Featured Image: Jesus stands on the shore during storm.
Thanks for reading posts! All scripture passages are from the Berean Standard Bible. Quotes are from Got Questions and a link to CompellingTruth.org. Images created using Night Cafe Studio and Canva Pro.
https://www.gotquestions.org/walking-on-water.html
Similar Post
Heading into the Wind
Do you ever feel as though you are fighting against a strong current that pushes you back as you’re trying to move ahead in your journey? Walking with Christ, seeking to honor Him in our lives, and being a source of light in our current circumstance requires courage and wisdom! Have you ever considered how the disciples were feeling when Jesus sends them into the boat to cross the Sea of Galilee? Take a moment to consider what Jesus was requiring them to do.
Matthew 14:22-24
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
John 6:16-18
16When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. 18A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.
Matthew indicates that Jesus “made” the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him. I imagine that they hesitated for a reason! Consider that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were experienced fishermen. They knew the water and the wind! They were aware that a rough crossing was in store for them. John informs us that is already dark and Jesus is not with them. Has God sent you into a storm in your journey? How did you respond?
Two of my hobbies: windsurfing and sailing require knowledge and skills for working with the wind. Boats of this historical time period had one sail: a square foresail. The site below has an example of a 1st century fishing boat that was recovered as well as numerous illustrations of what a 1st Century fishing boat would look like.
https://earlychurchhistory.org/commerce/the-jesus-boat/
It’s important to understand that the square sail rigged facing forward has limitations! Each type and arrangement of sail rigging has benefits and drawbacks. Sailors must know when and how to use different sails. I had to learn from more experienced captains by sailing with them racing (working the sails as guided) to learn how to sail.
When I windsurf, my various sails and wings have different handling positions and require different maneuvers to work. Here’s a short example:
The Greek word for “buffeted”
Other translations use the words “battered” and “tossed.” The Greek word is basanizomenon. The root is basanos which means to “examine by torture.” Not a pleasant experience for certain. A word that comes from torture can’t be pleasant! In Mark 6:48 the disciples are “straining on the oars.”
https://biblehub.com/greek/928.htm
The point is simple: the disciples are fighting against the waves and wind! Recall that Jesus “compelled” them to get into the boat. The term here is anagkazó. For more on this term see the article below:
https://biblehub.com/greek/315.htm
Here’s a quick view of me tacking through the wind–it’s relaxing and great way to improve skill and balance.
The fishermen disciples would have known what the Sea of Galilee had in store for them on this journey. The Sea of Galilee is known for wind and violent storms. Perhaps they resisted as they knew how difficult the crossing would be. They could feel the wind blowing against them. They didn’t have the luxury of a powered bilge pump to get the water out that would have been consistently flooding into the boat! Some would have been rowing others would have been bailing with the buckets of that era.
Does God send His followers into storms? Why might God send you into a storm? Does He have a purpose? Do you ever strain against the raging winds of life?
Where is Jesus?
Do you ask this question when the waves and winds of life are battering you? Waves at sea can break the hull of a boat. The immense weight and force of crashing waves can destroy a boat by impact, flooding, and/or structural failure. The storms and winds of life can break us as well!
Jesus is on the mountain praying by Himself as the disciples are straining. They are exhausted and weary. Have you ever been weary in life: battered by broken dreams, failed relationships, and jobs/careers that don’t work out? You are doing everything you can and just like the disciples you’re not making any progress: straining at the oars with little progress.
Waiting on God during the rain and storms of life requires faith and hope!
We too wonder where Jesus is. We know that He has promised us that He will never leave or forsake us! But what about the cancer diagnosis or health problem that just gets worse? You reach out trying to restore a relationship, but you are ignored or mocked? You speak or write the truth but few respond! What about getting laid off or trying various careers and nothing seems to work?
How long did Abraham wait for Isaac? How many years did Moses tend the sheep in the desert before the burning bush. How long did he deal with rebellious, grumpy people later in the desert? How long did David flee from Saul after knowing that God had Samuel anoint him as the next king? What about Elijah, Jeremiah, and Daniel who eagerly awaited for God to restore and redeem their people?
This is the reality of walking by faith and not by sight! Do we really understand what God is doing in our storms? Often I don’t understand, nor do I enjoy the storms that come against me in life. Then Jesus shows up and we think He is an phantom spirit!
Where is Jesus? Paul answers this question for us in Romans 8:34
34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
The right hand of God means in a prominent place of honor! This post explains the concept with other relevant passages:
https://www.compellingtruth.org/right-hand-of-God.html
Not only is He close to God and powerful, but He is praying for us! As believers, Holy Spirit is present and active as well. That’s why that Paul states that we are “more than conquerors” and that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Sailboat sails in fog. Canva Pro stock image.
When Jesus Walks on Water
He will come to us in the storms!
Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life. This is reminiscent of the words of God to Isaiah:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2).
The Lord may not come at the time we think He should come, because He knows when we need Him the most.
Jesus had waited until the boat was as far from land as possible, when all their hope was gone.
Got Questions “What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water?”
Jesus knows when we are desperate for Him. The problem is that we are often desperate, but hope or seek something other than Him! This is why there are so many self-help videos, articles, etc! People are desperate for hope and redemption!
Notice that when Jesus appears, His own followers think that He is a ghost. Consider that they had just hours before seen Jesus miraculously feed thousands! They had also witnessed Jesus rebuke a storm (Matthew 8:23-27) and cast out demons. Now they see Him walking on water and they think He is a “phantasma.”
Are we any different? Consider:
But we have to ask, why did they not recognize Jesus?
The answer is they were not looking for Him.
Had they been waiting by faith, they would have known Him instantly.
Instead, they jumped to the false conclusion that His appearance was that of a ghost.
The point is this: fear and faith cannot live in the same heart, for fear frequently blinds the eyes to the presence of the Lord.
Got Questions “What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water?”
What are you seeking in the storm? The world (system opposed to God) offers things and solutions to “ease” your discomfort. Why are people addicted to all kinds of things and drugs? Why is the suicide rate high and increasing each year in America?
Do we as followers of Christ care about our neighbors? Do we see others in a storm and seek to comfort and encourage them? Is Christ’s light shining through us?
Why Jesus Walks on the Water:
Jesus reveals Himself through the storm.
Why did Jesus walk on the water?
To show His disciples that the very thing they feared, the raging, seething sea, was merely a set of steps for Him to come to them.
Often we fear the difficult experiences of life such as illness, loss of loved ones, and financial hardships only to discover that these experiences can bring Jesus closer to us.
Got Questions “What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water?”
I write about Peter walking to Jesus in previous blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/wordsofencouragementinchrist.com/1417
Responding to Jesus: Worship
Matthew ends his account with the disciples worshiping Jesus. They acknowledge Him as the Son of God.
32And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
Got questions sums this up well:
And this is what worship is, acknowledging who God is and praising Him both for who He is and for what He has done.
It was in this story that the disciples took the first step and worshiped Jesus as the Son of God.
Got Questions “What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water?”
Jesus is the Calm in our storm! He is our True and Perfect Refuge! Matthew records other instances wherein individuals refer to Jesus as the Son of God (see the article referenced above) for the details. My point is that God reveals Himself to us in the storms! You’re not alone nor will you drown in sorrow and grief when the winds of difficulty blow against you.
May His grace, love, mercy, and care for you sustain you during the crashing waves of life! He loves you with Perfect, Redeeming Love! He sees your tears and hears you when you call out to Him.
A.I. considering how Jesus might have looked sitting on beach during morning prayer.
Words of Grace & Hope 