physical needs by feeding them, miraculously, by five loaves and two fish. But as nightfall came, Jesus “dismissed” the crowds and “went up into the hills by himself to pray”. The disciples were now in the middle of the lake.
I don’t suppose the disciples remembered that while they were on the stormy water that Jesus was on the nearby hillside in prayer. It’s so easy for us, too, to forget that the Lord Jesus is now at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us. The letter to the Hebrews tells us that “because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (7:24,25).
One of the sudden storms, for which Galilee was notorious, had come down, and the disciples were struggling against the winds and the waves, making little progress across the lake. It was in the fourth watch of the night which runs from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., that the incident took place. If there’s a time when we feel most vulnerable, it’s in the dark and in the middle of the night. It’s when we’re naturally at our lowest ebb, body, mind and spirit, that difficulties loom largest – but take heart, Jesus knows all about them and that’s when He comes to meet us.
When the wind of life is contrary, when we struggle to make sense of circumstances, we can guarantee that Jesus will be there to help although He may not be immediately detected. There are times when we’re up against it – in disappointments and sorrows; when we feel we’re failed ourselves and those we love. At such a time no-one need feel they’re alone, for Jesus comes alongside in the storms of life, with hands stretched out to save, and with His calm clear voice urging us to take heart and have no fear.
The disciples had already been terrified on a similar voyage across Galilee when they were fearful of drowning (8:23-27). On that occasion Jesus had been with them in the boat even though He had been asleep until rudely awoken. But now they were on their own. Perhaps this tells us that there’s always more to learn on the Christian journey.
God’s timescale is different to ours as He views our lives from His eternal perspective, so He’s never in a hurry. We would prefer a quick fix, a shortcut to perfection, but although God could instantly transform us, He’s chosen to develop us slowly. He prefers to work in incremental steps in our lives. Often we have to relearn a lesson before it sinks in. We may have to unlearn things from our old nature – habits and practices that need to be removed and replaced. The Bible language for this is “taking off the old self” and “putting on the new self” (Eph 4:22,23).
This preparation for eternity sometimes requires surgery rather than therapy but one thing is sure: it’s that the Christian life doesn’t carry a certificate of immunity from the storms of life. It’s wonderfully reassuring to Remember that Jesus is Praying for Us, but also:
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS
In reading the story of the storm on the lake, we have the advantage of knowing that it all ended happily, but not so the disciples. In addition to their being buffeted by waves lashed by a howling gale, we’re told “they were terrified” by the figure they saw coming towards them! ‘“It’s a ghost”, they said, and cried out in fear.’
How could the disciples not recognize Jesus? They had lived with Jesus in a very personal and intimate way and yet when it really mattered they didn’t recognize Him. In the midst of storms, tormented by waves of disappointment and doubt, they saw a ghost, an apparition. They certainly saw the figure of Jesus, but to them His appearance resembled that of a ghost. Perhaps the rain or fog was responsible as well as poor light just before dawn. All too often the adverse circumstances of life obscure our recognition of Jesus being with us.
It’s easy to criticize the disciples, but what of us? It’s the unexpected circumstances that catch us out. The disciples were too wrapped up in the struggles of the moment – the wind and rain, the tossing waves, the threat of drowning – but they missed a greater power, the living Christ. Although we believe Jesus for our salvation and know that He will supply all our needs, if we rely on our own strength, we’ll fall apart when life get tough, when everything appears to be contrary.
The fact that we might have come through a trying experience is no guarantee that a more severe testing time won’t come later. We never know what’s around the next corner. It’s a matter of perseverance, of “Keep Right on to the End of the Road”. The words of the song that Sir Harry Lauder wrote after his son was killed in action in World War I are very appropriate, “Ev’ry road thro’ life is a long, long road, Fill’d with joys and sorrows too.”
We might wonder why God allows these trials to apparently mar our lives here on Earth. Rick Warren tells us in “The Purpose Driven Life” that there are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for a child to grow to adulthood. The development of Christ-like character can’t be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi tells us, “I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns” (1:6).
We must learn to Recognize the Presence of Jesus even in the storms of life, and in doing so:
WE MUST LOOK TO JESUS TO COPE WITH OUR FEARS
How gracious is our Lord! The disciples, brave Peter among them, ‘cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus said to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid”.’ Fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be a safety mechanism. Some fears are good and normal as they help us to survive certain dangers. If we’re sensible, it’s good to have the fear of walking out in the road or of getting too close to an unguarded fire.
