Matt.14:22-25 – Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.

This storm became a very popular image often preached in the early church sermons. The symbolism is quite graphic and speaks to all of us who are frequently involved in the storms of life and are often helped by the Lord. The symbols in this story are quite profound; the boat is an image of the church, the disciples represent the Christians, the storm is exactly that – a storm or trial that we are caught up in. Suddenly the Lord is there in the midst of our storm, walking on the water bringing us to our destination on the other shore. Here is how Maclaren describes this scene.

“Another lesson for our individual lives is this, that Christ, in His sweetness and His gentle sustaining help, comes near to us all across the sea of sorrow and trouble. A more tender, a more gracious sense of His nearness to us is ever granted to us in the time of our darkness and our grief than is possible to us in the sunny hours of joy. It is always the stormy sea that Christ comes across, to draw near to us; and they who have never experienced the tempest have yet to learn the inmost sweetness of His presence. When it is night, and it is dark, at the hour which is the keystone of night’s black arch, Christ comes to us, striding across the stormy waters. Sorrow brings Him near to us. Do you see that sorrow does not drive you away from Him!”

There is also another powerful image in the verses just before the storm appears, Jesus is seen on the mountain in prayer, obviously praying for His church. This is of course a picture of Jesus as our heavenly High Priest. If Jesus is for me, who could stand against me? If it is true that Jesus is praying for me my destination is secure, He will finish the work that He began in my life.