We are going to look at one of the most thrilling events in the life of Peter today. And we are going to learn if we trust Jesus enough to walk out in faith, He will not only be our rescuer but He will ultimately be our Saviour. So let’s turn our Bibles to Matthew 14:22.
Now I don’t know about you but I find storms can be a very frightening experience and as were about to read, just like the disciples we often find ourselves in the middle of one. Ok, it may not be storms where there is thunder and lightning, but the storms of trials and difficulties.
You may even be here today and you’re facing a storm, maybe your parents are going through a really tough time and your right in the middle of it all. Maybe you’re struggling with a physical illness or having doubts about your faith. Maybe you’re struggling at school or receiving pressure from your non-Christian friends about your Christian friends.
You see loved ones, the truth of the matter is, all of us have gone through or will go through some kind of storm in our lives. Now it is true that sometimes God calms the storms, but more often what He does, is He calms us, in order for us to walk through those storms.
And notice who’s to blame for the disciples being in this storm.
That word ‘made’ means that Jesus commanded His disciples to take the boat across the lake of Galilee. Think about it! The disciples were in a storm because Jesus ordered them to go across the lake in the boat. I believe Jesus, the Master of the waves and the winds, knew the storm was coming.
And while they are making their way across, verse 24 tells us that “the boat was buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.”
But why would Jesus deliberately send them into a storm? Well I can think of at least two reasons.
First of all, there are times when the Lord will use a storm as a way of correcting us. Remember Jonah, he jumped on a ship and was going in the wrong direction, so what did God do?
God sent a storm and provided the first submarine, in the form of a great fish, to get Jonah back in the right direction.
Secondly the Lord can use a storm to help us grow spiritually.
The Lord will use a storm to help us grow and mature in our spiritual walk with Jesus, to help our faith and obedience to be stronger. I believe that the whole purpose of this storm was to help the disciples grow in their faith. And because they never understood the miracles of the loaves and fish, they had to learn to trust Jesus, even when He wasn’t physically present with them. And so because the storm was so bad we can only imagine what it would have been like trying to row across the lake of Galilee.
And that’s because it’s never easy going against the tide, is it? When you think about the humble salmon, they will swim for miles going against the ocean’s tide, when they get into the river, once again they are swimming against the tide. And more often than not, they will have to jump up to eight feet high to get over rocks. But why do they put all that energy into going against the tide? Simply because they have a purpose, they want to get back to their spawning waters where they can lay their eggs.
You see Jesus wants us as Christians to swim against the tide. The world says, ‘just live however you want, live for the moment, live life for yourself’ but Jesus says, ‘I want you to go against the tide and live for Me’.
The world says, ‘well everyone else gets drunk on alcoholic spirits’ but Jesus says, ‘I don’t want you to get drunk on alcoholic spirits, I want you to be filled with My Spirit.’
I understand that it’s not easy and it can be very tiring at times going against what everyone else thinks is normal. And I know it can be frightening at times but you need to understand that you are not alone. You are surrounded by a bunch of Christians, young and old who know very well just how scary it can be at times when life’s storms get a bit rough.
I guarantee there are people in this room who know what it’s like to lose a loved one. I guarantee there are people in this room who know what it’s like to lose all their friends because they decided to become a Christian. I guarantee there are people in this room who know what it’s like to struggle with drugs and struggle with pornography.
You see, in that boat there are twelve disciples, some would be terribly afraid and others like Peter, Andrew, James and John wouldn’t be so afraid because they were fishermen. But the point I’m trying to make is that when the wind starts to blow against you, just talk to other Christians who are in the boat with you. They will help you because they have been through what you are going through.
And so Jesus after having some private prayer time, decided to catch up with the disciples.
Now here’s something happening you don’t see every day of week, do you? Jesus is walking on the water, think about this for a moment. This is not the magician Dynamo walking on clear Perspex, pretending to walk on the river Thames on a clear calm day. This is not a man walking over alligators and crocodiles but this is Jesus, who’s walking on water whilst it’s blowing a gale.
Now some people don’t believe that Jesus walked on water but why can’t the One who created the water be able to walk on it?
Why can’t the One who created the sun and the moon, be able to stop them both for a full day, in order for Joshua to defeat the Amorites?
Why can’t the One who created life be able to raise Lazarus back from the dead in order for others to believe who Jesus was?
And so Jesus is walking through the storm towards the boat, the disciples see Him walking on the water and think He’s a ghost and they are petrified. But Jesus reassures them and tells them not to be afraid.
And what happens next, I believe this is probably one of the most exciting events in Peter’s life. It’s probably the event, possibly with the exception of the Mount of Transfiguration that Peter would never forget.
Now if seeing a man walking on water is an event you don’t see every day of the week, then certainly doing the same thing, is an event you would never forget. Someone once said, ‘expect great things of God, and attempt great things for God’ and that’s exactly what Peter did.
Most Christians I know are satisfied with little things from God, but not Peter. Out of all the disciples, Peter was the only one who asked to join Jesus on the water. And with a simple command, Jesus says, “Come” and that was enough for Peter. He totally relied on the Lord’s promise, climbed out of the boat, stepped on the water, and walked on the lake towards the Lord.
You see, Peter wanted to be with Jesus regardless of the risk and he knew that whatever God commands of us, He also empowers us to do. Peter also realises that it is better to be with Jesus, without a boat, than it is to be in a boat without Jesus. And loved ones, especially the young Christians amongst us, the Lord wants Christians with this kind of faith today.
