There was another time when Jesus was on the water in the company of His disciples, and demonstrated His power over it — that was when He actually walked on the water. This was after Jesus fed the five thousand. After He dismissed the crowds, He went up to the mountain to pray until the evening (Matthew 14:22-23). The wind had taken His disciples in their boat far from land. What does our Lord do? He decides to walk right up to them across the sea! How things played out from there is almost comedic because of how natural and relatable the disciples’ reactions were. They cried out in fear thinking it was a ghost floating towards them across the water. Jesus immediately told them not to be afraid and that it was He who was walking towards them. Peter proceeded to give himself a dare by asking Jesus to command him to go out to Him on the water. When Jesus did, Peter got out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus but quickly became afraid and sunk, crying out to Jesus to save him. Jesus reached in and took hold of Peter saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And just like the time Jesus calmed the storm, Jesus is referring to the disciples questioning His sovereignty and goodness. Also like the time Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were marveled at their Lord and acknowledged Him as truly the Son of God. I believe what Peter experienced there had informed what he would later write…
“cast your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
And this is reminiscient of what it says in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you”
The significance of Jesus walking on the water was to show His disciples that what seems so terrifying to human eyes as the forceful winds and waters tossing their boat this way and that was mere stepping stones for the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The same Creator and Sustainer of you and of me, who cares deeply and is tenderhearted towards His own.
Questions to ask yourself:
- Are there things that worry you that needs letting go of?
Prayer Prompt:
Surrender your worries to the Lord, who never changes, whose love you will never be separated from.