I remember that afternoon just as if it were yesterday. It was a hot summer day and I was sitting on a limb that was hanging out over the creek that ran by the railroad tracks at the edge of town. There was a small eddy underneath that limb and I had my eye on several bluegills that were busily investigating everything except the worm hanging so tantalizingly below my bobber.
I was lost in the fanciful thoughts of pirates, cavalry, mountain men and Indians as only an 8 year old can do so well. Then I suddenly realized that it was getting dark and the smell of rain was in the air. It was at that moment in that pre-storm stillness that I saw it for the first time.
It was a fairly large bug and it looked like a huge mosquito. What caught my eye was the fact that it was “walking on the water.” I had never seen anything do that in my 8 worldly years. It completely grasped my attention until; all of a sudden one of the bluegills I had been watching noticed the bug as well. In what seemed like moment frozen in time the fish saw the bug, the bug saw the fish and as the bug turned to get away its back legs sank into the water. It took that little bluegill all of a heartbeat to seize the opportunity and the great water-walking incident at railroad creek was over.
Fish one, bugs zero.
I thought about that incident for a long time and wondered how that bug could have walked on the water if it hadn’t been afraid of that fish. It wasn’t like it fell into the water and was swimming … it was walking on the surface just like it was solid concrete. At 8 years of age I didn’t understand surface tension or anything closely related to it so it was a pure mystery to me. Strangely, today it’s still a mystery even though I understand how it’s done. I wonder if Peter thought about “surface tension” just before he began to slip below the surface. For sure he didn’t consider it the moment he stepped out of that boat!
For as long as I can remember going to Sunday school I knew the story of Jesus walking on water. It has only been in the past few years that I have really begun to understand the greater truth of the water-walking incident at Galilee. To understand it one has to go back to the beginning. Before those disciples ever got into that boat they were witnesses to one of the greatest miracles ever recorded in the bible. Not only had Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fishes into a meal for over 5,000, there was a basket of leftovers at the foot of each disciple. It was then that Jesus did something that must have seemed strange to the disciples. Each of the writers relating this incident (Matthew, Mark and John) tells us the same thing; straightway Jesus constrained His disciples.
Immediately after witnessing this incredible miracle Jesus told them to get into a boat and cross over to Capernaum on the other shore. He didn’t suggest or ask, he immediately compelled (anagkazo) them to go. They were no doubt surprised and perhaps they missed the reason behind his command. John explains it for us:
John 6:14-15 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Jesus knew that the people were responding to the miracle by planning to use Him to start a revolution. They wanted a Messiah that would lead them in overthrowing the Roman government. They perceived His power as the answer to their delivery from Rome while He used it to demonstrate His authority to deliver from sin. The Word tells us that after He commanded His disciples to depart, He went up into the mountain to pray. It is here that our picture begins to come into focus.
There have been a number of times in my life that Jesus has seemingly sent me off in a direction and the next thing I knew, He was nowhere to be found. I’m sure as the disciples were rowing across the sea they must have been wondering the same thing. But, as Mark tells us, Jesus was watching out for them; as He watches out for us today.
Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them.
Jesus knew what He was sending them into and I am certain that His prayers up on the mountain were for them. We can be just as certain that He is watching over us as we are obedient and go in the direction He sends us. The Word tells us that He is ever interceding (Heb 7:25). Jesus also shows us an example of how we should pray. He removed Himself from the world and elevated His heart toward God in total silence and solitude; He focused away from outside distractions.
So here were the disciples, following the Word of The Master. When they started the journey it was a calm afternoon but now it was dark and a storm had arisen. Jesus looked out and saw them toiling in the storm. That word (toiling) actually means in torment or in pain. It was dark, the sea was washing over their little boat and they were not making any headway at all. It’s not a stretch to believe that they thought it was all over this time. There they were in a storm (again) but Jesus wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
Doesn’t it seem like that in your life sometimes? You hear from God and He sends you on a journey. It all starts out well but then darkness comes, the storms of the world rise up and Jesus is nowhere to be seen. It seems like you are fighting all by yourself and not getting anywhere. I have been there so many times I can almost see myself sitting in that boat with Peter. Well Lord, I’m doing what you asked and here I am, about to go under for sure this time!
