JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATER
[Matthew:14:22-36 [22] And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. [23] And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. [24] But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. [26] And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. [28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. [29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. [31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [32] And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. [33] Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. [34] And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. [35] And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; [36] And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. ].
“Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).
A Picture
Can we not see the picture that this lesson presents: the desert, where 5,000 people had just been fed; the lake or sea, where the ship is being tossed by the waves; and the mountain where Jesus went “apart to pray.”
Jesus Praying
Jesus had sent the disciples to go before Him to the other side of the sea, and He went into a mountain to pray. This is not the only time that we find Jesus praying. He prayed often, and sometimes all night. At one time He rose a great while before day, and went out into a lonely place to pray. He prayed in the wilderness; He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane; and when He hung on the cross. He prayed for His enemies.
What joy you and I have today in knowing that Jesus prayed for us! We find a wonderful prayer that Jesus prayed to His Father in Heaven, told in John 17. We who are saved are included in that prayer, for Jesus said that He was praying for “them also which shall believe on me through their word.”
The Disciples in the Ship
While Jesus was in the mountain praying, the disciples were having a hard time out on the sea. Because of a storm, which had arisen, they had not made very much progress. By about daybreak they were “in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves.” We leaned in another lesson that the Sea of Galilee was about 13 miles long and about 7 miles wide. We also know that a lake of that size may suddenly become a very rough body of water, when a storm blows in upon it.
“Be not afraid”
Suddenly the disciples saw someone walking on the water. Since it was now probably between 3 and 6 o’clock in the morning, and still rather dark, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. They had never seen Him walk on the water. They became frightened and cried out for fear. That certainly must have been a welcome Voice which came across the waves, through the darkness, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
Peter Walking on the Water
One of the disciples in the ship was Peter. We remember this fisherman whom Jesus had called to follow Him some time before this. Peter and his brother had left their nets and become “fishers of men.”
Now when Peter saw his Lord coming toward the ship, walking on the water, he said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Jesus answered him, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, going to Jesus. When he obeyed the Voice that told him to come, he was given power to walk upon the water. That was obedience and faith combined.
We all know what happened -– he started looking around at the waves, and began to sink. But Jesus did not let him sink; He caught him and asked him why he had doubted. When they were in the ship, the wind ceased. This was not the first time that Jesus had calmed the sea. All who were in the ship worshiped Jesus. They knew beyond a doubt that He was the Son of God.
Faith Is the Victory
In the early days a traveller once came for the first time in his life to the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. There was no bridge. He must cross. It was early winter, and the surface of the mighty river was sheeted with ice. He knew nothing of how think the ice was, and feared to trust himself to it. He hesitated long; but night was coming on, and he must reach the other shore. Finally, with much fear, and great caution, he crept out on his hands and knees. Thus he tried to distribute his weight as much as possible. He trembled at every move. When he had gone in this way halfway over, he heard a sound of singing behind him. There in the dusk was a coloured man driving a four-horse team, hauling a load of coal across upon the ice, and singing as he went!
Some people are afraid to trust God; they go along as this traveller did, fearful to believe God, while others go along singing, “Have faith in God.”
1. What was Jesus doing alone in the mountain? [Matthew:14:23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
].
2. Did the disciples know Jesus when He came walking on the water? Mathew:14:26.
3. What did Jesus say to them? [Matthew:14:27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
].
4. Why did Peter begin to sink? [Matthew:14:30-31 [30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
[31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
].
5. Did the storm cease? [Matthew:14:32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
].
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