Jesus Walks on Water
Jesus is in a solitary place to pray. He sent the disciples ahead. Jesus walks on water, preparing to meet them on the other side.
One thing in this story always seeks strange to me. In Mark’s telling of the event, he says that Jesus intended to pass on by them in the boat. But once they called out in fear, He let them know who He was. I wonder why that was.
Something else curious about the recounting of the events. Of the three recounting, only Matthew talks about Peter, Simon, getting out of the boat and walking on the water. Why no mention in the other two accounts? Something to ask when we reach Heaven, I suppose.
Let’s rejoin Jesus on the mountainside as He spends some time alone before rejoining His disciples. Holy Spirit, thank You for sharing Your stories with me. For letting me see even a glimpse into Jesus’ life. Share this story with me today as well. Show me how Peter felt that day, stepping out of the boat. Show me how his lessons apply to my life as well.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jesus knows His disciples are safe out on the water. He also knows what they are about to be up against. A ‘faith building exercise’ is in their future. For now, time alone with His Abba is in His.
“Abba, thank You for today. Thank You for helping Me put aside My grief, for a time. I knew what was coming for John, but it still hurts this heart You put in my body. It’s part of being human too.”
“It is. It hurt Me as well. The cruelty of man against his fellow man. I held John throughout the whole process, and welcomed him into My arms right afterwards” responds the Father.
“Today blew the boys away with the fish and bread” Jesus chuckles.
“They weren’t the only ones blown away. Some of the people will believe because of today.”
“And some won’t” Jesus says with sadness.
“All we can do is offer them the truth. They have to choose to accept it.”
Jesus and the Father talk for a while longer before Jesus is ready to rejoin His disciples. Jesus walks back down the mountain, out onto the shore, and keeps going. Right on TOP of the water!
While Jesus spends time with the Lord, the disciples are making their way across the sea to Gennesaret. This is the same place where Jesus cast out the legion of demons from the man. The disciples talk about what they might find once they arrive.
“I hope they don’t run us off again.”
“I bet Jesus is met with all kinds of hurting people when He finally arrives. Especially after the man He healed spread the word” remarks Philip.
Simon keeps looking back at the shoreline. “Guys, how do you think Jesus is going to get to Gennesaret? There aren’t any more boats and it’s a long walk around the sea.” He looks back a while longer before saying; “Do you think we should go back and get Him?”
“No” answers Matthew in an authoritative tone. “He said He wanted to be alone.”
“Fine” Simon says. After a shake of his head, he focuses on the journey.
The winds begin to pick up as the boat makes its way to the other side. Within an hour the waves are crashing over the sides of the boat. “I told you we should have gone back for Him. HE could have calmed this storm” bellowed Simon as he battles beside the rest of the disciples.
They are making headway, but it is inch by inch and taking every ounce of strength they have. There is no use going back now. They are closer to Gennesaret than where they started from. But even that shore looks impossible to reach.
Jesus sees His disciples struggling valiantly to reach the shore. He is nearing their position as He walks on top of the water. The waves barely dampen the hem of His garment. He knows that His men have not called out to God for help, so He intends to walk right by them. He will not force them to accept help.
Andrew is the first to spot the figure moving above the water. He stops and does a double take before calling out to his fellow disciples.
“Guys, look over here!” he cries while pointing in Jesus’ direction.
““It is a ghost!” (Matthew 14:26) echoes around the boat. They are all terrified!
Jesus decides not to wait until they call out to Him. He calls out to them instead. “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
The screaming died down a little, but they were still not convinced. Simon Peter looks deeply at Jesus. He wants clarification. And he wants to be part of what Jesus is doing.
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28).
Jesus smiles, and without hesitation calls to Simon. He only needs one word; “Come” (Matthew 14:29).
Simon wastes not a second as he propels himself over the side of the boat. His shipmates are all crying out for him to stop, but he can’t even hear them. All he sees is his Master standing there, waiting with outstretched arms.
Without even thinking about it, Simon takes a step. And then another. As the reality of what he is doing settles over him, he takes his eyes off of Jesus and notices the waves. He immediately begins to sink. He calls out for help for the first time this night. “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30).
Jesus reaches out and takes hold of Simon. The two of them climb back into the boat. The rest of the disciples have been struck still as soon as Simon took his first step. They are released from their ‘spell’ when the wind and waves stop as soon as Jesus’ feet hit the bottom of the boat.
Jesus looks at Simon and shakes His head. He is proud of Simon for taking that leap of faith, but is also disappointed with him for not holding onto it. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31) Jesus asks.
Simon opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. He is ashamed. He let his Lord down. Jesus puts His hand on Simon’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze of companionship.
“Let’s get this boat going” He says.
The disciples scramble into action, only to notice that they are nearly to the other shore already. Simon hops out of the boat for the second time tonight and pulls them the rest of the way onto shore.
Fishermen are on the shore when Jesus and His group arrive. They recognize Him from the stories they have heard from the man who used to live in the tombs. They drop their nets and run into town.
“Jesus is back! Bring your sick and injured. Maybe He will heal them like He did for our friend who used to live in the tombs.”
Word goes out like lightning across the sky. Within minutes, people begin pouring onto the beach bringing anyone who is sick with them. People begin to line the shore, including people being carried on beds.
“Heal us, please!” they cry out. “Let us but touch the hem of Your garment.” They had heard the story of the woman who approached Jesus and was healed. If she can receive healing that way, so can they.
Jesus honors their faith. He begins to walk among them. Any who reach out and touch Him as He passes by is instantly healed. The people plead with Him to walk through their villages and towns, doing this same thing.
Jesus spends time passing through the town markets of every village. He rebukes no one as He moves through the crowds. His eyes sparkle with love and His heart sings with joy at the people’s faith. This is a HUGE difference from the last time He landed here.
(to be continued)
I would have LOVED to be Simon Peter as he jumped out of the boat. NOT as he began to sink though. Peter gets a bad rap for not believing, but can you honestly say that your circumstances have never taken your eyes off of Jesus in the middle of a trial. I can’t. I have FAR TOO MANY stories where I started out strong, then wound up trying to ‘help’ God move things along. That was my faith losing focus. And, like Peter, I NEEDED His help to keep me from drowning!
Did you notice that Jesus didn’t say anything to the disciples who chose to stay in the boat? I think He calmed the storm for Peter. The others got the benefit too, but they didn’t stretch their faith. Peter certainly did. And it was a moment he would NEVER forget. But what would he remember the most; climbing out of the boat, sinking, being saved by Jesus, or the verbal rebuke, no matter how gentle. Me, I would remember the failure parts the most. Only when He points out the triumphs do I really see them.
Father God, thank You for not letting me drown when I get my eyes off of You. I have certainly gotten ‘wet’ in the process, but You ALWAYS reach out and pull me back from destruction.
Continue to grow my faith, just as Jesus did with Peter’s. He still had a long way to go, but he DID fulfill the role You had for him. Let me fulfill the role You have for me; whatever it may be, and however many of them there may be.
