The other disciples of Jesus must have watched the scene unfolding before them, with their mouths agape in astonishment, as Peter steped out of the boat and WALKED ON THE WATER. Some of them may have rubbed their eyes or pinched themselves, just to be sure they were awake and not dreaming. It would have been interesting to to see the expression of incredulity registered on their faces, as Peter progressed in his walk (on the water) towards Jesus. The feat had no precedent in history. As though watching Jesus walk towards them on the water had not been alarming enough, Peter had joined Him. What lessons were they, in particular, and we, by extension, supposed to learn from that astonishing episode in history? “Walking on the water”, in the context of this study, is a metaphor for doing the humanly impossible, when God commands it.
God’s watchful eyes are on those who go where He sends them. We know this because the Bible says, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.” (Matt 14:22). The disciples were on their journey to the other side in obedience to God’s instruction. The Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. …” (2Ch 16:9). Think about that! The eyes of the all-seeing God, scanning the the entire earth for just one reason: to display His strength on behalf of those who do His will from their hearts. Is your heart loyal to Jehovah? Are you willing to do His will? Can He say of you as He said of David: “‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’?” (Acts 13:22). If you answered ‘yes’ to the questions above, rest assured, then, that you have God’s attention always .
“But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” (Matt 14:24). Satan will oppose you, fiercely, as you obey God. Your choice to do God’s will attracts Satan’s hostility. It is fallacious to think that you will not face confrontation from the kingdom of darkness because you are in God’s will. The disciples of Jesus were in God’s perfect will as they made their way to their destination, yet they faced strong opposition from the devil. It is true that disobedience to God will attract adversity, as was the case of Jonah. However, it is not always the case. Ignorance of this fact has led some Christians to the wrong conclusion about the reason for the opposition they face. God did not promise us an existence on earth free from trouble. Instead, He said, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.” (Ps 91:15). God promises to be with you in trouble. You are never alone in your troubles, if you are a disciple of Jesus. Not only is God with you in trouble, but He desires to deliver you from it. That is not all, He still promises to honour you. Praise the Lord!
In the middle of the turbulence which threatened to capsize their boat, the disciples of Jesus saw Him walking on the water towards them. They reacted in fear because they had concluded that the approaching being was a ghost (Matt 14:25,26). Jesus walked on water—defying both the law of gravity and the ferocity of the elements (a veritable demonstration of His supremacy over nature), just to get to His disciples. Has it occurred to you that, as His child, God will suspend the law of nature, if need be, to get you the help you need. You are so important to Him that, He will defy the elements, just to reach and deliver you. Sensing their panic, Jesus reassured them: “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”” (Matt 14:27). In response, “… Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”” (Matt 14:28). We may never know why Peter made that request, but Jesus obliged him by commanding him to “come”.
It is important for us to note that Peter did not attempt to walk on the water until Jesus had granted his request. Like Peter, we need to wait until God has given us a word before venturing into something that would, ordinarily, be hazardous or have a far-reaching detrimental effect on other people. However, once he had heard Jesus command him to come, he was, then, responsible for what he did in response. Peter could have analyzed and questioned the possibility of his walking on the water, until he became paralysed and still not have walked on the water. Likewise, you are responsible for what you do about the revelations that God gives you. Merely analysing and discussing what God has instructed you to do will not produce the miracle for you. Once you are certain you have heard from God, the wise thing to do is to obey. It is a good thing Peter got out of the boat, otherwise he would never have walked on the water. For it says, …”And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” (Matt 14:29). His obedience activated the latent power in the word “come”, which Jesus had spoken to him. Your obedience to God is what activates His power on your behalf.
God wants you to succeed in whatever He has called you to do, just as Peter succeeded in walking on the water. However, you need to bear in mind that, Peter walked on the water TO GO TO JESUS. God never calls anyone to do something that will not lead to Jesus. This is because His ultimate purpose is for you,”… to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8:29). Hence, Jesus must be your focus. Peter had his eyes on Jesus, while walking on the water, and as long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was doing fine. That is the model pattern of undertaking a Divine assignment. You can only succeed in doing whatever God has called you to do, while your eyes are on Jesus. Your focus on Jesus is the only factor that will sustain your faith in His word.
Unfortunately, Peter’s walk on the water was interrupted and he began to sink. The Bible says, “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink…” (Matt 14:30). Let us, now, examine the reason for the failure, as the Biblical text above reveals. Peter’s surrender to fear was his albatross. Fear is the opposite of faith. Just as faith activates God’s power, fear deactivates it and activates Satan’s power instead. Jesus did not retract His call for Peter to walk on the water, yet he began to sink. The command to “come”,which Jesus had given to Peter was just as valid, while he was sinking as it had been while he was walking on the water. The problem was neither in the validity nor efficacy of the word given, but in Peter’s focus. He had shifted his focus from Jesus to the boisterous wind. Whatever you give your sustained attention, you empower to direct and influence you. Recall that the command was for Peter to “come”, not to “stop” or “wait”—both or either of which must have contributed to his sinking. Having fixed his eyes on the wind and the waves, he was paralysed by fear into stopping or waiting to analyse his situation logically. The boisterous wind was also not the problem because it was already there, when he took his first step on the water.
If the account given above fits your situation, do not give up, for that was not the end for Peter just as it will not be for you. The Bible says, “…and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”” (Matt 14:30-31). Like Peter did, repent of your distraction and say, “Lord save me” and Jesus will respond to your plea, just as He did to Peter’s. Now, about the expression, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”(Matt 14:31). What did Jesus mean by having refered to Peter’s faith as “little”? Jesus did not mean that Peter’s faith was insufficient, but that it was brief or shortlived. That was why Jesus asked, “…why did you doubt”. Real faith, the size of a mustard seed, is enough to get the job done, as long as it is not eroded by fear. Had Peter’s focus remained firmly fixed on Jesus, as was the case when he began his walk, his faith would have been sustained long enough to take him to Jesus. Peter did not need more faith to complete the miracle, he only needed to have persevered in the faith he already had. He simply stopped believing.
It is interesting to note that Peter’s ability to walk on the water was restored when he repented. The Bible says, “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” (Matt 14:32). How did they get back to the boat? The plausible answer is that they had walked back to the boat. Have you been “walking on the water” and then failed at some point because you took your eyes off Jesus? There is good news for you. You can repent, be restored and “walk on the water” again. Shalom.
