Get out of the Boat

There is so much we can learn from the event of Jesus walking on water and Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water. A great study that we have done is called, “If You Want to Get Out of the Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat,” By John Ortberg. I have gone through it several times with different small groups and I learned so much from it. God can do great things in each of us if we are willing to step out in faith. And there is so much more in that story.

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!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O 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.”

So what can we take from this? The disciples just witnessed Jesus feeding 5000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves of bread and two fish with plenty to spare. Yet He never ceases to amaze them. He truly is the Son of God.

We see that nothing can stop Him when He has a mission to accomplish. Not the wind, not the waves, not the sea.

Another thing that I noticed, even though Peter is one of those guys that sticks his foot in his mouth sometimes and does things without thinking, he didn’t just go out of the boat to meet Jesus. He asked Jesus to command him to do so and then he got out. How often do we try to do things on our own and things fall apart. We begin to sink. Then we turn our eyes to Christ and He lifts us up.

We see that when we keep our eyes on Christ we can be lifted up; we can get through the storm, “we can walk on water,” but we have to get out of the boat. We have to have faith. We have to leave our comfort zone. But when we struggle, when we take our eyes off of Him and begin to sink, He is there with His hand reached out to pull us back. We just have to reach out to Him. And after we go through the storm and put our faith in Jesus, He will calm the storm. There is a saying, that sometimes, He calms the storm, sometimes He calms the child (and leads the child through the storm). I have experienced this through some struggles. When I turned from Him, the storm got harder. I began to sink, just like Peter. When I looked toward Him, He gave me peace even through the storm. And who knows how many times He kept me from the storm.

Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

James 1:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 4:7-10

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

When we humble ourselves and submit to God, He will give us peace and joy.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding be with you always.