Yes, Jesus Does Walk on Water!

12th Sunday after Pentecost, 9/4/11
Matthew 14:22-33


Yes, Jesus Does Walk on Water!
I. To rescue fearful followers
II. To strengthen doubting disciples


“So, you think you walk on water!” Perhaps you’ve heard that expression in the past. If so, it was likely spoken to someone who thought a little too highly of themselves and their abilities. Perhaps they were boasting about what they had accomplished and would accomplish, as if they had complete control of the outcome. In other words, they were making statements that only God could make about himself.

As God’s people who have gathered here this morning to hear his word, we know how that statement came into being. It’s from the event Matthew records for us of Jesus walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee.

But I can’t help but wonder how many people today would recognize that statement as having a biblical connection. How many people would truly know what that comment means? “Walk on water? What are you talking about?” It’s another example of modern biblical illiteracy. In fact, if you were to use that statement to describe someone standing in front of you, you might get the response, “Walk on water? No, I can’t do that. Who could?”

Well, Jesus could. And he did. He really walked on water and he enabled Peter to do the same. And as with everything else Jesus ever said or did, it was for a critical spiritual reason as the world’s only Savior. Yes, Jesus does walk on water! Follow with me as we make our way through this familiar Bible account and discover why he did so.

Part I.

Have you ever gotten yourself into a difficult situation and, at one point, you stopped and pondered, “How did I ever get myself into this?”? We’ve all been there. We look back over the weeks and months and rehash the timeline of events. All along we thought we knew where we were headed, but we were wrong. We never realized that this is where we were going. If we had known, we would have made changes so it we wouldn’t have ended up where we are now. Such an exercise fills us with regret, but it’s an inevitable part of human life. We find ourselves in situations we never imagined.

But that never happened to Jesus. He was always in complete control of all things. That’s apparent in the opening words of our text. We read, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.” Immediately after what, and why did he make the disciples leave? Well, it was immediately after he had miraculously fed the 5,000 as we heard about last Sunday. John tells us that after being fed, the crowd wanted to take Jesus by force and make him their bread king. Jesus knew that was coming. He didn’t want the disciples to be there when that ungodly, satanic temptation arose. So he sent them away and spared them from this spiritual attack on their faith.

But he sent them out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee only to have their lives threatened by a fierce storm at night. Didn’t he know that? Of course he did. But that’s not a problem because, yes, Jesus does walk on water.

Here’s the situation. Earlier in the chapter we read that evening was approaching. But Jesus sent his disciples on their way in a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. We don’t hear that he received any reluctance from the disciples. Obviously, the trip was doable in the amount of daylight left under normal weather conditions. What’s more, in that boat were some seasoned fishermen who knew that lake like the proverbial back of their fishermen’s hands.

And away they sailed. But a storm arose. Matthew tells us, “but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” It must have been a fierce storm, the kind that suddenly arose on the Sea of Galilee because of the topography. And these experienced fishermen and the other disciples were helpless—for hours! Again, they had left with enough daylight remaining to make the 6-mile trip. Matthew says they had gone, “a considerable distance.” John tells us it was about 3 miles. And Matthew informs us how long they had been in that boat. Jesus came to them in the fourth watch of the night. That’s 3-6 AM! They may have been out in that boat for 8 hours or more for a trip that should have taken less than an hour. They were in some serious trouble!

That’s why Jesus came to them. He came walking on the water. If you read commentators on these verses you’ll find all sorts of fanciful and weird explanations, such as the water directly below Jesus became firm and calm like thick glass. That glassy calm stretched like a path before Jesus out to the boat, enabling him to walk on water. Let’s not go there. Look, Jesus was involved in the creation of water out of nothing. He has the almighty power to suspend the laws of nature governing water and his ability to walk on surfaces we can’t. It was an amazing, miraculous thing!

But his watery walk to the boat wasn’t well-received by the disciples. Under the stress of the storm and being the fickle sinners that they were, they were filled with fear. Matthew writes, “They were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.” I suppose we can understand their reaction. After all, it was dark. What’s more, no one walks in water. Their irrational minds immediately thought they were seeing a ghost.

But with a few simple sentences, Jesus drives their fear away. “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus was now physically present with them and he shared his all-powerful word with them. And his fearful followers realized how completely their situation had changed. They were no longer in danger. The Son of God was right there with them. He had walked on the water to come to them to calm their fears.

Yes, Jesus does walk on water. He does so to rescue fearful followers.

Yes, Jesus does walk on water. He still can if he so chooses. But don’t expect him to miraculously come to you the next time you’re caught in a weather storm or some other storm of your own making. In fact, he hasn’t promised to remove any of the problems that you’re facing. The truth is, he told us our lives will be full of trouble and we know how true that is. We deal with trouble every day. We’re exhausted at the end of each day, and we fall asleep knowing we’ll face another day full of more trouble. I hate to sound pessimistic, but isn’t it true? And yet Jesus walks on water to rescue us. He has promised that he is always with us. He has promised to shield and protect us as he sees best. And he has already rescued us, spiritually speaking. That’s what his death and resurrection were all about. He rescued us from the punishment of hell. He pulled us into the safety of his eternal kingdom. It will all turn out well for you eternally. Yes, Jesus does walk on water!

Part II.

But Jesus wasn’t the only one to walk on water that day. So did Peter.

Many have questioned Peter’s motives. Listen once again to what he said to Jesus. “‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Some figure this is Peter being true to character. He wanted to push himself forward as the leader of the disciples. Perhaps he even wanted to do a little showing off.

What’s more, we might not be impressed with Peter’s statement. He said, “If it’s you.” That sounds like he doubts that this is really Jesus who physically walked on water and now stood before him.

Realize that Jesus wouldn’t have told Peter to come to him if his motive was to show off or if he was full of doubt about who was standing in front of him. It’s seems far better to take Peter’s words as a statement of faith. He speaks a condition of reality. “If it’s you, and indeed it is.” Peter believes it is Jesus, and thus, he’s no longer afraid. And in his boldness of faith, Peter not only believes Jesus can walk on water, he also believes Jesus can make Peter walk on water. And that’s exactly what happens.

But only for a short while. Doubts arose in Peter’s heart when he took his eyes off his Savior and focused on the waves driven by the wind. Matthew’s comments are brief. “beginning to sink, [he] cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” For a moment, Peter’s faith faltered. In the face of a natural threat to his life—the waves—he forgot the supernatural power of his Savior. Immediately he began to sink.

But that’s why Jesus had walked on water in the first place. He had come to rescue his disciples. And so he “reached out his hand and caught him.” And then notice what he said to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” That’s a good question, isn’t it? Has Jesus ever given us a reason to doubt his love and his power? Why would we doubt the One who died for us and rose again from the dead for us? The pages of Scripture are filled with the evidence of his power and love in the lives of his people. And that’s why he came walking on the water.

Yes, Jesus does walk on water. He does so to strengthen doubting disciples.

What doubts fill your life? Doubts about your children? Your health? Your financial resources? Doubts that Jesus will really make things work out for you? Remember, Jesus really does walk on water. More than that, he died and rose again to rescue you eternally. Is there any doubt he’s going to get you through whatever in life you’re facing so that you reach that eternal goal he won for you? There’s no doubt because yes, Jesus does walk on water. Amen.