Walking on the Water

Matthew 14:22-36

Immanuel – 8/25/24

          As a young boy I had the thought that if I could muster enough faith, I could walk on water – even though I knew of no one since Peter who had done this. How amazing it would be if I could walk on water!

          So with a distorted understanding of the verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), I stood on the edge of a lake. I closed my eyes so tight and tried to summon all my belief – like a Shaolin Monk summoning chi – and I would picture Jesus on the water, calling me. Extending my foot, shifting my weight to that leg, I would feel the wet, and plunge through the water.

          Turns out, all I could summon was boyhood pride and fanciful imaginings. Since those childhood days, I haven’t tried to walk on water. Sure, reality has set in since then: I’m a little more practical and cynical than I used to be. But I also hope that my understanding of Jesus and His miracles has matured since those early days.

Now I can see that such a miracle serves no one’s ego. This single instance of walking on water serves to reveal the divine nature of Christ, causing His disciples to burst with worship.

          Purpose

1.      Give context to the stormy events of our passage.

2.      Offer some parallels to our life now.

          Read vs 22-23a

          The Aftermath of Feeding

          Immediately. Jesus sent the disciples away immediately. He did this even before sending the crowd away, immediately after everyone in that enormous crowd had been fed. This urgent rushing off of the disciples does seem a little out of character for Jesus. The Gospel of John helps us to understand why such a hurry.

          Immediately after Jesus feeds the people, John records this detail for us:

          When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.                                                                              -John 6:14-15

          As I said last week, the crowd of people that Jesus miraculously fed was very likely 10,000 strong. They understood that Jesus had performed a powerful miracle, and they understood its significance. Jesus was performing signs only possible for the Messiah. The problem was, they did not understand the nature of their Messiah.

          The hills around Bethsaida – where the miraculous feeding took place – was the birthplace of the Jewish Zealot movement; a movement that wanted to overthrow Rome and was entirely intolerant of any political compromise. The crowd wanted to make Jesus king right then and there, and they (or at least the 5,000 men) would become the first of His messianic army.

          The crowd did not understand that their Messiah was in no way militaristic. It seems that the 12 disciples didn’t completely understand this either. The disciples were susceptible, likely to be swept up in the fervor of the crowd and want to make this the moment that Jesus would finally begin the messianic war.

          But before that could happen, immediately after the crowd was fed, Jesus removed His disciples from the situation. Sending the disciples away like this, does it not mean that their faith is still so small, still not matured in the soil of truth? Obviously, I’m doing a bit of speculating here, but I believe all these pieces very reasonably fit together. Again, hear the forceful language of verse 22: Immediately, [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go…

          Only then did He dismiss the crowds.

          I wonder what Jesus might have said that caused the crowds to abort their coronation and go home. Whatever it was, they go and Jesus finally gets the solitude He was seeking back in verse 13. Remember, after Jesus received news that His cousin – John the Baptist – had been martyred, He left town looking for some time alone with the disciples. Of course, the disciples are gone now, and Jesus is completely alone.

Well, not completely alone. He is with His Father in prayer. Evidently, Jesus stays with His Father for hours into the night. Meanwhile, the disciples were struggling on the water.

Read vs 23b-24

The disciples were out on the water, getting battered by the waves. The wind was against them and they were struggling. Mark informs us that Jesus told the disciples to row to Bethsaida – at most, 2 miles along the coast. But John adds that the disciples were about 3-4 miles out in the middle of the lake. Not only were they unable to make headway, but they had been blown dramatically off course.

If you remember the sermon from when Jesus quieted the storm on Galilee, then you will remember that sudden storms can afflict the lake; storms the locals call “sharkias.” This is cold air rushing down from the mountains in the north, colliding with the warm air around the lake, and kicking up a fierce windstorm blowing towards the south. This appears to be another “sharkia,” though not life-threatening like the storm in Matthew 8.

Read vs 25-26

In The Gloam

The fourth watch of the night was the Roman designation for the time between 3 and 6 AM. It was the last watch of the night, the time of dawn.

If Jesus dismissed the disciples right as it was getting dark, that means they have been rowing for at least seven hours. A row to Bethsaida should have taken an hour. Traversing the six miles to the other side of the lake in calm weather should take about three or four hours. But they have been out all night going only 3-4 miles and are nowhere near where they need to be.

But see in this their determination. They are not allowing the wind to carry them wherever it will. Though I am certain they were exhausted, they will not give up. They will row, even if it takes them all night (as it almost did) to get where Jesus had sent them: to Bethsaida.  With all their might, the disciples want to be obedient.

Now, I want you to imagine yourself in the disciples’ shoes for a moment.

The wind is in your face and the spray of the waves has you drenched. You’re exhausted from no sleep and your muscles ache from a night of rowing. You’re far from your destination and probably feeling a bit defeated. After a dark night of wind and waves and rowing in vain, you hope for morning and any change in circumstance. It’s the fourth watch. The slightest light begins to creep up the horizon and some hope creeps into your heart with it. But then, as you look east towards the rising gloam, squinting through the wind and spray, a strange shadow walks on the waves. And you realize, that shadow is coming right for you.

