Walking on Water
Matthew 14:22-33

Full Service 

1. A faith that survives crisis is anchored to the providence of Christ. (vs. 22-24)

If we don't wake up, every single morning, and anchor ourselves to the truth that every single thing that happens to us and around us is by the providence of God, we put ourselves at risk of having our faith shipwrecked by the trials we face in our lives.

a) “Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat...” (vs. 22)

- “Made” = (lit. compelled, constrained, forced) meaning Jesus intentionally sent His disciples into the storm

b) Defining “providence” = God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.¹

- Anchoring to the reality of the providence of God means that when decisions are made in complete obedience to God, we must see the storm as divine appointments, sent by God; God using them to give us deeper insight into His nature and character, an insight that we would never be enlightened to apart from the storm.

2. A faith that survives crisis is anchored to the promises of Christ. (vs. 22-25)

a) “Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side...” (vs. 22)

- Embedded in Jesus’ urgent instruction for His disciples to “get into the boat and go before him...” is the promise that He WILL meet them on the other side! So, in combination with the providence of the storm Jesus sent them into, is the promise that He will get them to the other side of it, because He said He would meet them there.

b) What were the disciples facing along the way? (vs. 24)

- “Beaten” (lit. torturous or torment)

- “Making headway painfully” (cf. Mark 6:48).

- These words and phrases are regularly used in connection with demonic activity in the gospels. The language gives us a picture of an extremely painful process full of turmoil and chaos, not peace or tranquility, rather, disorder and confusion. That was the gravity of the situation.

- Can you relate? Is that how you feel in the midst of trial or crisis? Christian, know that His eye is on you and His hand is holding you, ensuring that you will not be overtaken! (cf. Romans 8:28)

3. A faith that survives crisis is anchored to the Person of Christ. (vs. 25-31)

a) Why does Jesus walk on water in the first place? It’s because ONLY God can walk on the waters and trample the waves of the sea! (cf. Psalm 77:16-20; Job 9:8)

- “Take heart; It is I” = (lit. “Ego Eimi” = I AM! - cf. Exodus 3:14)

- Jesus walks on water because, like every other miracle, the activity of Christ reveals the identity of Christ!

b) Jesus doesn't need to bring the storms of life to a quick end for us to regain our peace. He only needs to remind us of who He is and that He is the same God who never leaves and never forsakes His people.

4. A faith that survives crisis is anchored to the proclamations of Christ. (vs. 29-31)

a) “Come” = anchoring our lives to just one word from the mouth of Christ puts us in a safer position than many words from any human authority

b) “O you of little faith... ...why did you doubt?” (vs. 31)

- What’s being asked is: what was the point of Peter’s doubt and what was supposed to be the purpose and the end of his doubt?

- If you are a follower of Christ, trusting Him with your salvation from beginning to end, what is the point and purpose of your not trusting Him with everything in between?

5. A faith that survives crisis results in the praise of Christ. (vs. 32 - 33)

a) PRAISE & WORSHIP! = “Truly You are the Son of God.” (vs. 33)

- Do you have an accurate view of the Son of God? Are you growing in that accuracy and through accuracy, growing in intimacy with the real Jesus through real worship in spirit and truth?

¹Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) – Chapter 5

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