Acts America

Has Jesus Walked On Your Water?

“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” (Mathew 14:25)

“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. 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. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, He walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when He saw the wind boisterous, He was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33)

As we read this story, we see Jesus coming off the mountain and walking on the sea. In just a few moments He would call Peter to “come” to Him on the water. Peter would get out of the boat and walk on the water to Jesus. I would encourage you to open your heart and embrace this miracle with child-like simplicity. Just simply be awed once again at the power and the authority of Jesus Christ. Allow the Holy Ghost to stir that zeal and Holy awe again as you read about Jesus. I believe as you do, He will open your eyes to why Jesus and Peter walked on the water and help you to understand what was really happening here in the Spirit.

Establishing A Principle

The Holy Ghost wants to make something very real to you concerning this miracle. Listen, Jesus never flaunted His power. He never did anything to simply impress men. He did not walk on the water here to prove that He could. Jesus walked on the water here because He was establishing a principle. He was determined in His earthly mission to establish the kingdom of God, and would not allow anything to stop that. Jesus was making a statement to the whole world that has echoed to every generation, and we see it in verse 25. “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.”

Did you hear that? Jesus went unto them. Jesus walked on the water for one reason, to get to those disciples. The water was just that which was between Him and them. He was establishing the principle that nothing could stop Him from coming to those in His Kingdom that would walk in child-like obedience and had a cry in their hearts for Him. This is more than Jesus walking on the water, this is Jesus responding to the cry of His disciples as He went forth to establish the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said in Mark 9:1, “There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” The kingdom would come in power on the day of Pentecost when disciples of Jesus would be filled with and controlled by the Holy Ghost. These disciples on this boat were part of those that would see the kingdom come in power. These men would eventually be filled with and controlled by the Holy Ghost, but they were far removed from that now. As Jesus comes off the mountain and walks on the water, He is not showing us His ability to walk on the water, but rather His desire and ability to respond to frail, flawed, weak humanity. He is showing us His ability to take that foolish thing and mould it until it could be used in the Kingdom of God.

Look at these men. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:26,27) These men were not even sure who or what it was walking on the sea. They were consumed with fear, but Jesus came to them. Why? Because Jesus saw beyond the uncertainties and the fear. Jesus heard a cry and saw hearts that could be enlarged by His grace. He saw hearts that could be emptied of self and be filled with the Holy Ghost. So Jesus came to them walking on the water. He came on the water and in the storm so they would know without a shadow of doubt, that nothing could hinder His response to those who desired Him and would walk in child-like obedience. As you read this, Jesus will respond to you. He will hear the faintest of cries, and He will walk on your “water” just to get to you.

Conditions of the Heart that Hinders Jesus

What was there about these few men on this boat? Were there not others that desired Him? Were these all that represented His Kingdom? Let’s take a look at what had happened before Jesus went to the mountain to pray. As you look at the whole story, you will find that Jesus had desired to respond to others, but couldn’t. There were three groups of people that represented conditions of the heart that would hinder Jesus from responding as He did to those disciples on the sea. As we look at these conditions of the heart, ask your self, is Jesus walking on your water?

“And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, in so much that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? and they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:54-58) Notice Jesus is in His own country teaching in the synagogue, but He couldn’t do many mighty works. Why? These in His own country had grown familiar with Him. Being familiar with Him had blinded their eyes. They could not see the need in their hearts for a mighty work to be done. They became offended and bothered at the things He did and expected.

How many today sit in church week after week and become the same way. They have become so familiar there is no longer a cry in their hearts for a mighty work to be done so they can be continually filled with and controlled by the Holy Ghost. There’s no cry to get to Him as Peter desired when he walked on the water to get to Jesus. They are easily offended at the word when it convicts and challenges them. Jesus desired to do a mighty work in these hearts and establish His Kingdom, but their familiarity with Him had produced unbelieving hearts. And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58) I believe some of these could have been on the sea when Jesus walked on the water, but their hearts had failed to respond to Him.

“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in Him.” (Matthew 14:1,2) Herod represents the reigning authority that was seeking to find Christ, probably for the same reason he had apprehended John, to kill him. Herod had to be in control. His was the type of heart that has to be in charge of his own destiny and desires. He represents those who acknowledge Christ but refuse His Lordship. This heart is capable of sitting in church week after week hearing the truth, while only embracing that which doesn’t inconvenience or places too much demand upon their daily lives. They will acknowledge the mighty works as long as they have some input of how it will affect them. So how did Jesus respond to this heart? “When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place…”(Matthew 14:13A) Jesus hid Himself from Herod. Jesus refuses to take second place in your heart. You must give Him the reigns and allow Him to be if full control.

Then there was the multitude. “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14) How did Jesus respond to the needs of this multitude? “And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled:” (Matthew 14:19, 20A)

But something happened. “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a King, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.” (John 6:15) The multitudes wanted to make Him a King. They wanted to crown Him on the basis of His supplying material things. Multitudes are doing the same thing today. The spirit of this age has all but consumed them. They fill churches every week, but their hearts are consumed with the love of things, the love of this world. Jesus spoke about this last day Laodicean church in Revelations 3. They said they were rich and increased with goods, but Jesus said they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked, and spiritually lukewarm. Jesus said He would spue this church out of His mouth. So how did Jesus respond to this multitude that wanted to make Him a king on the basis of material blessings? “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a King, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.” (John 6:15) These hearts refused Christ for who He was, but rather desired Him for what He could do for them.

Left Alone On The Mountain to Pray

Jesus had made Himself available with a desire to establish His Kingdom in all their hearts, but they had refused Him. Jesus is left alone in the mountain praying, having to walk away from all these without establishing His Kingdom. He walked away from His own, the ruling authority, and the multitudes with just a few disciples and a mountain to pray in. “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. 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. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 14:22-24)

Take a look at this ship in the midst of the sea. It represented all of God’s established Kingdom in the world at that time. As frail as it may have looked to the rest of the world, these were His. To the world’s standards, these few disciples didn’t look like very much, but they represented the Kingdom of God. If you could have stood on the shore that day and could have seen that boat full of disciples in the midst of that storm, realizing it represented His Kingdom, you would no doubt have been afraid that the next wave would surely engulf this boat and destroy God’s plans and purposes. And that’s exactly what we do today. We think the next wave of trails or circumstances will surely engulf us and destroy God’s purpose for our lives.

But listen, and don’t forget it. This boat with these disciples represented those who had responded to Him and the desires of His heart. Jesus told them to get into the ship and go to the other side. They were in the storm because they were simply doing what He had said to do. Did you get that? They were not offended at what He said like those in His own country that had grown familiar with Him. These hearts did not question Him on every side. They did not sit in church picking and choosing what would best satisfy or help them along their way. No, He said go to the other side, and these frail but loyal hearts responded to Him.

These hearts weren’t like the ruling authority. These men weren’t trying to be in control. They chose to relinquish their hold on their destiny or good fortunes at this time so they could please and obey Him. These few disciples wouldn’t hear a Wednesday night message and only embrace that which left them some ability to be in control of their desires. No, He said go to the other side, and these hearts recognized His authority was needed in their lives.

These men weren’t looking to crown Him King on the basis of all His blessings. They had not yet been blinded with the love of things. They weren’t on this boat to go to the other side so as to better their social standing in a world that had rejected Him. If they were in church today, they would reject this cheap “gospel” that is being preached in most places. They wouldn’t sell out for a charismatic version of prosperity and holiness. They wouldn’t sell out for a charismatic version of prosperity and holiness. They wouldn’t be so gullible as to equate God’s approval with fame and fortune. No, they were simply in this boat in child-like obedience going to the other side because that’s what He said to do.

Where was Jesus when these few disciples chose in spite of all their failures to go to the other side? He chose to go to the mountain to pray for them. He knew their hearts were weak and frail. He knew they needed Him as never before as they had chose to follow Him in the midst of all the rejection. So, Jesus went to the mountain alone to pray, but He wouldn’t stay there.

Jesus Still Comes Off The Mountain

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 14:24) These men were accustomed to these storms. They knew how to handle a boat. The wind was blowing dead against them, the worst of situations. It’s tough to turn a boat around when the wind is against you. But, it is easier to those that know what they are doing to turn the boat around than to continue against the wind. So why, didn’t these disciples turn the boat around? Because Jesus had said to go before Him to the other side. These men were simply being loyal to Him. Here are men so much like we are, that we have to love them. They knew what He had said, and they kept that boat pointed to the other side.

But what about Jesus, what did He do? How would Jesus respond to these men, this condition of the heart? And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (Matthew 14:25) Jesus came off the mountain and came unto them walking on the water. Jesus was making a statement, establishing a principle. He had left Nazareth where He was unable to respond because of how easily they were offended at His word. He had to turn His back on Herod because he refused the authority of Jesus. He had sent the multitudes away refusing to be crowned their King on the basis of material blessings. But, He would respond to this little boat full of disciples that would dare to obey Him.

Jesus came off the mountain and went to these disciples walking on the water. As He approached them they were troubled and cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (Matthew 14:27) The word “saying” that Matthew used is the word “Lego”. It means to speak by linking and knitting together in connected discourse the inward thoughts and feelings of the mind. Jesus was giving them a word that would link and knit His thoughts and feelings with their hearts. And, what were His thoughts and feelings? He was establishing a principle that nothing would stop Him from coming to those that truly desired Him the person for who He was and would obey Him with child-like faith.

Drawn To The Person of Jesus Christ

These words were from His heart. Words spoken to frail but loyal hearts, designed to bring them unto Him. His own people, Herod, and the multitudes had not heard Him, but these few disciples would. And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:28,29) Faith and courage had been stirred in Peter. But notice, it was not used to speak to the storm or to even ask Jesus to speak to the storm. No, it was for one reason, to get to the person of Jesus.

This was Jesus teaching them that true grace would always be sufficient to stir their hearts to get to Him. Listen, Peter walked on water. But why? Peter walked on that water for one reason, to get to Jesus. He heard the words of Christ and His heart was linked with His. Jesus said “come” and Peter came to Jesus. Being drawn to Jesus was more precious than the storm being calmed. What a sight that must have been from the shore. A few disciples in the midst of a storm, and their main desire was to “come” to Jesus.

Oh, how different were these hearts from the others. Where are you today? Has Jesus been able to walk on our water? Has He heard a cry in your heart for just Him? Are you more concerned about the storms of life around you than you are coming to Jesus in the midst of them? Is your heart linked with His thoughts and His feelings? Are you saying, calm the storm or “Draw me, and I will run after Thee” like the bride in Song of Solomon?

Jesus is in the mountain by the Father today praying. He still hears the cry of loyal disciples, no matter how frail or weak. Cry out to Him today, and let Him walk on your water. He will come to you, just for you, and will draw you to Him, just for Him. Jesus and Peter walked back together to the boat. He will not let you go. “For God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax My hold on you? Assuredly not!” (Hebrews 13:5[B] Amplified)

Jesus is worthy of a people who will “Come to Him” for who He is, and not what else He can do for them. Will you let Him walk on your water today? Open your heart and you will hear Him say, “Come!”