Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on what the Lord Jesus teaches us when he walks on the waters, when Peter says to him: “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” We can read this in Matthew 14.28. Let’s see this scene of the boat in the middle of the storm: It represents the image of the current position of the redeemed of the Lord Jesus. For while he is in heaven, absent but praying and interceding for them whom he has commanded to get on the boat; they have to cross the rough seas of this world painfully.
It’s also moral obscurity on souls because the enemy, that is to say the devil, raising opposition of men, acts like the wind and the waves which almost nullify their efforts to row well. But the savior Jesus comes to meet his own and his familiar voice reassures the poor frightened disciples. He said to them: “Don’t worry, it’s me; don’t be afraid” because they thought they saw a ghost.
And as faith is based on the Word, he hears the Lord saying to him “Come!”. So faith brings Peter to meet Him who loves him. But suddenly that faith falters and fails as it sinks. What happened? Peter took his eyes off his Master to look up to the waves and the violence of the wind. And thought it was easier to walk on calm water than on rough seas. It was then that he cried out to the Lord who immediately came to rescue him. This foreshadows the moment when his people who rejected him will recognize him, honor him and be delivered by him.
The headwind, blowing up the waves that threaten to engulf them, is a figure of the violent opposition aroused by the enemy, especially through the persecution against believers. And it reached the disciples after the departure of their Master. It is because the future remnant of Israel will meet it also, when it crosses the terrible tribulation of the end, and it will not cease until the time when the Lord Jesus, coming in glory, will calm by his power the storm caused by the devil.
In the meantime, we can apply the precious teachings contained in this story to ourselves, for we are also going through the moral night in which the world finds itself, where the might of the enemy is felt, and where there are times of trial that may well be compared to a storm. Thus we know that above all is the Lord in glory. Because, always occupied with those who are in any difficulties, he makes his voice heard at the opportune moment, reassuring his own, encouraging them with his Word, also telling us: “It is I, do not be afraid”.
For he knew the anguish of the disciples when, on the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the waters. Christ Jesus also knows what afflictions we are going through. “For he himself being tempted in that which he suffered, he can help those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). But we often fail to recognize his intervention and become alarmed, instead of seeing his good hand in trial, like the disciples who mistook the Savior for a ghost when He approached them. May we all be busy enough with him to discern him in all circumstances!
This is why when Peter heard the voice of Jesus, he said to him: “Lord, if it is you, order that I come to you on the waters”. Jesus answered him: “Come”. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. How great is the power of the word of the Lord! for Peter never walked on water, and no man can do it; but he sees that the Lord can, and he knows him well enough to know that if he commands him to come to him, he will support him. Let’s remember that the Lord always gives the capacity to do what he commands us; then we can count on him to provide us with what is necessary to obey him, however insurmountable the difficulties appear. But one must have full faith in his Word and not look at the circumstances, for in the path of obedience difficulties remain. And the disciples had obeyed the Lord by embarking for the other shore; the storm was allowed, so that they could get to know their Lord better.
This is why after walking for a while, Peter sank down, for his eyes were more on the storm, instead of being fixed on the one who had said to him: “Come”. And seeing the violence of the wind, he was afraid, but there is grace in the person of Jesus Christ which manifests itself at the call of Peter who cries out: “Lord, save me”, he stretched out his hand and took him, saying to him: “Man of little faith, why did you doubt? For the Lord has the power to make us walk in it without sinking, if we look to him by faith, and if we sink, not having kept our eyes fixed on him, then his mighty hand is ready to help us when we cry out to him in distress. It is therefore precious to experience it; but the Lord is much more glorified when we rely on him without failing, and realize somewhat the power by which he himself has walked in this path of obedience. For he was only concerned with accomplishing the will of his Father.
In addition, the departure of the disciples represents the Jewish remnant in particular to us, for Peter, individually leaving the boat, exceeds in figure the position of this remnant. Indeed, it represents this faith which, abandoning the earthly convenience of the boat, goes to meet Christ Jesus, who revealed himself to him: walking on the sea is a bold enterprise, but based on the word of Jesus: “Come”. But notice that this walk of Peter has no other basis than these words: “If it is You”, that is to say Jesus himself.
For there is no support and no possibility of walking on the sea unless one loses sight of Christ. It’s all up to Him. There is in the boat a known way to arrive: only faith which looks at Jesus can walk on the water. It follows from the fact that man, as a man, sinks into it by the very fact that he is in such a position. Indeed, no one can lean on the water, except by faith which draws from Jesus the strength which is in him and imitates him.