But fear can also be a force of destruction if we yield to ungodly forces. God isn’t the author of fear. The apostle Paul reassured his rather timid friend Timothy, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). We must discover in Him and through His Holy Spirit the power to cope with fear in all its expressions.
“It is I” said Jesus. He was using the words, “I am”, the powerful name of “Yahweh”, Jehovah, the Lord God who revealed Himself to Moses. Jesus was signalling His claim to deity. God had given mankind the rule over His creation, including the sea and here, Jesus, as the Second Adam, was fulfilling God’s purpose for humankind. God has revealed Himself in Jesus as the Second Person of the Godhead. All religions which don’t accept Jesus as the Son of God are false impostors. They have no power to save; they are merely ghosts bringing fear and dread.
Thank God, if we’re “in Christ” we have the antidote to fear, “Don’t be afraid.” He still tells us today, “You can trust me. You know my character and my competence. You can safely place your destiny in my hands. “Take courage! It is I.” It was at 3 a.m. that Jesus appeared, the least expected moment. There are many instances in Scripture when man’s dire distress became the meeting place with God. In fact, our extremity is God’s opportunity.
If we have learnt to Recognize the Presence of Jesus and Look to Him to Cope with Fear, then:
WE MUST MOVE OUT IN FAITH
Jesus didn’t climb into the boat but rather waited for a reaction to His words. Peter was a natural leader. Matthew presents him in the story in all his impetuosity mixed with his great devotion to Jesus, imperfect as it was. “Lord, if it’s you … let me come to you on the water.” An alternative translation is “Since it’s you …” The disciples had already done many mighty miracles when they’d been sent out into the towns and villages as Jesus’ representatives (Luke 10:17). They knew He could be trusted implicitly.
Peter was sometimes given to act on impulse and without thinking what he was doing and without counting the cost, something which got him into trouble; good intentions aren’t enough. But wisely, Peter seeks the Lord’s invitation to join Him before he dares to step out of the boat. Similarly, we shouldn’t rush into dangerous ventures without clear encouragement from the Lord. But as soon as he received the positive word “Come”, with remarkable trust he climbed over the side of the boat and began walking on the water.
For a time Peter succeeds in doing the impossible, but then he succumbed to fear: “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid.” It wasn’t the dangerous sea but a lesser, external circumstance, the wind, that brought on disaster. Why? Like Peter, if we depend upon our own resources and shift our focus off Jesus, we will fail. He was doing well until he became more concerned about the wind than about faith in the word from Jesus. But then what an example he is to us! How easy it is to let some setback catch us off balance and down we sink!
It’s reassuring to know that the Lord is only a prayer away, and He will always respond to our cry, as He did for Peter, “Lord, save me!” A very short prayer, but so effective. Jesus stretches out His safe and strong hand and pulls Peter up with the words, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” There’s a poem called "Footprints". The author dreamed he was walking across a beach, representing his life. For most of the way there were two sets of footprints in the sand - his and God’s - but at the saddest times of his life there was only one set. He asked God what this meant. "My child," God replied, "I love you and would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you!"
Failures are not an issue with God; it’s better to fail that not try at all! Peter got a mild rebuke for his weak faith but it was stronger than that of the other disciples who remained in the relative comfort and safety of the boat. It’s how we respond that matters. Sir Edmund Hillary failed a few times in scaling Mount Everest but he looked up at the mountain and said, “I will defeat you because you are as big as you’re going to get – but I’m still growing!” That’s the spirit that rejoices God. We might reflect as to what we would have done: do we put security before a positive response to service in the cause of Christ?
Peter had a one-off experience of defying gravity by a literal walk on water and his faith faltered, but he was raised up to a life of service for his Master. The story of Walking on Water has been preserved for the benefit of Christians of all the centuries to tell us that our voyage across the lake of life will encounter storms because the non-Christian world is a hostile environment to the believer. But take heart, Jesus Prays for us and He’s Present with us. On our part we must Look to Him to Cope with Fear and To Move Out in Faith. Jesus still bids us, as He did with Peter, “Come, walk on the water with Me.”
