John 6:15-21
"Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
But He said to them, "It is I, do not be afraid."
Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going."

Matthew 14:22-33
"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I, do not be afraid."
And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me."

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"And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "0 you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
And when they got into the boat the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly, You are the Son of God."

Message:
In our last lesson from this passage, we talked much of the miracle of Jesus walking on the sea to come to His disciples in the middle of the storm, in the dark. One of the observations we made was that the fear in the disciples heart was not caused by the storm, but by the startling and different way Jesus came to them! We applied this truth to ourselves, suggesting that in our storms of life, frequently it is the way Jesus comes to us in unexpected ways which ultimately prove to be the way He is answering our need. His answer to our prayer is often different than what we expected or anticipated, and at first we wonder if He did not hear our prayer! I have frequently looked back over my life's journey and rejoiced at the times Christ came to me in the midst of life's storms, and at first, I did not realize that it was Him at work in the problem.
Today, we want to consider the detail to the story of Jesus walking on the sea provided for us in the record of Matthew. It has to do with Peter's response in requesting Jesus to let him come to Him on the water. John does not include this facet of the miracle in his Gospel.
This is the fact of our story...PETER DID WALK ON THE WATER!
As I prepared for this lesson, the disturbing thing that I had to deal with was the quick criticism of most of the commentaries...critical of Peter for sinking in the water. But we must never forget that aside from Christ who was God in human flesh, Peter is the only human being that ever walked on water! And this is the aspect of this story that fascinates me and also challenges me. To all of us in our Christian journey the challenge to venture out in faith and do what, in ourselves is impossible, comes to us in the process of growing in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ...and most of us just sit in the boat!

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CHRIST BID HIM WALK ON THE WATER SO THAT HE MIGHT KNOW GOD'S POWER...HE ALLOWED HIM TO SINK SO THAT HE WOULD KNOW HIS WEAKNESS.
In our previous lesson, we observed that some commentators accept the story of Jesus walking on the sea, while others flatly say that it is a pious legend. Others see in it the account of a resurrection appearance to Peter; and cite the fact that its language belongs to resurrection days. Others say that Jesus was walking near the shore on stones. We believe that what the Bible says is true...Jesus came to His disciples in the middle of the night walking on the sea!
We also observed in our previous lesson that the storm came, not when the disciples had embarked on some foolish enterprise of their own choice, but "in the line of duty": they were obeying Christ's injunction. Storms come to the righteous, as well as to the wicked. We concluded that just because we have storms in our journey of life is not an indication that we are out of the will of God.
WALKING ON THE SEA...THAT IS A MIRACLE! What is a miracle? Not the arbitrary rending of "natural law", but rather any event so ordered that it pierces our dullness or despair to convince us of the presence and power of God. This miracle blessed the disciples, and our world, in Christ. He came in crisis, when the limits of human resource had been reached and passed. He came beyond their hope, for they did not expect Him; they thought He was an "apparition" to fear rather than a Savior to bless!
"And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear." (v.26)
Then came the comforting words of the Christ..."Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
He rectified their mistake, by making Himself known to them, as Joseph to his brethren; It is I. Christ does not name Himself, as He did to Paul, I AM JESUS; for Paul as yet knew Him not; but to these disciples it was enough to say, IT IS I; they knew His voice, as His sheep.
BE OF GOOD CHEER! Be courageous! Be not afraid of Me, now that you know it is I. Christ will not be a terror to those to whom He manifests Himself; when they come

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to understand Him aright, the terror will be over. Peter is overwhelmed with the sight. He is characteristically impulsive: always he leaps before he looks, which is still better wisdom than that of the man who looks for so long that he never leaps!
"And Peter answered Him and said, LORD, IF IT BE THOU, BID ME COME UNTO THEE ON THE WATER."
Courage was Peter's master grace; and that made him so forward above the rest to express his love to Christ, though others perhaps loved Him as well. Please note: IT IS AN INSTANCE OF PETER’S AFFECTION TO CHRIST THAT HE DESIRED TO COME TO HIM. When he sees Christ, whom, doubtless, during the storm, he had many a time wished for, he is impatient to be with Him. He does not say "Bid me walk on the waters" as desiring it for the miracle sake, but, BID ME COME TO THEE, as desiring it for Christ's sake. Peter's response to Christ was out of love, not just to be spectacular or different. Oh! How Peter loved Christ!
"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I, THE SON OF MAN, AM?
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades, shall not prevail against it.
"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth, will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19)
Essentially Peter's discovery was that human categories, even the highest human categories, are inadequate to describe Jesus Christ. When the people described Jesus as Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets they thought that they were setting Jesus in the highest category that they could find.

