“He Walked on Water” (Ready to Worship S12E9)

On this season on Ready to Worship, we are examining worship in the Gospel of Matthew. Primarily, we are focusing on the times when Jesus was worshipped. In this installment, we are examining the occasion when Jesus walked on the water and was worshipped. Mathew records, “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (Mt. 14:33). As we will see from this study, Jesus’ interactions with water give us many occasions to worship.

 

 

The psalmist declared, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord:

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psa. 33:6-9). Water is essential to life. Plants need it. Animals need it. Man needs it. We not only owe our initial existence to the Creator, we owe our continued existence to Him and the world that He made to sustain us. Truly, this is a cause for worship.

 

 

When a young couple ran out of wine on their wedding day, Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-12). What it takes months for rain, sunshine, and soil to do on the vine, Jesus did in an instant. He changed the molecular structure of water into wine. Truly, this is a cause for worship.

 

 

Jesus’ disciples were experienced fishermen. They made their living at sea. They had been in storms before. Yet, what occurred on this night scared even them. They thought that they were perishing (Mt. 8:23-27). They woke the Lord up to help them. Rather than grabbing a bucket to help bail water, Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves. Instantly, there was calm. The disciples were amazed. Truly, this is a cause for worship.

 

 

Treading upon something is evidence that you have power over it. For example, Jesus promised His disciples that they would have this power over deadly things. Luke records, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Lk. 10:19). This is not shocking when you consider that He has all authority (Mt. 28:18). Of course, all things, including death, will ultimately be under His feet (1 Cor. 15:24-26). In the focus of this study, we see Jesus walking on water (Mt. 14:22-33). Truly, this is a cause for worship.

 

 

It was water that separated the children of Israel from bondage and Naaman from leprosy (Ex. 14; 2 Kings 5). It was also water the saved Noah and his family. Peter wrote, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Pet. 3:20). Water lifted Noah and his family high above the destruction that came upon the world. It was used to save them and it is used to save us. Peter continued, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). It is in the watery grave of baptism that we contact the blood of Jesus that takes away our sins (Rom. 6:3-4). Truly, this is a cause for worship.

 

As we get ready to worship this week, let’s remember water. Let’s worship the One who created it, changed it, calmed it, conquered it, and commissioned it for our salvation. Truly, He is worthy of our worship.