“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” (Matthew 8:26)
The famous story of Jesus walking on the water is one of my favorites. There are so many rich lessons found in the story, especially when you put all four gospel accounts together. That is one of the most important aspects of the study of the life of Jesus. His life is so full that one account is not enough. The only way to see the full picture of his amazing life and ministry is to put all four gospel accounts together and see how the details all complement each other so beautifully.
We know the main elements of the story. Jesus sent the apostles away in a ship on the Sea of Galilee. A storm arose, and the apostles feared for their lives, when Jesus appeared to them walking on the water. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water also, but began to sink. He called to the Lord who pulled him out, and the story ends there with the gallant prince riding off into the sunset with his special girl at his side and living happily ever after.
But there are a number of “side” details to the story that add incredible “spice” to the lessons of Jesus walking on the water. First of all, Jesus told the disciples to get into the boat and he would meet them on the other side. They obviously forgot those words when the storm arose. The trip across the Sea of Galilee pictures our “journey of life” as we navigate the “three score and ten” God gives us. If you know Jesus as your Saviour, he put you in the ship of life to sail to the other side. He will meet you there. Despite the adversity, Jesus is right there on the shore eagerly anticipating your arrival. Peter’s “lack of faith” is seen when he began to sink, but his seeds of doubt were sown earlier. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Peter responded with one of the most dangerous words in the Bible. He said, “Lord, IF it be thou…” He doubted the words of Jesus while he was still in the boat. An old hymn says, “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me.” Don’t forget his promises in his word when those storms come.
Then in Matthew 14:32, it says, “And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” Get the picture. Peter has been called out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus, and he did that. Many people criticize Peter for his lack of faith, and rightfully so, but none of the other disciples had the guts to get out of the boat and get to Jesus. The safest place in a storm is next to Jesus, even when, and especially when it doesn’t make any “sense” to our natural understanding. But Peter’s walk on the water did not end when he got to Jesus and began to sink. Peter walked on the water twice – once to Jesus, and once back to the boat. We do not know how far that was, but it was at least enough paces to make it miraculous in both directions. But notice that the wind did not cease until they both got back into the ship. Peter began to sink because he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the winds. Their trip back to the boat was just as boisterous. The difference is that Peter was walking arm in arm with Jesus. No matter how tough life gets, when you walk with Jesus, you can skip right over the obstacles in the most miraculous ways.
Finally, John 6:21 says when Jesus and Peter made it back to the boat and got in, “Immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” In the same account, John tells us they were about half way across. The Sea of Galilee is about 8 miles wide at that point, so they were about 4 miles from the shore when Jesus entered the boat. They traveled those 4 miles immediately. One day soon, Jesus will call his people home. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will all “stand on the beautiful shore” of heaven. God may give you your full three score and ten. He may come back today. Either way, your problems and storms in this life will finally be over when Jesus returns. Don’t doubt his word when the trials are here. Grab his hand and walk over the waves of the raging sea, “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2).
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