Focus: Why Did Jesus Walk On Water?

Text: Jh. 6:22

"The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone."

Jesus Christ walked on water. That's the power of God in action. That's a miracle, isn't it? He didn't only walk on water, but He made Peter walk on water too. He made Peter become a part of the divine action. God can make you participate in what He does.

Let's inquire into the reason why the Lord Jesus Christ walked on water. Was He trying to show His power or get the attention of His disciples? Was He trying to impress people with His supernatural abilities? Was He power drunk? Why did He walk on water? Was it necessary?

For these questions, our text provides the answers. The Lord Jesus Christ walked on water because by the time He came down from the mountain to the sea shore, there was no boat or ship. The only boat available had been taken by His disciples. After praying at the top of the mountain, He looked and saw His disciples in the middle of a great crisis caused by a terrible and terrifying storm, and they were in urgent need of help.

So Jesus Christ came down to go to them, but there was no ship in sight. Hence the reason why He walked on water. Had He seen a ship, He wouldn't have walked on water. You can now see that He walked on water, not because He was trying to show off His power, but because there was no boat, and He had to urgently save His disciples from imminent death.

Wisdom always informs how and when Christ uses His power. Christ performs miracles in your life when He sees the need for them. He doesn't go about showing how powerful He is when there's no need for it.

If there's a ship in your life, use it; don't wait for God to perform a miracle. That ship is already a miracle. If there's no ship to take you from one point to another, God will make you walk on water for your good and that of others. Don't wait for a miracle from heaven when God has already given you a ship to sail in.

God doesn't do magic or abracadabra; He works miracles, and He makes miracles happen when He sees the need for it.

Christ can do anything to save you. He can walk on water just for you. Your salvation and safety are paramount to God. The Word says, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (Chron.16:9). Hallelujah!

God is not stupid; He is all-wise. In all He does, He uses wisdom. His wisdom and power work together; they function in harmony. His power does not go ahead of His wisdom. His power flows from the place of wisdom. He has incredible and infinite power to do whatever His wisdom directs. His power goes in the direction of His wisdom.

If you have a ship for your sails, don't try walking on water. Make use of your God-given ship. Use your mind well, and make sure it's a renewed mind that you are using. Hear from God and act on it. All that Christ did while here on earth, He did always in line with what He heard from His Father or saw Him doing. He did nothing for self-show or for the sake of it. All He did was for the good of others and for His Father's glory.

In Luke 5, Christ did not stand on water to preach to the crowd. Peter's boat was there, and so He used it, and preached to the people from it. He uses any means available, except there's no means at all. He fed a multitude of people, using the available bread and fish to do it. God used a woman's pot of oil to give her the miracle she was looking for. 

Your miracle is in what you have. God processes your testimony, using what you have in your hand. He can even use what you borrow to make a miracle out of it, like he did for the woman (1Kgs.4). God is wise. Be wise! Follow in His steps and walk in wisdom.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter