Doing the Impossible with Jesus (Matthew 14:22-32)

Matthew points out that Jesus told his disciples to go away in the boat while he dismissed the crowds who had experienced the miracle of receiving food from Jesus. I wonder what ideas would have gone through the minds of the disciples when he did this. Maybe they assumed that they were going on another retreat, in which they would spend time alone with Jesus. After all, just before the feeding of the 5000 he had taken them away from the crowds in order that they would find out more about him. Maybe they did not even think there was an unusual reason. After all, travelling by boat was a common method of transport for them.

Sent away by Jesus (14:22)

Jesus sends his disciples away on a journey. At first glance we might assume that there is nothing significant about his instruction. Yet we must pay attention to the fact that Matthew was guided by the Holy Spirit to include that piece of information. As we look at the verse, we can see at least three details worth observing.

First, Jesus delights to put disciples into situations in which they are together. We can imagine how the disciples should have spoken together about the incredible event they had participated in when the large crowd were fed. Each could have said to the other how amazing it was that they had spent time with Jesus engaged in the impossible. It was an opportunity for fellowship and reflection as they sailed along the sea.

Second, and connected to that previous point, is that Jesus was prepared to do a task which would have prevented them having fellowship together at that time. After all, they could have been employed by Jesus in sending the crowds away. No doubt, it would probably have taken quite a while if they had done so. Jesus prevented the disciples doing this at that time because it was more important that they should be together.

Third, we can see that Jesus assured his disciples that he had a destination for them – he said so when he told them to go before him to the other side. Perhaps they imagined that the sail would be a breeze and that Jesus would do something once they had crossed the sea. Yet we can see that Jesus had given them a promise that they could use out on the sea, especially when the storm came, which was that they would get to his planned destination.

The priority of Jesus

Before the feeding of the 5000, Jesus had led his disciples to a desolate spot where they could spend time with God. Obviously, this practice was a priority for him. In this, he is our example, although we know that his interaction with the Father is very different from ours. For example, unlike us, when he drew near to God he did not confess any sins. Nor did he have to wonder if he had made a harmless mistake. His heart was one of constant love for his Father and his will. Jesus desired communion with the Father so strongly that he took time daily for it to happen.

Jesus on this occasion prayed for several hours. He had sent the crowds away before it became dark, probably between 6pm and 8pm. The night was divided into four watches between 6am and 6pm. Jesus would have begun his time of prayer during the first watch, continued through the second and third watches (9pm to 3am) and came to the disciples during the fourth watch.

What would he have prayed about? We know from the Gospel accounts that his eyes were on the disciples. What did he see as he looked at them? He saw disciples that could be led astray in their thinking by making wrong deductions from the power that he possessed – they could have begun to imagine that it would be easy for Jesus to set up his kingdom. John tells us that Jesus took action because the crowds wanted him to become their king, and the disciples at that stage would have agreed with their suggestion (John 6:15).

Jesus knew that sitting in the boat alongside the eleven genuine disciples was one who was not. He also knew one of his closest disciples was going to something unusual (Peter when he walked on the water). In addition, he would have known that his disciples needed to have the assurance that he could be with them in times of trouble. He could have prayed about all these aspects of their lives.

One obvious aspect of having a time of prayer between two incredible miracles was that Jesus was aware that prayer must accompany all acts of service for God. What did it feel like for Jesus to have helped a large crowd, each of whom then refused to acknowledge that he was greater than Moses? In his heart he would have longed for their spiritual blessing, yet in the mystery of providence it did not happen on this occasion. Where else would we expect him to go but to his Father? And in this he is our example. Yet in order to experience the empathy we need to engage in the activity of serving him.

Being discipled while at sea

One obvious detail that we can see in this incident is that obedience to Jesus can lead us into very difficult situations. In a sense, one way to avoid difficult situations is to be disobedient. After all, we will not get opposed by the world if we don’t profess we are his. Moreover, we can see that the troubles may not come until the worst moment from our point of view – as far as the disciples were concerned, the storm came when they were in the middle of the sea. Sometimes we imagine that obedience to Jesus will bring an easy life. Obedience usually will bring inner calm, a sense of peace, even if there is outer chaos. Yet we should be ready for difficulties as we serve the Lord.

Of course, Jesus did not tell the disciples what the trouble would be. It looks as if they did not anticipate a storm on that evening. Several of them were fishermen and they would often know when a storm would likely arise. When they set off, all was probably calm.

In addition to the change of circumstances, they had to cope with the apparent delay Jesus took in coming to their aid. They had left at sunset which occurred about 6pm. The fourth watch was the hours between 3 and 6 in the morning. Over nine hours had passed since they had last heard from Jesus.

We can assume that the disciples did not know how Jesus could come and help them. Perhaps they did not even believe, at this stage of their discipleship, that there was anything that he could do. If so, they were not ready for him to appear in any form whatsoever.

It is clear from the account that the one thing they recognised in the storm was the familiar voice of Jesus. They had listened to him on many occasions and they knew it well.

What did Jesus have to say to them? He informed them that it was himself and exhorted them not to be afraid. Jesus said this while the storm was still raging. So it was a call to faith, to trust him in the darkness because he knew where they were and how to get to them. They learned what Paul wrote later on, that nothing in all creation can separate believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus their Lord. Obviously the sea was not a barrier to Jesus, and nor was the storm. In this case, it was all true literally. But it is also true in all kinds of trouble as far as believers are concerned.

What did Peter learn?

Note how Peter addressed Jesus here. He recognised that Jesus was Lord. After all, only a divine person could walk on the sea. Perhaps some verses from the Old Testament came to his mind and helped him sense that he was observing something that was only explainable by the presence of God. Confession of the Lordship of Jesus is often the first evidence of dawning faith and it is also a lasting evidence of true faith.

It is evident that Peter had grasped that even as Jesus could get to them he also could get to Jesus. Clearly, there was an element of faith in this. He believed that Jesus could enable him to walk on water. In other words, he realised that he could do the impossible with the enabling of Jesus. The lesson is not that Jesus wants his people to engage in stunts designed to draw a crowd because we can see that there was not a crowd here. Instead, Peter was learning that through Jesus he could become an instrument to do the impossible.

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus involved him in over three thousand miracles as sinners experienced new life through his message. Peter did the impossible because the Lord was with him. And that was only the start of a career of conversions. Jesus did through each of his apostles. And he still is the same. He delights to bring about wonderful miracles through the witness of his people.

Yet Peter, in this moment of strong faith, experienced a lapse. He paid more attention to the sea and the storm that he did to Jesus. What did he learn from that failure? He learned that the best of men will have flaws and that even nearness to Jesus does not prevent that happening. Is it not the case that unbelief spoils our richest spiritual experiences?

Nevertheless, Peter discovered that the Lord is only a cry away. Three words were what he used and we can see in them that, despite his fears, he honoured the Lord by his petition by asking Jesus to do something that only he could do. No doubt, his concern was physical salvation, but the same words will do when calling upon him for spiritual mercy. Such a cry does not fall on deaf ears. Instead it reaches to the power of Jesus and deliverance comes.

And how kindly did Jesus speak to him! After all, to say that he had little faith was the same as saying he had true faith, although his words also indicate that one’s faith should grow, which it did in Peter’s case.

The aftermath

Jesus and Peter came into the boat and calmness occurred on the sea and in the hearts of the disciples. The pupils in the classroom had received an amazing lesson. What suitable words could they say to the One who had walked across the water to them? We are told what they did and said. They worshipped him by saying that Jesus is the Son of God. Moreover, they realised that Jesus was determined to continue with his task of proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God and to involve them in what he was doing.