February 19, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus Walks on Water
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36(NIV)
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Devotional
Jesus has just dismissed the crowd and sent his disciples ahead across the lake. He needed time alone to rest and to pray. The road to the cross was in front of him and he needed strength for the journey. In the meantime, we find the disciples out in the middle of the lake, being battered by a storm. Haven’t we seen this before? But this time, Jesus isn’t with them. What were they going to do now?
Just before daybreak, they see something strange coming toward them. Was it a ghost? An evil spirit? Again, they’re terrified. But it’s Jesus – walking to them upon the water. He tells them, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” These words alone should have been proof enough of who Jesus was (recall God’s encounter with Moses – “I AM”). And they would have been familiar with the scriptures which clearly say that only God walks on the sea.
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8)
He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:16)
But it was Peter, bless his heart, who reacts first. Bold, passionate, dramatic Peter. He seems to understand who Jesus is and addresses him as LORD. Upon Jesus’ command to “come”, Peter bolts out of the boat and begins to walk on water. But then reality sets in and he “saw the wind”. Instead of keeping his eyes on Jesus, he becomes distracted. Fear overcomes him. He cries out to Jesus, who offers his hand to save him. Many condemn Peter for his doubt and lack of faith, but another way to look at it is that Peter was the only one to take action in faith. He was the only one with the courage to step into the water and confess his faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. He was the only one to get out of the boat. We should always remember that sinking does not equal failure. As disciples, we are not asked to always be successful. We are asked to always be faithful.
There was a book written back in 2014 by John Ortberg entitled If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. In the description of the book, we are given this encouragement and asked this very important question - “Deep within you lies the same faith and longing that sent Peter walking across the wind-swept Sea of Galilee toward Jesus. In what ways is the Lord telling you, as he did Peter, ‘Come’?”
This week, think about that question and how you might answer Jesus’ call to “Come.”
Poem
Alamoth - High Pitch
Psalm 46
Though high the pitch
Of ocean toss
Though mountains quake
Though all seems loss
Though hearts erupt
With sorrow, fear
Though night is dark
Still, You are near
You come to us
Across the storms
Though chaos swirls
You keep from harm
Your little ones
Who tremble, shake
You stay with them
‘Til day does break
Then guide them through
Each trial sore
Until they reach
The harbored shore
Where all is peace
Where calm provides
Eternal rest
On heaven’s side
