Will You Walk or Will You Sink?

Matthew 14:22–33. Walking on the Sea

1.      Review Matthew 14:22–33. Identify in writing what the reaction of the Apostles was when they first saw the Savior walking on the water toward them.

They were freaked out to say the least.  They thought that Christ was a spirit and were struck with fear.

The scriptures states:

 “25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”

2.      What did Peter’s response indicate about him?

When Peter heard that it was Christ he asked Christ to call him out of the ship so he could see for himself that it was he. I feel this suggests that Peter had faith in Christ. He knew that if it really were him that walking on water would be possible. 

3.      According to Matthew 14:30, why did Peter begin to sink?

He began to sink because the wind and reality of what was happening caused him to start doubting. After catching him before he sank, Jesus even asks him “O thou of little ^afaith, wherefore didst thou ^bdoubt?”  Peter’s faith was not enough to support him on the water.

4.      What did Peter do when he began to sink?

Peter became afraid and when he began to sink he called out to Christ begging to be saved from sinking.

“he was ^aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

What word in the verses describes the expediency or the timing when Jesus responded to Peter’s request?

When peter called out for help Christ “immediately” responded.

5.      Read Doctrine and Covenants 88:67. Write a paragraph describing what principle from this verse relates to what Peter did to successfully walk on the water. How can this same principle be applied to your life to assist you in walking over the storms of life?

The reason why Peter Successfully walked on water was because his eye was single to the glory of God.  He was not doing it for his own but for the reasons that God needed him to. Perhaps it was to increase his faith for later down the road, or to show those in the ship that were witnessing that such faith was possible.  At that moment he was filled with light and his body comprehended all things.  I would love to experience such faith.

It was when his mind was filled with doubt that the light was pushed away and he began to sink.

D&C 88:67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.