And doesn’t it always seem to be the worst when it gets dark? That is when my fear rises up and seems to gain strength from some hidden source. And it’s always at that time I seem to make the same mistake the disciples did that day. I forget about what I have already witnessed.
Go back for a moment when they were all in a boat and a great storm came up the first time:
Mark 4:37-41 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
How many times have we read this passage and missed the point Jesus was making. Prior to this they had (in at least the sight of Simon, Andrew, James and John; Mark 1:16) witnessed Jesus: cast out an unclean spirit, heal Peter’s mother-in-law as well as many others, cleanse a leper and do much more. In spite of all they had witnessed they focused only on the situation at the moment. Oh, how many times I have done that and completely forgotten all the times that the Lord has intervened on my behalf.
What is really sad here is that even as Jesus questions them — reminding them of what they have already seen — they still miss it completely and wonder who He is. The man that performed all of those countless miracles was with them and they still didn’t know who He was.
But, Jesus is the Lord of second (third, fourth …) chances.
So here they are again, fighting another storm and Jesus in nowhere in sight. The very one who could save them was the one who sent them out alone in the first place. Do you suppose Jesus was thinking that: after feeding over 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish I wonder if they have the message?
Well we know the answer:
Mark 6:51-52 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
But let me suggest that maybe one of them was getting the message. Matthew sheds a bit more on the story than Mark and it concerns our old friend — shoot from the hip — Peter.
Matt 14:26-32 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
I have written about this before but it is so important I wanted to touch upon it again. Peter realized it was the Lord and acted in faith, based on what he had seen his master do previously. After all, he had just seen Him feed all those people with 5 loaves and 2 little fish. He “stepped out in pure faith.” No hesitation, just action based on the Word of the Lord. So far so good. But it was his hesitation that brought him up short. He began to notice the chaos around him and took his eyes off of Jesus. Immediately he began to sink.
How many times I have started out in faith, only to face some unseen obstacle and lose my focus and take my eyes off of the only one who’s Word is faithful and true. But, thank God it wasn’t over for Peter and it’s never been over for me. And it’s here that I believe sits the real message for each of us to lock away and never forget.
First we see Jesus rescue Peter:
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Notice that Jesus didn’t question him and then rescue him. When Peter cried out Jesus “immediately” reached out and caught him; “and” then said unto him. When we lose our focus — our faith — and cry out He is always there to hear us in our circumstances. He is never caught unaware and is never surprised. Therein we have a great deal of comfort, which brings about the real message for me.
32. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
This is the part that really speaks to me. There are only 2 options here: 1) Peter once again walked on water or 2) Jesus carried him. Either way, Peter’s stepping out in faith was rewarded. But a note of caution here, remember that Peter waited for the Lord to bid him come. He didn’t just launch out in blind faith.
There is a real lesson for us here and that is to be certain that we have heard His voice before we act, and then act based upon what He has done for us in the past. Now sometimes that comes in a confirmation from the Word, an answer to prayer, from a confirming word or from that inner peace that “passes all understanding.” It would be nice if we had the same option Peter did but that isn’t likely to happen. What will happen to us, however, is the experience of seeing the impact of God answering our faith on others.
Matt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Peter asked – God answered – Peter was saved – God got the glory.
When people see God act on our behalf it’s a powerful witness of who He is and whose we are. And every time it happens our faith becomes just that much stronger. Just as God has acted on our behalf in the past it is just as certain that He will act on our behalf again.
Now I can’t say as there is a real spiritual message in the scene I witnessed from the limb of that cottonwood tree, but on the other hand I wonder what would have happened to that bug if it hadn’t lost sight of the fact that it “could” walk on water. Losing faith can be like that. We take our spiritual eyes off of what we know and we become a part of the circumstances around us.
Are you facing some rough seas and raging winds right now? Can you lift your eyes above the circumstances and see the one who is standing there in the midst of your storm bidding you “come?” Don’t hesitate to respond. The one who gave His life for you is not intimidated by your circumstances. He knew they were going to be there before they even existed.
He has seen it all before and you can be sure of one thing … His grip is strong.