So it is sweet to imitate the Lord Jesus, to be closer to Him, and more like Him. This is the true position of the Church, which contrasts with the remnant in its habitual character. Jesus walks on water as on dry land. And He who created the elements as they are, may well dispose of their qualities as he wishes. For he allows storms to test our faith, and he walks on the rising waves as in calm. Besides, the storm does not change anything. For he who sinks in water will sink in calm as in a storm, and he who can walk on water will walk in a storm as in calm; but as soon as we look at the circumstances, we notice that faith is absent and the Lord is forgotten. Often, in fact, circumstances make us forget Jesus, where faith in Him who is above all things should enable us to dominate them.
Therefore, the One who by his own power walks on the waters is there to support the faith and the shaky footsteps of the poor disciple; either way, this faith had brought Peter so close to the Lord Jesus that He reached out and supported him. But, Peter’s fault was that he looked at the waves and the storm which after all did not matter at all, instead of looking at Jesus, who had not changed, and was walking on the waves themselves, which Peter’s faith should have noticed. However, the cry of his distress activates the power of Jesus, as Peter’s faith should have done; only it was to his shame, instead of enjoying the fellowship of the Lord and walking like Him.
In this circumstance, Peter represents the Church which, at the call of the Lord, came to meet him by faith! Unfortunately like Peter, it sank down because of its unbelief, because it lost sight of its Lord; but he will take it to himself by his mighty grace. Then the Lord will join the remnant of Israel, represented by the disciples. The wind of the devil’s power, which will have blown against them in a dreadful way, will fall, and the Jewish remnant will recognize Jesus, as truly being the Son of God, under which the Jews refused to recognize him when he was in power among them in grace; they then asked Pilate for his death, because they said, he made himself the Son of God (John 19: 7).
While moving away from the multitude of Israel who acted openly in rejecting the testimony of God, Christ Jesus does not cease to be the support of all the needs of this multitude, and thus to bear witness to the One who could provide directly to its needs was there in the midst of it. Because the crowd that felt these needs and that, although they did not have faith, yet admired the power of Jesus who healed them of all their illnesses.
For God, indeed, sent His own to cross alone the stormy sea of the world, encountering an opposition against which it is difficult to fight. During this time, Jesus prays and watches over them.
Let’s not forget that the part of those who will have believed in the Lord Jesus and will follow him during his rejection, will be infinitely more beautiful than the part of those who will believe only when they see him. This is what the Lord said to Thomas: “Happy are those who have not seen and believed” (John 20.29). What if all of us then said to Him wholeheartedly today: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Finally, we know the wind stops. It will be so when the Lord joins the remnant of His people in this world. Then also he will be worshiped as the Son of God by all who are in the boat with the remnant of Israel. In Gennesareth, Jesus again exercises the power which will later drive out of the earth all the evil that satan has done there. Because when he returns, the world will recognize him. This is a beautiful picture of the result of the rejection of Christ, which the gospel of Matthew has already made known to us as having to come among the Jewish people.
The verses below have been compiled to edify you on our subject and put together to facilitate your understanding.
- power over nature
Mat 14.20, 25 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.; Mat 17.27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”; Mt 21.19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.; Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.; John 2.7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
- true worship
Mat 28.9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.; Mat 14.33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying,“Truly you are the Son of God.”; Luke 24.52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.; Heb 1.6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”; Rev 5.8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
- proven faith
Job 6.3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous.; Jg 7.7 The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”; 1 Kings 17.9, 13 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.; 2 Kings 3.16 and he said, “This is what the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.; 2 Kings 4.3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.; Mark 7.27 First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”; Heb 11.8, 17 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son; James 1.3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.; 1 Peter 1.7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
From all of the above, beloved, we remember that we must have a growing faith that allows us to walk like the Savior on the waters and our gaze must remain fixed on the Lord, so as not to sink like Peter. This disciple in fact represents the Church which, at the call of the Lord, came to meet him by faith. But like him, it sank down because of its unbelief, because it lost sight of its Lord; luckily he will take it to himself by his powerful grace. So by his own power, the Lord walks on the waters and he is there to support the faith and the faltering steps of the disciples. In fact, this faith brought Peter so close to the Lord Jesus that he extended his hand to him and picked him up. And when he comes back in glory the world recognizes him. Our prayers are with you all in your efforts to make your faith grow.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the Pharisees and the scribes’ hypocrisy about tradition: ” Jesus replied : And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.