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Elijah was the forerunner whom all men expected; Jeremiah also had his place in the divine kingdom, and was the destined helper of God's people in the day of trouble. It was the belief of the Jews that for four hundred years the voice of prophecy had been silent; and they were saying that in Jesus men heard again the direct and authentic voice of God. These are great tributes; but they are not enough; for there are no human categories and descriptions and classifications which are adequate to describe Jesus Christ. Once Napoleon gave his verdict on Jesus. "I know men," said Napoleon, "and Jesus Christ is more than a man."
Doubtless Peter could not have given a theological account and a philosophic expression of what he meant when he said that Jesus was the Son of the living God; the one thing of which Peter was quite certain was that no merely human description was adequate to describe Jesus Christ. JESUS CHRIST WAS HIS LORD AND MASTER!
After Christ had risen from the dead, He goes to the sea shore...there to visit with some of His disciples. Here is the account as recorded in the last chapter of John's Gospel: (John 21:15-19)
"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time. "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep."
"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Jesus asked this question three times; and there was a reason for that. It was three times that Peter denied his Lord, and it was three times that his Lord gave him the chance to affirm his love. Jesus, in His gracious forgiveness, gave Peter the chance to wipe out the mem-

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ory of the threefold denial by a threefold declaration of love.
When Peter sees his Master on the lake, his love compels him to want to go to Him, even if it meant walking on the water himself!
LOVE DOES NOT ALWAYS DO THE REASONABLE THING! History has its pages full of acts of persons who did things that were not reasonable...acts that were propelled by the force of love! The impossible has frequently been accomplished in the power of love.
To Peter, Jesus responds to his request...COME! And when Peter had come down out of the boat, HE WALKED ON THE WATER TO GO TO JESUS.
Please notice that the record does not tell us how long or how far Peter walked on the water...but can you imagine the exhilaration and joy that must have filled the heart of Peter!
Jesus, let me come to Thee! Let me come to Thee; no matter how." Note: True love will break through fire and water, if dully called to it, to come to Christ! Christ was coming to them, to succor and deliver them.
Lord, said Peter, BID ME COME TO THEE. When Christ is coming toward us in a way of mercy and love, we must go forth to meet Him in a way of duty; and herein we must be willing and bold to venture with Him and to venture for Him.
Herein is the heart of our lesson today!
To me, this is more than just a story in the Bible...and what a wonderful story it is...and it is really true! It is a lesson that talks to my heart about my response to Christ who has touched my life with His presence and love. And in response to that love, He frequently bids us to do things and to take risks, which, in the natural seem impossible for us to do. COME! And too frequently, we sit in the boat, somewhat safe and secure, and never respond to the opportunity that He calls us to because of the "water."
Let me give some very practical applications.
After we have come to know Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, He lays upon our heart a burden for task or ministry in the work of the church. We see the need, the opportunity to serve the Lord. But there is the "water," the fear of not being up to the task, the reluctance to venture out into an experience in which

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we seem to have little talent. In our love for our Saviour, we really do want to serve Him, but even after He calls us and burdens our heart for the task, we still linger in the boat of indecision, doubt and unbelief. WE WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE WONDER AND POWER OF CHRIST IN OUR LIFE UNTIL WE GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND RESPOND TO •HIS INVITATION...COME!
And when we get out of the boat, and start our journey of faith in doing something we never thought we could do...with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, this is when our Christianity gets exciting.
Let me talk about something very practical, but according to the statistics, only about twenty percent of the Christians ever get involved in. Eighty percent of the Christian Church, the Body of Christ, never TITHE! That is, most Christians never respond to the invitation to tithe their income for various reasons. Maybe it is fear of not trusting God for their needs, maybe it is fear of not having enough resources to cover their own desire and needs, or maybe it is just greed. They stay in their little boat of check books, stocks and bonds, material assets and feel secure. But the invitation of Scripture says:
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts. "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough for you to receive it." (Mal. 3:10).
Maybe the Amplified Bible will make this verse just a little easier to understand:
"Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
THINK OF IT! Eight out of ten Christians will not get out of their little boat of fear, unbelief and lack of love for Christ, and walk on the "water" of trust...and because of their non-response to the invitation...COME... the windows of blessings are closed and they live their lives never experiencing the thrill of seeing the power Christ in their personal lives and personal finances.
AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR LITTLE BOAT OF MATERIAL RESOURCES GETS HIT WITH THE STORMS OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, AND YOU HAVE NOT INVITED CHRIST INTO YOUR BOAT?

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Ah! But you say...Pastor, you have overlooked the part of the story where Peter sinks; and Christ has to save him.
What if I venture out on the waters of faith in trying to do something in Christ's church such as teaching or helping in the Sunday School or ushering... and I fail? What if I start tithing and fall short of finances in meeting my personal needs and wants? What if I fail in meeting my financial responsibilities?
And my answer is...When we are responding to His invitation to COME, and we do what we do out of pure love for Him, our Saviour and Master, He is always near to save us when we begin to sink!
Don't criticize Peter for sinking...we will all fail at times in our effort to do something for Christ out of love.
It is probable that Peter, being bred a fisherman, could swim very well; and perhaps he trusted in part to that, when he cast himself into the sea; if he could not walk, he could swim; but Christ let him begin to sink, to show him that it was Christ's right hand and His Holy arm, not any skill of his own, that was his security.
On page three of our notes, I said:
"CHRIST BID HIM WALK ON THE WATER SO THAT HE MIGHT KNOW GOD'S POWER...HE ALLOWED HIM TO SINK SO THAT HE WOULD KNOW HIS WEAKNESS."
Now there is a universal truth in this story.
There is the invitation of the Gospel to every soul sailing the seas of life. COME!
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18)
NEVER, UNTIL YOU INVITE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR BOAT, WILL YOU EVER ENJOY PEACE AND HIS DIVINE PRESENCE IN THIS STORMY JOURNEY OF LIFE. AND IF HE IS NOT IN YOUR BOAT, WHEN IT SINKS, YOU WILL BE FOREVER LOST!