Can we have a think about Jesus walking on the water and what that might mean for us today? The context is the feeding of the 5k.
The Disciples had gone away with Jesus for a quiet retreat but the Crowd found them, Jesus healed many, some parables were told, 5K people fed, and then, shall we say in an act of kindness, Jesus sends the Disciples away, they’ve had a long day, effectively saying – Off you go – I will tidy up here, send the crowd away, and go and pray, I will catch up with you soon. Something like that.
I think its good to notice that Jesus goes off to pray. If Jesus felt the need to pray then we should absolutely spend time in prayer – both the sort of prayer that says
Oh Dear God here are a list of my many anxieties and burdens,
but also prayer in the sense of a time where we just sit still in the presence of God and absorb, breathe in, some of His peace.
It turns out the wind is against the Disciples so this rowing is hard work even for the fishermen amongst them. It’s quite a storm.
So the first thing I want to point out is Just because you’re in a storm does not mean that you have done anything wrong.
Jesus even told them to get rowing so these disciples are absolutely where they should be.
If you see someone having a difficult time, struggling in their storm, try not to leap to the conclusion that this is their own fault, they must have sinned etc.
It maybe that they are there out of obedience to Jesus.
That doesn’t stop the storm being tough and frightening and hard work.
And it could be that the Devil doesn’t like it – we have seen in our Gospel – Parables reminding us that whilst the Sower sows the seed the birds, like the devil, like to come and peck at our faith hope and love. And we’ve heard the parable of the wheat and tares where an enemy deliberately sows weeds to wreck the crop.
So here we return again to the theme of prayer as a source of peace and strength to get us through the day.
Next Jesus comes to them walking on the water. I love this, this is fabulous, you just couldn’t make it up. You really couldn’t – I cannot find anything in Roman, Greek Mythology where heroes or gods go walking on the water. This isn’t a replica of some OT prophet. It’s just so very bonkers that I am left with the conclusion that it happened. I just don’t think you could make this up.
I note that Jesus is not recognised at first and this is a helpful reminder to me that very often my prayers are answered in a way that I did not expect, that Jesus comes to us in surprising ways.
And then Jesus spoke into their fear – Take Heart it is I. Do not be afraid.
I suspect that we would all be glad to hear that voice in the midst of our fears. But please note that Jesus doesn’t stop the storm, He reminds them of His presence.
It might be that the presence of Jesus in our lives is more important than whatever storm or struggle we are going through.
So we come back again to prayer – and that sort of prayer that reminds us that Jesus is with you, so Take Heart, Do not fear.
Next, Peter steps out of the boat. Its really hard to imagine this level of madness. ?What on earth possessed the man to think that this might be worth trying.
Well actually there is an answer to that.
In Jesus’ day, when a Rabbi started to gather a group of disciples about him, there would be an interview, what the Rabbi wanted was a student who would not merely learn his teachings but would then go and teach others the teaching. Go and Do what I do.
The Rabbi was looking for a disciple who could teach, and do, what he saw his Rabbi doing. You have it in you to do what I do. And then the Rabbi might conclude the interview saying: Come follow me!
So Peter, getting out of the water, is really putting Jesus in spot. Did Jesus mean it when He called Peter, when He said you have it in you to do what I do?!
Peter steps out of the Boat. And he walks on the water. Jesus must have been so proud of Peter at this point! Wow you are actually doing what I have been teaching you to do – Come and follow me.
Please don’t rush on to the next bit.
Just have this moment where you, perhaps one of the disciples, in the boat, see Peter standing on the water.
Its not as if you haven’t seen one or two miracles within the last 24 hours. Demons cast out, leprosy healed, the blind see, and 5k people fed from a small packed lunch.
But now you’re seeing Jesus walking on water, and then over there that’s Peter, walking on water.
Now, in all seriousness there are some people whose lives are just one enormous struggle after struggle, and I look at them with prayer and admiration, and I think to myself – you are walking on water.
I have no idea how you are still going!
It seems to me that You are walking on water.
And I think their trick is the same as Peter’s – they are focusing as best as they can on Jesus, just looking at Him, looking to Him, well done, take another step.
Remember the different ways that we do that. Yes in private prayer, in Worship, in the Sacraments, in meditating on the scriptures, and add to that in being part of a community of faith, so when you catch up with each other don’t forget to say – if you get a moment can you pray for me this week? And ask if there is anything that you could pray for them?
But then Peter starts to sink. He looks to the waves and the winds and realises the absurdity of what he is doing.
I’m told that at some scientific physical mathematical level it should be impossible for a bumble bee to fly – well I just hope that no one tells the bees that.
Peter starts to sink.
Did you ever come across a book called the Boy the mole, the fox and the horse? Charlie Mackesy – you really must get it for your summer read. Its not so much a story as a series of reflective pictures. One of them has the boy asking the horse – What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done – to which the horse replies – asked for help.
We don’t. We’re rubbish at asking for help.
But note that whilst Peter starts to sink – I love that phrase – you and I would not start to sink – in a swimming pool we would just plummet – but here is Peter trying to walk but he’s up to his ankles, his knees, his thighs, its getting harder and harder to walk –
But Peter cries out ‘Save me Lord!’ – that’s the key. Cry out! Save me Lord. That’s the prayer we need to be praying each day, to keep us focussing on Jesus not on the wind and waves, to keep us walking towards Jesus.
Don’t be too hard on the other 11 disciples.
Judas was in that boat. Just a thought.
Often preachers talk about getting out of your comfort zone.
I think quite a few of the disciples were out of their comfort zone just being in this boat at 3am struggling to row home to their beds.
But if you are stuck in your comfort zone, then I am sorry for you. It is a place where your faith and muscles and brain will atrophy, deteriorate.
So if you can try and get out of the boat.
And if you can’t then make a point of praying for those who are, so that your prayers and faith might help hold them up.
Jesus returns to the boat, holding Peter’s hand. They climb in. The wind and waves calm down.
And now there is a response from the Disciples.
When Peter first met Jesus, his response was ‘Go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man’. He was sort of saying – Jesus you want nothing to do with me!
But now they are saying the opposite – in worshipping Jesus they are saying
‘We want more of you in our lives.
We want to know more of your love, your power, your faith, so that we can live lives of worship and hope.
This is the power of worship. And shortly we shall do some more as come to this Communion Table.
I think this a sermon about Prayer, about asking for Help, about Focussing your heart and mind on Jesus – and a good way to do that is in Church, over Coffee and in Worship.
Shall we continue. Amen.
(a sermon that didn’t get preached in Seaford but in Friston 9th Aug 2026)
Photo is of me dancing with my wife at our son’s wedding!