Walking on Water

     Everyone has a different opinion about Peter's failure to walk on water for more than a short time. There is  lesson there and it has little to do with anyone else in the boat but Peter, Jesus, and their relationship! Salvation is not a group event nor teamwork. It is individual and personal. Of course, all the disciples learned from this miracle but it's still about Peter's weak faith! Examine the scripture:

Mat 14:24 ...the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

     Jesus walking on water represents spiritual safety.  The apostles seemed to be safe in the ship but it was because of their own devices. I'm sure that they clung to the rails, seats, and bulkhead and were doing okay. They seemed to be alright until they saw Jesus walking on the water. The sight of Jesus doing a thing defying human ability troubled the apostles. Rather than seeing Jesus they became superstitious. They believed in spirits before even thinking of truth; that He who they see is Jesus!
     To calm their fears, Jesus identified himself. He didn't say, I am your friend Jesus. He said in the Greek "eime ego" or I AM in English. It was not "it is I" but "I AM" which anyone should recognize as THE EXISTENCE -  JHVH (Jehovah). Some may have indeed recognized Jesus but did they truly recognize God?

     Jesus had already demonstrated in a ship earlier who He Is:

Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!27 

     Jews need a sign but the Greeks wisdom to believe. (1 Cor 1:22). In calming the storm incident, Jesus demonstrated who He Is. "What manner of man is this?" the disciples asked. After Jesus calmed the storm, they still looked on him as "man". In the second incident, the disciples looked on Jesus and saw a spirit. After two "signs" or miracles, they still did not see God! The reason Jesus walked on the water was to reveal His identity as God in the flesh. Rest assured, since koine Greek was the familiar language, the disciples knew what "Eime Ego" meant! They said outright: "Though art the Son of God"(Mat 14:33). This was when the disciples, likely all the apostles, came to realize that God walked among them and His Word was who spoke to them. This was when their mind's light was lit, and were perhaps born-again!

     Thus, Jesus walking on water is akin to Moses holding up the pole with the brass serpent on it (Num 21:9) which Jesus used to teach Nicodemus what "born again" means (John 3:1-14). Jesus concluded with "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." That was the Way that "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). While on the water, Jesus was "up there" waiting to be recognized but they didn't! Like those Hebrews who fought off the poisonous serpents on their own and died, the disciples in the boat (on both occasions) depended on their weak selves for safety.

     Walking and sitting on the water represents safety. The disciples were safe as long as they looked out on the water and knew that Jesus is God and He can indeed save! When they depended on themselves, they feared whom they could not clearly see. They failed to see God doing His often performed miracles with water, and feared. Peter, with enthusiasm, wanted what Simon the Sorcerer wanted - special powers (Acts 8) . Simon desired the power to do miracles by laying on his hands such that he could provide the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:13).  Simon beheld the miracles the apostles were doing in Jesus's Name, and he wanted to do the same. Peter was guilty of Simonism. Jesus pointed out to Peter that he had little faith, and asked why he doubted Him (Mat 14:31) as Jesus saved Peter.

     The miracle of walking on water is symbolic of what many call the salvation experience. I don't like that term because Jesus did not say, Ye must have a salvation experience, but "Ye must be born again." Salvation comes with enduring faith. Peter had only a moment of faith, then he doubted. This incident demonstrated that believers can fall away unless their faith is sufficient. In his excitement, Peter wanted what Jesus had, but in the end, his trust in Jesus was not enough to support him in the world (represented by the water). Peter depended on himself to walk on the water, which he knew was possible but still lacked the trust to sustain his status of faith. Thus, this is an example demonstrating what it takes to be born-again! When we see miracles, we see God. Peter saw and even experienced the miracle of walking on water, and even that sign failed to convince him that Jesus Is God! 

     Eventually, Jesus did pull Peter's wretched doubting body from the water and saved him. Perhaps at that moment, at least Peter was born-again! Perhaps they all were for they all remarked, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" and worshiped Him. Were they fully persuaded? Peter still was not because he later denied Jesus three times. Doubt enveloped him in the time of danger, and again his faith was weak! After Jesus's resurrection, Peter finally had great faith! History relates that Peter was crucified in AD 64, upside down at his request so as not to offend God. Jesus surely foresaw Peter's faith when he spoke these words:

John 21:18 Verily, verily, I (Jesus) say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

    The stretching out of Peter's hands was surely representative of his own death on the cross. Others would dress him for the occasion and take him where he didn't care to go - his death. Peter glorified God by dying for His Namesake. Finally, Peter's faith was strong as he was "baptized" in his own blood because of his belief that Jesus Is indeed God! When he was young, Peter sank. When he was older, he finally walked on water... Jesus's water and blood!

     This miracle had more to it than Peter's doubt. It had more than Jesus's power. It is to show that faith to be born-again must be strong and enduring. A little faith for a short time may not be enough to bear one's cross!