In Matthew 14:22, Jesus walks on water, and as the disciples watched in disbelief—Jesus stepping across the turbulent waves—they were gripped by a mix of fear and awe. The scene challenged their understanding of the world and of Christ Himself. Yet, with His divine wisdom and compassion, Jesus calmed them with gentle words:
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)
These simple words were enough to soothe the disciples’ hearts and strengthen their faith in Jesus’ presence and power.
During this supernatural event, Peter displays courage and boldness by asking to join Him, walking on the water as well. God is presenting us with supernatural experiences so we can transcend the natural and embrace the extraordinary.
As Christians, it’s crucial to recognize that storms have always been—and will always be—part of the Christian life. Yet, even amidst the storm, we can see and understand God’s care for us.
Storms Create Moments of Intimacy!
Jesus instructed the disciples to get into the boat and head to the other side while He dismissed the crowd. The disciples promptly obeyed Jesus’ voice, boarding the boat and setting out, but Jesus, after sending the crowd away, went up to the mountain to pray alone.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:22-23)
First Lesson: We’re Never Truly Alone
At certain points in life, we may feel like we’re walking alone, just as when Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side. It might have seemed as if Jesus was saying, “You go ahead, for I’ll stay here.”
But, just as it happened with the disciples, even in moments when we feel alone, we are never truly abandoned. Just as Jesus was with His disciples, manifesting Himself by walking on the water, He is with us in every storm of life. His presence is constant, guiding and protecting us, even when everything feels uncertain. We must always remember that, even in times of apparent “solitude,” we are never truly alone—Jesus is always with us.
Those disciples were now heading out into the middle of the sea, while their Master stayed behind. At that moment, they might not have understood what Jesus meant, but they knew the importance of obeying His voice.
We may never fully grasp how God works, but we know how vital it is to obey His voice. There will be times in our lives when we experience God’s silence.
Second Lesson: Intimacy Through Prayer
Jesus commanded them to set out for the other side of the sea, but He went up the mountain to have a moment of intimacy with the Father—a time when only He and the Father communed through prayer. Evening had arrived, and Jesus remained there alone, praying.
Jesus teaches us that we must maintain intimate fellowship with the Father, praying without ceasing. We should pray in church with our brothers and sisters, but above all, we need a private moment—just you and God.
“Now I’ll stay here, son, but you keep walking!”
There are times when we’ll head into the middle of the sea, and everything will seem calm. But suddenly, a storm will arise, waves will crash, and the winds will blow against us, even making us think we might sink.
“But the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.” (Matthew 14:24-26)
There are occasions when we walk side by side with God, witnessing His miracles and wonders, feeling His power in an intensely supernatural way.
These are moments that make us feel as if God is carrying us, like a child in the arms of a beloved father. Yet, there are also times when our Father says, “Now it’s time for you to walk ‘alone,’ time to take your own steps. I want you to know your limits, dare with your faith, go beyond the natural, and seek the supernatural.”
God allows us to move forward on our own, watching us from a distance. Like a child taking their first steps, stumbling and quickly steadied by their father, He holds our hands and lifts us into His arms to make us feel His love once more.
Such situations help us grow, offering a fatherly experience and showing us that challenges will arise along the way. There may be rocks, storms, strong winds, waves, and even thorns, but God will be by our side in every moment, whether good or bad.
In the context of Matthew 14:26-27, the disciples witness something extraordinary—someone walking on water.
Their human reaction to this scene was pure fear. There was a storm, there was wind, but there was something even more supernatural: a person walking on the water—and that person was Jesus.
Fear seized those men, and they began claiming it was a ghost, crying out in terror.
“When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” (Matthew 14:26-27)
What’s fascinating is that Jesus understood the hearts of those men, overwhelmed by fear in that moment. He then said to them, “Don’t be afraid, it’s Me.”
Peter Walks on Water
There was a disciple named Peter who boldly said, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Jesus’ response was simple: “Come!”
“‘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.” (Matthew 14:28-29)
We see that Peter courageously steps out of the boat and begins walking on the water toward Jesus. Peter is walking on the water, but at a certain point, the same Peter who boldly said, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water,” now succumbs to fear. He looks at the adverse circumstances—the strong wind, the difficulties—and loses his focus on Jesus.
Often, like Peter, we face challenging situations that cause us to doubt, lose focus, and stray from the path we want to follow. It’s important to remember that, like Peter, we can always turn our attention back to Jesus, who guides and strengthens us. Facing adversity with courage, faith, and determination will help us overcome obstacles and press forward toward our deepest goals and dreams. May we always remember that, even in moments of fear and uncertainty, a greater power accompanies and sustains us.
Why Did Peter Sink?
Peter became afraid, and the same Peter who boldly stepped out now begins to sink. In that moment, his only reaction was to cry out, “Lord, save me!”
“‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:29-30)
There are times in our lives when we’ll be as bold as Peter, but storms and waves will rise, just as they did in Peter’s life. Adversities will come to try to shift our focus from Jesus, and when the storm arises, we must keep our eyes on the target and cry out, “Jesus, help me!”
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:31-33)
To overcome any difficulty, we must have faith. When Peter stepped out of the boat, he had extreme faith. He left the boat convinced he would experience something supernatural through faith in Jesus’ word, certain he wouldn’t sink. But the moment Peter stopped looking at Jesus and focused on the adversities, he let those challenges shake his faith.
Your faith must be strong enough to unsettle the storm, not the storm strong enough to unsettle your faith. When Peter looked at the storm, his faith faltered. Often, we walk boldly like Peter, but storms seek to destabilize our faith.
Yet, it’s vital to remember that, like Peter, we can find strength to face the storms that come our way. In those challenging moments, strengthening our faith is essential to maintain our courage and determination. Just as storms come and go, our faith can be a beacon that guides and sustains us through adversity. Keep your gaze steady and your trust unshaken, for true faith can move mountains and calm the wildest storms.
Conclusion: Walking on Water with Faith
God wants to teach us that we, too, can walk on water, break through storms, and face the waves, because our faith can unsettle the tempest, creating new experiences with Him and allowing us to live His impossible.
Just as believing in the ability to walk on water and face storms teaches us about the strength of our faith, it also shows us we’re capable of overcoming seemingly impossible challenges. Trust in something greater than ourselves guides us through adversity, enabling us to experience moments of triumph and deep connection with God. May this certainty inspire us to press on, confident in our ability to transcend difficulties and achieve the impossible.
Additional Bible Study
Check out the Bible study we’ve prepared: 1 Kings 17 – The Widow of Zarephath, From Death to Miracle
May we carry this word of faith to those who have yet to encounter God.
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