I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
These verses tell us of the time that Jesus walked on water.
Christian or not at Christian most of us have told somebody that they cannot
walk on water usually indicating that they are trying to do something that is
beyond their ability to do. The very first verse has Jesus sending the crowd away. Since Jesus had been seeking a way to get his message out why would he do that? John 6:14-15 gives us the answer. He feared the people that were there were going to force him to be king. That was not why Jesus came to earth.
Mat 14:23 After He had sent
the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was
evening, He was there alone.
Jesus on many occasions went out in solitude to pray to the
Father. Jesus always was would take time to pray to the father Matthew
26:36-46. He communicated regularly. When you pray what do you expect to
happen? When you pray do you ask, as Jesus did, that it be what God has planned
for you? Or are you praying for what you wish to happen? I fear our prayers are
mostly about our will and not his.
Mat 14:24 But the boat was
already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was
contrary. Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of
the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
What is the fourth watch? The fourth watch - The Jews (as
well as the Romans) usually divided the night into four watches, of three hours
each. The first watch began at six, the second at nine, the third at twelve, and
the fourth at three in the morning
Mat 14:26 When the disciples
saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a
ghost!" And they cried out in fear. Mat 14:27
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take
courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Why did Jesus walk on water? Job
9:8, Job
38:16, Psalm
77:19, and Isaiah
43:16 all indicate that God had power over the elements. I am sure you
remember the parting of the Red Sea. This was further testament to who he was.
Mat 14:28
Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the
water." Mat 14:29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and
walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Mat 14:30
But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out,
"Lord, save me!" Mat 14:31
Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to
him, "You of little faith, why did you
doubt?"
Peter wanted to do what Jesus was doing. The commentaries
that I read indicate Peter was not testing Jesus but was doing so in faith that
Jesus could and would allow it. When Peter became distracted by what he feared
versus what he believed he started to sink. I am not sure how you start to sink
without getting a whole dunking but this was with the Son of God so it may have
been a lesson for Peter and for us. When we take our eyes of God and put them on what we fear the same thing happens.
Mat 14:32 When they got into
the boat, the wind stopped. Mat 14:33 And those
who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's
Son!" Mat 14:34 When they had crossed
over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
They were heading for Bethesda I think but ended up in Gennesaret.
People immediately came to him. Jesus fame had spread far and wide in a very
short time. Remember his entire time for witnessing was only 3 years.
Mat 14:35 And when the men of that place recognized
Him, they sent word into all that
surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; Mat 14:36 and they implored Him that they might just
touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.
Again he loved the people and was able to heal and teach.
What would it have been like to be able to touch the Son of God and all you
issues would have been healed. I look forward to the day I get to stand before
the Son of God and hopefully hear that I have been a good and faithful servant
and enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Agape
Dave
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