The kind faith which is willing to follow Jesus, the kind of faith which wants to be close to Jesus and the kind of faith that wants to walk as Jesus walked, no matter the risk. The question is are you willing to get out of the boat? You see there are times when we all get very comfortable in our meeting places and we try to keep the storms away from us.
It’s great being among like-minded people where it’s easy to be a Christian, but are you willing to trust Jesus and step out of the boat? You see the church needs everyone, young and old to talk to people about Jesus outside these four walls.
When you’re with your mates eating at McDonalds and you really want to talk to them about Jesus but you’re afraid. Then just do what Peter did, step out in faith and trust Jesus and He will give you the right words to say at the right time.
When you’re having a sleepover at your house or a friend’s house, before you get stuck into that pizza, simply stop and quietly give thanks. And I’m sure that will get your friends talking which in turn will you a chance to explain why you give thanks.
You see we can all have a hundred excuses for not sharing our faith with others but that’s exactly what they are, excuses.
You are God’s child, and Jesus says, you’re worth dying for. And if you understand that then why wouldn’t you want others to have that relationship too? You’re a Christian and God loves you deeply and even if you’re a very young Christian and you think you are too afraid to share your faith, then just remember that even God says you are better than that.
Now when I look around, I see some of the cutest, little baby Christians swimming around in their meeting place, looking out of the window. You see your faith won’t grow if you don’t get out there and share your faith.
Let me ask you, what do you think the other disciples were thinking when Peter is stepping out of the boat? I can imagine them saying, ‘Peter the weather is stormy, stay in the boat’. Peter, are you nuts? ‘You are going to drown’.
Now let me ask you this question, how do you think Peter got onto the water? Did he just dive bomb in and say, ‘yeeha I’m going walking on water with Jesus’?
I would imagine that Peter was frightened and took his time, he probably hesitated with his first step, possibly even seeing fish swimming around under him. But Peter is now walking on the water, walking towards Jesus. You see loved ones we will never know what our faith can achieve, until we step out in faith and trust Jesus.
I can imagine the other disciples sitting in that boat with their mouths dropping, totally mesmerised when Peter is walking on the water. But then, as the text says, ‘after he saw the wind, fear set in and he began to sink’. Peter began to look around him and saw, the water, the wind, the waves, and the storm and when he did, he began to sink in fear.
In other words, the focus of his attention changed and he allowed his circumstances to get between him and Jesus.
Let me try and illustrate this because this is a problem that many Christians face when they take their eyes off Jesus.
Now notice how easy that was to read when you’re totally focused on the text.
Let’s read it again this time with distractions.
Now I don’t know about you but I would find that very distracting and very difficult to focus on what I’m reading. But can you see the difference between walking on water and sinking in despair? It’s all about focusing our eyes and ears on Jesus, not on what’s happening around us.
That word, ‘fixed’ literally means to glue. When we keep our eyes glued on Jesus, we’re able to walk through any storm which life throws our way. And if our heart’s desire is to go closer to Jesus, then nothing will stand in our way.
But when we start looking at our circumstances, our situation, at the storms of life, then we lose faith and a lost faith causes us to sink. What we focus on in life will either feed our faith or feed our fear. Peter wanted to be with Jesus, but to do so, he had to keep his eyes fixed on Him, regardless of the circumstances.
Now notice what Jesus didn’t do, He didn’t point a finger at Peter and say, ‘you should have known better’. He simply reached out and gave him a helping hand.
And I’m not convinced that Jesus was rebuking Peter by saying, ‘you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ I can imagine Jesus smiling because Peter had done so well in stepping out of the boat and actually walking on the water.
I believe that Jesus was saying, “Peter, after bringing you out on the water, why did you doubt I wouldn’t save you, when you began to falter?” You lost sight of me, but that doesn’t mean I am not here to lift you up.”
You see faith isn’t about your ability to do great things for God, faith is about God’s ability to do great things through you for Him. And our rescuer, our Saviour, is always able and willing to help us get back on our feet when life gets us down. And at that crucial moment, the One who understands human weakness completely, immediately stretches out His hand and catches Peter, preventing him from sinking further.
In other words, when Peter shouted, “Lord, save me,” Jesus responded and saved him and became his Saviour. And now Peter is once again standing on the water, and walks with Jesus and Matthew 14:32 says, “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.”
Wow, what an experience that must have been for all the disciples, especially Peter. Jesus and Peter are back on the boat, the wind, rain and high waves have all stopped and we can only imagine just how peaceful everything is now. And when Jesus saves anyone, the response is always the same, praise and worship.
None of us have walked on water but we’ve all faced some storms in our lives and time and time again God has helped us through them. Now just before we finish, let me ask you, do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Let me put that question another way, are you even in the boat? Because you can’t walk on the water until you first get in the boat.
Will you allow Jesus to save you? If you’re not a Christian this morning then you need to know you still need rescuing. You see loved ones, its one thing believing that Jesus can be your rescuer but it’s another thing to step out in faith and allow Him to save you.
Maybe some of you have been coming to youth weekends for years because they are great fun and you can hang out with your friends, but you still haven’t accepted Jesus as your Saviour. Maybe for some of you this is your first time visiting a ‘church’ of any kind.
You see it makes no difference because the question remains the same, will you allow Jesus to save you?
Please don’t leave here today without asking someone exactly how Jesus can save you.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."