Jesus Seen Walking on Water: Matthew 14: 22-36

Bible Passage and Commentary

Day by Day Through the Bible

“When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.”

We are all in the same boat as the apostles. Our small craft is constantly buffeted by life’s storms. Sooner or later, the winds and waves of change threaten to swamp us and pitch us into a sea of black despair. It may be an illness, an accident, loss of a job or the death of a loved one that nearly capsizes our boat. But, at some point in the course of every life, we begin to ship water, our gunwale gets stove in and we’re too weak to man the helm by ourselves.

Then, just when things seem helpless, we realize we’re not hopeless. Above the howling wind and roaring waves, we hear His voice. “Be of good cheer; it is I,” Jesus says, “Be not afraid.”

Out of the utter darkness, Jesus emerges, walking on water.

In today’s Gospel, Peter responds to Christ by calling out, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the waters.”

Peter isn’t quite sure if this apparition is, in fact, Jesus. After all, they had left the Lord on shore, many furlongs away. (I suppose we all have a tendency to leave Jesus behind when it’s smooth sailing ahead.) But, when Jesus says, “Come,” Peter leaps into the water. He leaves the safety of the boat and steps out in faith. The rough seas throw him off balance, the spindrift blinds him and he loses sight of Jesus and starts to sink.

“Lord save me,” Peter cries out, and Jesus immediately reaches out a hand and pulls him to safety.

Sometimes we have to lose heart in order to find our faith.

The same strong hand that pulled Peter to safety reaches out to each one of us when we are in over our heads. That same strong hand can calm our tempest tossed seas. But, first, we have to leave the safety of the boat and step out in faith.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away. And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone.

But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters.

And he said, Come.

Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased. And they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret. And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick, and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole.