S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The miracle of Jesus walking on the water, recorded in three of the Gospels (Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:16-21), came on the heels of His miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with only five l...

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July 01 2013 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Supporter Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

I believe we can easily over spiritualize the events in the gospels and miss the lessons that are intended for us. Much of Jesus's engagement with his disciples represents "training exercises" so they would learn how to follow him.

But what does it mean to follow Jesus? I believe Jesus was seeking to hammer home 4 points to learn what it means to follow his example:
1. He had all authority on heaven and earth because he was the Son of God 
2. He had all power on heaven and earth because he was filled with the Holy Spirit
3. He only did the things he saw his Father doing
4. He only spoke the words his Father gave him to say

Now consider what Jesus gave his disciples:
1. He gave them his authority to minister in his name and they went out to the surrounding villages
2. He gave them the Holy Spirit to empower them and even the demons obeyed them
3. He showed them the Father's heart and will, by every encounter he had with people during his ministry
4. He spoke the truth from the Father that he wanted them to hear, understand, apply to their daily lives and tell other people

But what was Jesus great challenge - and our challenge today?
He was dealing with sinful people!
The disciples wanted to be independent; rely on their own skills and resources; do things their own way and take the glory for themselves - just like we do! 

So what did Jesus have to do? He had to break their pride and independence - just like he has to do with us all the time. Therefore, many of the stories we encounter in the gospels take place so the disciples will have to surrender their will to his will and lay aside their pride and humbly follow and learn from him.

Before the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus had sent his disciples out 2x2 to minister in his name. They came back filled with pride and mojo - "even the demons obey us" they said. Jesus saw the effect that this power and authority had on them so he wanted to get them away where he could warn them of these effects. But the crowds wanted to hear Jesus and wouldn't leave them alone.

When the crowds grew hungry the disciples told Jesus he needed to disband the meeting so people could go home and eat - telling Jesus how to run his ministry because they wanted to be in charge. So what does Jesus do? He says in effect, so you think you have figured my ministry out - then YOU FEED THEM! - Then they complain about having to spend 8 months of a persons wages to feed everyone. I think that when Jesus performed this miracle, each disciple had a basket with a small loaf of bread and part of a small fish. I think each disciple thought the food would be gone after the first person. But when each person reached into the basket and came out with food they were "COMPLETELY ASTONISHED". Later they would understand the lesson - Jesus is the bread of life.

After the feeding, Jesus sends them out on the boat to go across the lake. A strange request for early in the evening. He tells them he needs some time alone to pray and will join them later. But how will he join them. I think Jesus wrestled in prayer with his Father until the fourth watch of the night asking for wisdom to help the disciples overcome their sinful desires.

I personally believe that Jesus created this storm to teach his disciples about dependence on him. The fishermen were in their element, confident in what they were doing, but they encountered a fierce storm and thought they were going to die. Their own resources were completely useless to save them and they never thought to PRAY for help.

Mark`s gospel says that Jesus came walking on the water and was about to pass by them. Why would he do that unless he wanted to show them how superior his skills and resources were compared with their own. Once they recognise Jesus, he joins them, calms the storm and they immediately get to the other side. 

The disciples don`t understand much of Jesus teaching and many of his practical training lessons until later, when they had received the Holy Spirit.

August 13 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

I think it was to teach us that:

1) Sometimes we feel battered by the storms. Mt 14:24

2) Sometimes we feel the darkness has won. Mt 14:25

3) Sometimes we feel our best efforts are to no avail. Mt 14:29-31

4) Sometimes we think the end is near. Mt 14:30

5) But, there is always the rescuing hand of Jesus! Mt 14:30

Two hymns and one song give us the application:

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!

~James Rowe

Throw Out The Life Line
Throw out the life line across the dark wave;
There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is sinking today.

~Edward S. Ufford

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.

--Josh Groban

May 06 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Hadassah JD Supporter

Many collected "waters" may be referred to as "sea." Sea is symbolic of people and nations. Hence King Jesus walking on water points that He is supreme and above all.

He also was communicating that He is the living water and is above other waters.

John 17:17 shows sanctification is done by the washing of the Word. Hence His walking on water may indicate that sanctification is paramount to have power as it comes when your spirit man is fed by God's Word 

Equally His walking on water is to demonstrate His power. 

Also it is to let us know that with Him we too will walk on waters which may be still or stormy.

Water bodies are more than the land mass. Hence He was also letting us know that He rules both inhabitants of land and sea and that everything is under His feet, marine kingdoms and everything else.

October 12 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Matthew 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Lord Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship and go before Him to the other side of the lake. He then sent the multitudes away, to whom He was moved with compassion, and healed their sickness. He then went up on a mountain to pray alone. In the fourth watch of the night, Lord Jesus saw the “Ship in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was Contrary, which was opposing against the Disciples.” (Mat 14:24) The disciples had gone through a similar storm when Jesus entered a ship, and the disciples followed him on board the vessel. At that time, he fell asleep on the boat, and then came a storm, while Lord Jesus was sleeping. The disciples woke Him, crying “Lord save us; we perish!” “He Rebuked the Winds and the Sea and there was a great calm.” (Mat 8:23-26/Mar 4:39) The scriptures reveal that He is God incarnate, for the Word was made flesh, as the Father had created mankind to demonstrate His control over the creation of this universe. (John 1:14) 

Lord Jesus from the beginning gave power to His disciples, appointed another seventy, and sent them out two by two to every city He would go to. When the seventy returned, they were with joy, they told Lord Jesus, “Even the devils are subject unto us,” “Through thy Name.” And Lord Jesus said to them, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” (Mat 10:1,32/Lk 9:1/10:1,18) As the disciples had gone through a similar storm, they had witnessed Lord Jesus rebuke the winds and storms and the sea that rowed. The power that was given to them as the appointed seventy who came back and revealed unto Lord Jesus, they failed to use the power given to them. Lord Jesus when He came walking in the storm towards them, they were troubled and cried out in fear. Lord Jesus revealed unto them It is I be not afraid, Peter answered and said let me come unto thee on the water. Lord said to him Come but he feared when he walked over the water seeing the storm thou being given the power to rebuke the spirit beings who created the storm they went through. 

The spiritual forces of evil the fallen angels the Nephilim who invoke mankind were in the heavenly realms right from the beginning of the creation of God. The cherub who was perfect from the time of creation, was anointed with the abundance of the works of his hands. He was filled with deceit that brought violence to his midst, in the sight of all who had beholden him, and then was cast out of heaven. (Eze 28:13-18/Lk 4:6) In the beginning Lord Jesus was also led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness and was tempted by the devil, who also took Him up on a high mountain, and to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. He was told to cast Himself down, for the Father shall send His angels to have a charge over Him. He then answered the devil thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God. The devil ended all his temptation and departed from Him, and then Lord Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

December 30 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report