What is the meaning of Matthew 14:25? During the fourth watch of the night “During the fourth watch of the night…” (Matthew 14:25) • The ancient Jewish night was divided into four watches; the fourth spanned roughly 3–6 a.m. (cf. Luke 12:38). This tells us it was darkest and coldest, an hour when human strength is lowest. • Jesus had intentionally allowed the disciples to struggle for hours against the wind (Matthew 14:24), underscoring their helplessness apart from Him. • God’s pattern of showing up at what feels like the last moment appears elsewhere—think of Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-14) or Gideon’s dwindled army (Judges 7:2-7). He often lets circumstances ripen so that His intervention is unmistakably divine. • For believers today, the “fourth watch” reminds us that when darkness lingers, God has not forgotten; His timing is perfect (Psalm 46:1; Galatians 6:9). Jesus went out to them “…Jesus went out to them…” • The initiative is entirely His. The disciples did not row back to shore for help; Jesus closed the distance. • This mirrors His mission overall: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). We do not ascend to God; He comes to us (Romans 5:8). • Notice the personal nature—He went “to them,” not just near them. Like the Good Shepherd leaving the ninety-nine for the one (Matthew 18:12-14), He draws near to His own in distress. • In Mark’s parallel record, He “intended to pass by them” (Mark 6:48), echoing God’s glory passing before Moses (Exodus 33:19-22). Jesus’ approach is both comforting and revealing His divine glory. walking on the sea “…walking on the sea.” • This is not allegory; Scripture presents it as a literal miracle. The water that threatened to drown them became the pavement beneath His feet (Job 9:8). • Only God exercises such mastery over creation (Psalm 77:19; Psalm 107:29). By doing what only Yahweh can do, Jesus openly displays His deity. • The miracle also serves a pastoral purpose: – It conquers the very element that terrifies them. – It short-circuits every human solution, forcing faith (Matthew 14:27). – It foreshadows ultimate victory over every chaotic “sea,” culminating in the new heaven and new earth where “there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1). • Peter’s brief walk (Matthew 14:29) further highlights that power flows from fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). summary Matthew 14:25 shows Jesus arriving in the darkest hour, taking the first step toward His struggling followers, and treading effortlessly over the very waves that overwhelmed them. The verse assures us that Christ’s timing is perfect, His initiative unearned, and His authority absolute. Whatever storms confront us, the One who walks on water still comes, still speaks, and still saves. |
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