Walking on the Water

Jesus walking on the water is in 3 places: Matt. 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; & John 6:16-24.

The basics … after feeding the 5000 … the crowd wants to take Jesus by force and make Him a King … Jesus sends the apostles by boat across the Sea of Galilee to a city call Bethesda … Jesus goes up on the mountain to pray … as the apostles are rowing across the sea a storm comes up … they are straining at the oars … we are into the 4^th watch of the night (from 3-6 in the morning) and they had only rowed 3 – 4 miles out … Jesus comes walking to them on the water … “It is a spirit” or “It is a ghost” – and they “cry out in fear” or shriek … Jesus says do not fear … Peter then steps out of the boat and walks on the water … Jesus gets in the boat and the storm calms and they arrive.

It is only in the gospel of John that we discover that once Jesus steps into the boat they were “immediately the boat was at the land where they were going” (John 6:21)

It is only in the gospel of Mark that when Jesus comes walking on the water, He see them straining at the oars, and that He would have passed them (Mark 6:48).

It is only in the gospel of Matthew that we find … Peter walking on the water (Matt. 14:29-31).

The more I thought about Jesus and Peter walking on the water, the more I saw similarities for the Christian life. To see a little of truths there as truths in us, too.

Walking on the water is not something that comes naturally.

• What a stupendous miracle – Jesus walking on water! But, that’s what miracles are – something that’s not natural.

  • Why miracles? John 20:30, 31

• Living a Christian life isn’t a miracle, but there is a sense that it goes against the norm.

• Paul also seems to express a similar thought – 1 Cor. 2:14

• Paul also seemed to see this in his own life – Read Rom. 7:13-19.

• Gal. 5:17

• Rom. 8:8

Walking on the water requires more than just desire, it requires help.

• When Peter stepped out of the boat he was fine until he QUIT looking at Jesus.

• Matt. 14:29, 30

• The seed among the thorns in Matt. 13? The cares of the world?

• Paul to the Areopagus said of all mankind that – Acts 17:27 – Like people groping in the dark for any hint of light …

• Jesus said – John 12:32 – If Jesus willing to be nailed to a cross for us isn’t enough of an invitation …

• Heb. 10:22

• Jam. 4:8

Walking on the water means that sometimes we get wet.

• The scene from The Shack by Wm. Paul Young – your feet get wet walking on water.

• Psa. 22 & Psa. 69 are quoted more than any of the others. Read Psa. 69:1-3.

• It is a truth that bad things happen to good people – a missionary goes to the Ukraine … ready with all the NT Scriptures to prove Jesus … ends up preaching from Job.

• 1 Cor. 10:12, 13

• 2 Pet. 2:9

• We know Paul felt an internal struggle with temptation – 1 Cor. 9:26, 27

• But Paul also knew it was the Lord that stood by him – 2 Tim. 4:17, 18

Adapted from Scott D. Crawford (Pulpit Preview – Facebook Group)