Certainly, atop the waters is no place for a man to be walking. And this approaching spectral shadow, black against the faint eastern horizon, would be a menacing sight. It appears as an apparition, a phantom, a ghost! Would terror have struck your heart as it struck the disciples?

Read vs 27

          The last time the disciples were on the lake in a “sharkia” storm, they were terrified that the waves would sink them, that they would all die. Now they are terrified of the shadowy figure upon the waves.

Ghosts? Did the disciples still believe in such superstitions? They had cast out demons in Jesus’ name, should they really be afraid? Could there be anyone else than Jesus upon the waves?

          Matthew would have us see that as soon as terror gripped the disciples’ hearts, rising above the roar of the wind and waves, the figure shouts in a familiar voice: “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid!”

          The disciples were off course, far from where they should have been, but Jesus knew right where they were. They were struggling and losing ground, getting further and further from their Lord, so Jesus went to them. When their faith was overwhelmed by fear, Jesus spoke encouragement and comfort.

          We must look more closely at what exactly Jesus speaks. “Take heart!” It’s the same as saying, “Have courage!” “Have faith!” And then He says two words so powerful that the universe is held together by them. In English it is three words: “It is I.” In the Greek it is two words: “Ego Eimi.” Ego=I. Eimi=exist, to be, am. I am.

“Take heart; I am! Do not be afraid!”

          More than a thousand years before, when God appeared to Moses on the side of a mountain and in a burning bush, Moses asked God what His name is.

          God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”                                             -Exodus 3:14

I am: the name of Yahweh.    In a way the disciples may have missed in the moment, but no Christian since the resurrection could, Jesus takes up the covenant name of God.  And Jesus is doing what only God can do: walking upon the water.

Who alone stretched out the heavens and treads the waves of the sea? Behold, He passes by me, and I see Him not; He moves on, but I do not perceive Him.

                                                                             -Job 9:8,11

In the midst of the disciples’ struggle and fear, Yahweh treads the waves and comes to them. Yet, by fear they could not perceive Him.  Above the win He shouts: “Take heart; I am! Do not be afraid!”

          I am created the heavens and the earth, the seas and everything in them.

          You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

                                                                                      -Psalm 89:9

          The ruler of the waters, and all reality, comes treading across the waves. He comes to the disciples because He is for them, because He provides for them, because He loves them. Is there anything in all creation that the disciples of Jesus have to fear?

          No! And just as Yahweh-Jesus commanded, Peter takes heart!

          Read vs 28-31

          Peter

          I love what Peter says to Jesus. It is such a profound demonstration of the human heart we all share: a mixture of doubt and faith. “If it is you” expresses some uncertainty, some doubt, even though He hears Jesus’ voice. “Command me to come to you on the water” expresses an astounding measure of faith. He knows who Jesus is, and he knows that Jesus can do whatever He wills.

          And with this mixture of doubt and faith, why does Peter say this to Jesus? What in the world is his motivation? Jesus does not ask him to come. There is presumption in Peter’s words. It’s almost like he – with his characteristic impetuousness – speaks before he thinks. But whatever is going on within Peter, I think he just wants to be near Jesus. Whatever is going on within Peter, he will do nothing without Jesus’ command.

          Peter cries across the waves, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

          Overlooking Peter’s doubts, overlooking his presumption and impulsiveness, in all kindness Jesus says, “Come.” How loving of Jesus, who gives Peter what he desires in that moment, even if those desires are as tumultuous as the water.  Because, again, beneath the chaos of Peter’s heart, he just wants to be near Jesus.

          With tremendous confidence and courage and faith, Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water. Jesus empowers Peter to do what only God can do. Verse 29 says that Peter came to Jesus. Just as he made it all the way to Jesus, he felt the gusting wind, the liquid ground violently undulating beneath him, and recognized that this should not be possible, he took his eyes off Jesus. The doubts that were subtle a moment ago, overcome him. Peter begins to sink. He begins to drown in his fear.

          His understanding of reality – his common sense – told Peter that he was a rock, bound to plunge into Galilee’s depth. It’s what Peter knew and it’s what we all know. The reality of death haunts us all.

Yet faith testifies to, and believes in, a greater reality: the reality of God. God is with us! I am treads upon the waves! In fact, the waves, and the Sea of Galilee, and the planet in which it is situated, and all creation; is held together by the word of Christ.

          [Christ] is the image of the invisible God…For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. -Colossians 1:15-17

          The eyes of faith see that everything in all creation – in all reality – holds together because of Jesus. Creation depends upon the being of Jesus in order to exist. In other words, because He is, so is everything else. I am means everything else can be: including the waves of Galilee, including a disciple tossed between faith and doubt.

          And when His disciple begins to sink in doubt, awash with suffocating fear, there He is – I am.

