When Peter Walked on Water (Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21)

What if your greatest moment of faith ends in failure? That’s exactly what happened when Peter stepped out of the boat to walk toward Jesus—only to be overwhelmed by fear and begin to sink. In this episode, Stephen Davey explores the story of Peter walking on water and the powerful lessons it offers for anyone who has ever doubted, failed, or fallen short. Discover how God uses the storms of life to grow your faith, how He responds when you stumble, and why failure isn’t the end of your story. If you’re walking through deep waters or struggling to stay afloat, this message will remind you that Jesus doesn’t abandon His people when they fall—He reaches out, lifts them up, and walks them back to safety.

Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25

Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/

Transcript

Life Lessons Beyond Classrooms

SPEAKER_00 0:43

I'm convinced that the most important lessons in life are rarely learned in a classroom. They're usually learned in the laboratory of life. In fact, growing up in the Christian life usually takes place during unexpected challenges that come our way. Well, here, following the miraculous feeding of the multitude, Mark chapter six now gives us the details of what took place next. Here in verse 45, we're told, immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsida, while he dismissed the crowd, and after he had taken leave of

The Boat Ride Into The Storm

SPEAKER_00 1:23

them, he went up on the mountain to pray. Well now Jesus just fed five thousand plus women and children in Bethsaida. So you need to understand that Jesus is actually sending them to another Bethsida, another town called that, by that name we know historically. It was on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was a little suburb of Capernaum. Matthew's gospel tells us what happened back here in chapter 14 and verse 23. Jesus went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves. In other words, you have this surprise storm taking place. In fact, Mark's gospel says here in verse 48 of chapter six, they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. Mark also tells us that from his little private prayer spot, Jesus can actually see the disciples struggling out there against the wind and the waves. Now, if we go back to Matthew chapter fourteen, we're told in verse twenty five, in the fourth watch of the night, that's about four AM, he came to them walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost, and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke

Peter Steps Out And Sinks

SPEAKER_00 2:48

to them, saying, Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid. And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. And he said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand, took hold of him, saying to him, Oh, you have little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly, you are the Son of God. Now, most people seem to focus on the fact that Peter, you know, walked on the water only briefly before he began to sink. Well, let me tell you, he's the only disciple who got out of the boat. The others are hanging on to their life jackets for dear life. But still, Peter here starts out well, but ultimately fails this little test of faith. I want you to keep in mind that Peter is failing in familiar territory. He knows the Sea of Galilee. In fact, he probably was a wonderful swimmer. The Lord has taken him to a place where where this experienced fisherman has the greatest confidence. Have you ever thought about the fact that our biggest failures can occur in areas where we we thought we had it all together? Well, secondly, Peter is failing here after extensive training. Now, for two years he's witnessed miracles. Peter and the other disciples have even performed miracles themselves in their ministry efforts. And for two years, Peter has been trained by the master, trainer, discipler himself. Let me tell you, beloved, you never reach a point where you're beyond the possibility of failing in your walk of faith. Let me bring this out thirdly here. Peter is failing while in the process of obeying. Think about it. Here he is, he's right in the middle of God's will. He's obeying Jesus' invitation to come walk out there on the water to him, and only then, while then he's obeying, he's filled with fear, faithless fear. You see, it's obvious the Lord wants to teach Peter and those other disciples, and you and me, some unforgettable lessons. One lesson would be that obedience to Christ doesn't smooth out every problem in life. In fact, there are going to be times in your life when you're going to

What Storms Teach About Faith

SPEAKER_00 5:38

trust Christ more deeply, and it's usually going to happen when you're in the middle of a storm. These men will never forget the sight of Jesus walking on the water in the middle of this storm. So keep in mind the presence of Jesus didn't eliminate that storm. He was with them in the middle of it, but he wanted Peter to walk out there and join him right there in the middle of that storm. With that comes another lesson here, and that's this. The Lord doesn't guarantee the absence of storms, but he guarantees his presence in the midst of them. And let me give you a third lesson. This strikes me here from Peter's failure. Here it is Deep waters are never intended to drown us, but to develop us. See, the truth is Jesus rarely develops your faith, beloved, uh during days of sunshine and clear skies and all the bills are paid. No, it's it's when things grow unsettled. It's it's when things get stormy for you out there in the laboratory of life. It's during those times that you can expect deep lessons. You know why? Deep lessons come to us from deep water experiences. Here's another lesson that offers some good news. When you fail, a test of faith, the Lord doesn't kick you out of school. Jesus didn't make Peter swim to shore. He pulled him up and took him back to the boat. And that leads me to one final lesson. It's possible to fail without becoming a failure. See, the question is this are you willing to stay in class? As humbling as it might be when you experience some failure, some humiliating experience, some disappointment, perhaps one after another. Reminds me of a young black girl who grew up in poverty in Philadelphia. One of her most enjoyable activities was singing in her church choir.

Grace Before Greatness Story

SPEAKER_00 7:53

All the adults around her in church recognized her unique talent. They began to raise money, and they called it the Marian Anderson's Future Fund. They raised $126, mostly in pennies, nickels, and dimes, and with that she began taking voice lessons, and finally, when she was eighteen, she had an audition with a famous instructor, but she was rejected. Her friends and supporters scheduled a live performance, but newspaper critics were unkind. She even went overseas for a concert or two, and she was well received there, but back in America, primarily because of her color, she was often ignored and humiliated. For many years, several years, in fact, Marion wallowed in self pity, ready to give up, but her mother would often remind her to think about her failures just a little and pray about them a lot. Well, on one occasion her mother said something Marion never forgot. Marion, you must learn that grace comes before greatness. Well, Marion Anderson stayed with it. She went on to have an amazing career. She would end up singing before kings and queens and United States presidents. She would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She would be appointed as a delegate to the United Nations. A reporter once asked her, Marion, what was the most incredible moment in your illustrious career? She said, Well, that was the day I went home and told my mother she wouldn't have to take in laundry anymore. See, she never forgot those early years of humility, difficulty, one storm after another. You know, if you could ask Peter, hey Peter, what was your greatest moment in following Jesus? Was it healing the sick? Was it being one of the closest disciples? That inner circle with the Lord? Was it was it preaching on the day of Pentecost as the New Testament church was created with three thousand people believing your message? Was it walking on the water? You know, I think I think Peter would just say his greatest moment was when the Lord pulled him up out of that water and they walked back together and got back into that boat. That moment when Peter was humiliated, that moment when he'd failed, that moment when he chose not to give up, not to abandon ship. And you know, as an older man, Peter will write these words humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper

Pulled Up And Led Home

SPEAKER_00 10:53

time he may exalt you. You know, that's another way of saying that humility comes before honor, that grace comes before greatness. So even even when you fail, follow on. Keep going, keep learning as you learn just a little bit more what it means to live a life of faith. Well, until next time, beloved, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.