Walking On Water

(If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat)

Peter, one of the twelve disciples, is remembered as a hot-headed individual, a bit impulsive, and rather single-minded.  Parents like to cite his actions to their young ones on how not to act around other people.  However, Peter is known as the only one who got out of the boat when Jesus called to him during a vicious storm.

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. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “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 14:25-29 (NIV)

We read this episode in the life of Jesus, Peter, and the rest of the disciples and think how wonderful it must have been.

A little background will place this story in perspective.  John The Baptist, Jesus’ cousin had been beheaded, Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands of people, and he spent the night praying.  He was tired, the disciples were in a boat with a dangerous storm raging and now Jesus walked out on the stormy lake to meet the disciples in the boat.

Did you get this?  Jesus was walking on the lake water!  I will say it again.  Jesus was walking on water, a raging, stormy, high wavy, dark night….type of water walking.  I don’t think there were boulders for Him to jump on and through.  Jesus was walking on water!

Peter saw Jesus, just as the other disciples saw Jesus.  While Andrew, Matthew, John and the other boys were wailing tearfully, Peter was staring straight at Jesus.  His eyes were focused on Jesus! This is important!  Peter’s full focus, his eyes, body, and mind were on Jesus.  Out in the storm, with the wind and wild waves, Jesus was the object of Peter’s focus and then Jesus spoke to Peter.

The storm raged, Peter watched, and Jesus spoke, “Come.”  That was it, “Come to me.”

Peter wasted no time in climbing down out of the boat.  As he moved from safety to stormy water, his eyes remained on Jesus.  Peter did not study the situation or think through the possibilities, he merely moved and left the boat.  His goal was to go to Jesus.

Stormy weather?  Not a problem!

Rain pelting him? Piece of cake!

Walking on water?  I’ve got this because Jesus is in front of me!

While the 11 disciples remained in the safety of the boat, Peter jumped out into the raging water and walked toward Jesus!

The storm is raging now, with sickness, church issues, people issues and just wondering what today holds, much less tomorrow.  However, Jesus is also in your storm.  Just as Peter had his eyes on Jesus, we need to focus solely on Jesus.

Not on the issues around us even though they are huge.

Not on the needs of people around us even though they are real. 

Our focus must be on Jesus!  He is the lifegiving source of peace and power. He alone can guide you through the storm in our lives.  He alone can lift your feet above the wild waves of your life.

Are your eyes on Jesus?  Are you trusting him?

Jesus will not leave you!  He is with you in your storm.

How do you discern a call? Water walking requires not only the courage to take a risk but also the wisdom to discern a call.

A man appears before the pearly gates.

"Have you ever done anything of particular merit?"Saint Peter asks.

"Well, I can think of one thing,"  the man offers.

"Once I came upon a gang of high testosterone bikers who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker. I smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground, and I told him, leave her alone now or you'll answer to me."

Saint Peter was impressed, he asked, "when did this happen?"

"A couple of minutes ago," the man answered.  

There is a big difference between faith and foolishness. 
We need to remember Peter was not in charge of water walking, Jesus was.

This is not some power at peter's disposal to use any time he chooses, for whatever purpose he Pleases.

Before he gets out of the boat peter needs to make sure that this is what he is called to do and that Jesus is the one doing the calling. 

Jesus is looking for something more than mere impulsiveness.

Based on If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat – John Ortberg