Walk on Water

Posted by Dion Todd November 26th, 2023 2,912 Views 0 Comments

Walk on Water from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

An extraordinary event unfolds in Matthew chapter 14, one that is unparalleled elsewhere in the Bible: a common fisherman defying the laws of nature by walking on water. This miraculous feat wasn't performed by Jesus, but rather by Peter, a regular fisherman by trade.

Peter, who openly referred to himself as 'a sinful man' in Luke 5:8, was not only a humble fisherman but also a married man, as evidenced by Jesus healing his mother-in-law in Luke 4:38. Described in Acts 4:13 as 'uneducated and untrained,' Peter was a man of simple means, yet he was profoundly impactful. Despite his deep faith, there were moments when he was swayed by earthly thoughts, even uttering words that Jesus said were inspired by satan. 

Matthew 16:23 tells us that at least once, Jesus rebuked Peter and said: "Get thee behind Me, satan" after one of Peter's speeches. Can you imagine Jesus Christ telling someone this? Consider that when you see "What would Jesus do." 

I say that laughingly because I got an F- on a book report in seminary on "What Would Jesus Do?" I wrote 5,000 words on things Jesus did that wouldn't have been predicted, like walking on water, raising the dead, healing the blind and crippled, and driving people out of the temple with a whip that He made for the occasion. I included things Jesus said to the Pharisees, like:

(Matthew 23:33 NASB)  "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

In John 4:27, the disciples marveled when Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman. In Luke 8:25, they marveled, saying, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!" If His closest Apostles didn't know what Jesus would do next, why would I think I would? 

In the end, they allowed me to "rewrite" my essay, so I just told them what they wanted to hear and repeated the same things I had heard them say. Basically, put the Lord in a box and make Him predictable. I got an A+. Such is life. But it still makes me laugh when I hear that phrase.

My point is that Peter wasn't a priest nor a saint, at least not then. He was a common, sinful, married, uneducated fisherman, not that much different than a construction worker today. I say that because "I are one" and I can relate. I grew up on a farm and dropped out of school as soon as possible, just like my dad and brothers had all done before me. I worked in construction as a laborer, digging foundations and pushing wheelbarrows full of concrete. I am not bashing the common person. I am the definition of it. I am saying that being a person of low social status will not stop God from using you powerfully, as we will see. 

With that said, let's read the story. Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, plus the women and children, with only five loaves of bread and two fish. We then pick it up in Matthew 14:22:

(Matthew 14:22–24 NKJV)  Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

(Matthew 14:25–27 NKJV)  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

(Matthew 14:28–30 NKJV)  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

(Matthew 14:31–33 NKJV)  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

Now, this group of people in the boat was not the general population of the world. See, Jesus had thousands of followers. He had just fed over 5,000 who were following Him and listening to Him teach, but He had sent them away. 

Earlier, He had chosen twelve men to train, whom He called Apostles, and poured His life and knowledge into them. Even in that group, there were an inner three: Peter, James, and John, who were with Him almost all the time, including on the Mount of Transfiguration. So we are talking about the chosen ones here, not thieves and robbers.

So there were twelve of His Apostles in the boat that night. One got out and walked on the water with Jesus. That is 1/12th or 8.3% of the group. That means that about 92% of the innermost 12 "Apostles" stayed in the safety of the boat that night. 92% of the chosen ones would not leave the safety of the boat. 

Then, there is the question of why Peter was chosen to walk on the water with Jesus. Well, he wasn't. See, Peter asked Jesus for the opportunity. He said: "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water!" and Jesus simply said: "Come." 

All twelve of the Apostles could have walked on the water with Jesus that night, but apparently, they didn't want it bad enough to ask for it. Or they were too afraid, or maybe they were too Holy to trouble the Lord with "trivial" things like that. James 4:2 tells us, "We have not because we ask not." Peter asked Jesus. 

(Luke 11:9–10 NKJV)  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Another thing was that Peter was excited about God. He wanted more. He wanted to do what Jesus was doing. He wanted to be where Jesus was. Are we excited about God? Do we crave to be where He is? Are we hungry to be in His presence?

A couple of years ago, the Lord gave me a vision of Him standing out on the water and calling to a group of us who were huddled together on the shore. About 5 to 7 people out of a hundred began to walk out toward Him while the rest stayed on the shore. Then the Spirit said to me: "He is calling those who are willing to walk on the water." In time, I forgot about it, but this week, while I was praying, He suddenly asked me: "Why did Peter get to walk on the water? Because He asked to." And it all came rushing back to me.

The Lord will provide great opportunities to those who are zealous enough to ask Him for it. Those who will believe Him. Those who will leave the safety of the boat and be willing to look like a fool just to be closer to Him. 

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be one of the 8% club. Call me out to You, and I will come. Open that door, and I will walk through it. Here I am, Lord, send me. I want to walk on that water. I want to do exploits for my God. I want to walk with His signs following me today. I know that You are God Almighty and that all things are possible to You. Please let me be a part of what You are doing today. In Your name, I pray, amen!