Jesus said, “I give [my disciples] eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”                                     -John 10:28

          Peter believed this, and yet his faith was small. His eyes fell from Jesus, looked at the waves, and remembered that a person cannot walk on water. He was overcome by reasonable, practical concerns.  He doubted. The fear of death overcame his faith. But even as death pulled him down, Peter still had enough faith, even if it was little faith, to cry, Lord, save me!

Once more, we see the kindness of Christ. As soon as Peter cries out, verse 31 says that Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him. Without hesitation, Jesus’ firm grip saves Peter from certain destruction. Once held in the secure hand of Christ, the rock no longer sinks.

          I presume that Jesus pulled Peter up to his feet again, and Peter now clings to Jesus. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

          I do not hear this as a rebuke. Like, “What’s wrong with you Peter, with your little faith? Why did you doubt?” No! There is no belittling tone nor condemnation in Jesus’ voice. He is love. I believe His question carries a different kind of weight: “Peter, you know me. You have seen so many miracles. You have seen my compassion. You know I love you. You know I’ve got you. Why did you doubt me?”

I believe Jesus’ words to Peter are mixed with love and a tender sadness. He wanted Peter to know Him – to truly know Him – and to know that His disciple could trust Him. But Peter wasn’t there yet. Even though he had been with Jesus for years now, and had seen things beyond imagining, Peter’s faith was still so small.

          But even if Peter’s faith was tiny, Christ’s salvation was not! He had rescued Peter from death and pulled his beloved disciple to His side, the only place where solid ground exists. All fears recede once held in the hand of Jesus. For once you see who Jesus is – who He truly is – fear is drowned in worship.

          Read vs 32-33

          As soon as Jesus and Peter step onto the boat, the wind and the waves are silenced.

          The disciples were exhausted from a night of struggle and despair, they were terrified as the shadow approached out of the darkness, confused and hopeful when they heard the voice of Jesus, astounded when Peter went out on the water too. But all these stormy emotions, with all of their fears and toil, are now entirely stilled.

I am is with them. They worship. And they see Him for who He is – for who He truly is: not a mere miracle worker, not a mere teacher, not a king to topple Rome; He is the Son of God. In Matthew, this is the first time the disciples recognize Jesus as God the Son. They don’t entirely know what this means yet, but their little faith is most certainly growing.

          John 6:21 tells us that as soon as these things happened, immediately the boat was at the land. They were far from their original plans, but nothing is loss when Jesus Christ is in control.

          Read vs 34-36

          Jesus’ fame has become so great in Galilee that people recognize Him now by sight. And when they see Him, crowds immediately form – people looking for miracles. They are so desperate that they are clawing at Jesus, just trying to touch even His clothing. I get this image of zombies, clawing for the flesh of a healthy person. Indeed, Jesus is the source of life, and apart from Him we are all the walking dead. As we saw last week, we need His flesh to live!

          And Jesus is not offended by this. He is not repulsed by the flagrant display of brokenness and sinfulness of the people. Just as Jesus healed out of compassion on the other side of the lake, He heals again in Gennesaret. Anyone and everyone, they are healed by the tireless I am: who fed the 5,000, who communes with His Father, who walks upon the water, who loves without wearying.

          Can you see the profound implications in all of this for you? Though what happened on the Sea of Galilee that night will never happen again, and you (like me) are not called to walk upon the water, there are so many parallels to your life.

          People still try to make Jesus into a king of their own making. These people are innumerable, and they neither know Jesus nor are known by Him.

Committed disciples still get blown off course, and following Jesus turns into a struggle that seems to go nowhere. Despite their determination, they have drifted far from their Lord.

There are plenty of Christians toiling in the dark, longing for a change of circumstance.

But there is one parallel I want to focus on: Peter’s mixture of fear and faith.

Jesus may not have commanded you to walk upon the waters, as He did Peter, but He has definitely commanded you to do something else:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”                                                             -Matthew 28:19-20

Fear says, not me. I might offend someone. I might turn someone off to Jesus. I don’t know what to say. They might think that I’m weird, or worse. Fear says, I cannot go: I have family here, I can’t give up my job, my kids are too young, I don’t want to take them out of their school, those people seem hostile.

And deeper into fear you sink. Despite the command that Christ has placed over your life, disciple, you are motionless – like the spiritually drowned. Oh you of little faith, why do you doubt?

Is there faith enough to cry, “Lord, save me?” He has not left you nor forsaken you. He stands ready, arm outstretched. Your faith may be small, but His salvation knows no limits.

So look over the landscape of your life. See its tumults and chaos. No matter your age, see that there is still so far to go. And your heart is plunged into anxiety, or depression, or indifference, or rebellion, or into a sea of them all. See the Christ, whom the best of us can only see in shadows. You have not gone to Him, but He has come to you.

“Take heart; I am! Do not be afraid!”

In love and mercy, I am has come for you. Fix your eyes upon Him. Follow His command. He will take you impossible places, difficult places, glorious places. Fix your eyes upon Him. You are secure in His hand. He is the Rock that will never let you sink.

Let no fear prevent you from stepping out! Let no fear swallow you as you follow Him!

“Take heart; I am! Do not be afraid!”