7 LESSONS FROM THE BOAT WITH JESUS

Matthew 14:23-31(NIV)

²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

The text says Jesus constrained the disciples to get into the boat to go before Him to the other side. Obviously, there was an encounter with Jesus that they had not yet had.  They had known Him as the Healer, the Deliverer, the Raiser of the dead, the Multiplier of bread and fish, the Calmer of waves and more but they had not yet known Him as the Walker on water.  They had not yet understood His authority over the elements of this world.

Jesus constrained them to get into the boat before Him also because there were some lessons they had to learn in that journey, which lessons we must learn too.

(i) Where Jesus puts you may not be smooth sailing. The wind was contrary but it could never destroy them. It may have slowed them down but it did so only as a preparation for their miracle. The marriage, the ministry, the job, the business, etc where Jesus puts you may not be smooth sailing but there is glory in it, there is a miracle in it. You are protected where Jesus puts you, stick with it.   

(ii) When Jesus puts you in a boat, you need Jesus to step out of it.  Imagine if Peter had stepped out at his own bidding.  Ask until you receive an answer before you step out of where Jesus put you.

(iii) The boat was their comfort zone in the sea. The sea was what others do not dare to do. You will never be able to do the things that others do not dare to do, extraordinary things, until you get out of your comfort zone. So get out of the boat.

(iv) Peter stepped out and left some people behind. You will not succeed in doing great things in life until you learn to leave some people behind. Jesus shut the door against the crowd when he wanted to raise the dead. You must learn to shut out some people and leave some people behind to achieve greatness.

(v) When Peter began to go down, he turned to Jesus.  Jesus was his first response and not his last resort. Call on Jesus first not people.

(vi) Jesus walked on water. Peter too walked on water. You too can walk on water. Everything Jesus did, with your eyes fixed on Jesus, you too can and even greater things than what Jesus did.

(vii) Jesus with Peter returned to the boat, to the people Peter had left behind. When you have accomplished the impossible, do not forget where God lifted you from. Come back to them with Jesus. The result will calm the wind for them and for you too.