Sea Walking

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening, he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 

During the fourth watch of the night (my emphasis), he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come."

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed. (Matthew 14:22-36) 

“During the fourth watch of the night” catches our attention, or at least it should.  The Jews, as well as the Romans, usually divided the night into four watches of three hours each. The first watch began at six, the second at nine, the third at twelve, the fourth at three leading to daybreak. During these many hours of storm, tempest, darkness, and danger, Jesus saw his disciples, though they saw not him. He understood their fear while they were fighting with the winds and waves.

The book of Job is relevant to this reading about walking on water.  Job (9:1-11) reads: Then Job answered and said: I know well that it is so; but how can anyone be in the right before God? Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength…He commands the sun, and it does not rise; he seals up the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the back of the sea (my emphasis)…”

Where else in the Bible are the Israelites saved from the sea and during the 4th watch?  Another example is found in Exodus (14:23-30) that reads:  The Egyptians followed in pursuit after them—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen—into the midst of the sea. But during the watch just before dawn [4th watch] (my emphasis), the LORD looked down from a column of fiery cloud upon the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could drive only with difficulty. With that the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, because the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.” Then the LORD spoke to Moses: Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their horsemen. So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak (my emphasis) the sea returned to its normal flow. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward it when the LORD cast the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the horsemen. Of all Pharaoh’s army which had followed the Israelites into the sea, not even one escaped. But the Israelites had walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water as a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of Egypt…

Unexpectedly God appears for our relief and rescue.  A sudden storm becomes calm, and we are brought into a safe port.  In the morning watch he appeared for Israel in the Red Sea, troubled and dismayed by their pursuing enemies, and he delivered his people. To walk on the sea was thought so impracticable, that the picture of two feet walking on the sea, was an Egyptian hieroglyphic for an impossible thing (my emphasis).  In the Scripture just quoted, God alone can tread on the waves of the sea. 

Did Matthew used Job and Exodus as his model for Jesus and this miracle?  We cannot know; however, the Gospel writers’ use of Hebrew Scriptures is suggestive.  They were Jews, so why wouldn’t they?  Jesus did an impossible thing by walking on water.  Then again, only God can tread on the waves of sea.

Deacon David Pierce