I’ve read the story of Jesus walking on the water many times.
I can see in my memory, the illustration from my childhood Sunday School class.
This morning, I was reading Matthew 14 and found myself sitting with this story.
I read it and re-read it, imagining what it must have been like to be the disciples sent out into that boat.
Jesus wanted to be alone. His cousin had died and the Bible tells us that
Jesus wanted time in the quiet with his Heavenly Father.
He sent the disciples out into boat ahead of him, so he could be alone for a while and pray. (14:22-23)
I wonder what the disciples thought when the winds and waves began to push and pull their boat. Were they afraid? Did they wonder where Jesus was?
They were in the boat, being tossed by the wind and battered by the waves,
when out in the darkness, walking toward them comes a figure -
a human shape moving across the water like a ghost.
It seems that any possible concern about the storm was immediately overtaken
by their fear of this perceived apparition.
But Jesus, knowing their fear, called out to them,
“Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid!”
As I read, I found myself reflecting on the many times I have been terrified
of a real or perceived threat…and then heard Jesus whisper to my heart,
“Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid!”
I wish I could say that this always brings perfect peace to my heart,
But sometimes I find myself continuing to wrestle with my fears, asking questions like -
“What’s going to happen, Lord?”
“Will you save me?”
“Am I going to be okay?”
“Are my people going to be okay?”
But here in Matthew chapter 14 we have Peter,
bold and brash,
who calls out to this mysterious figure who is doing the impossible - walking on water -
“Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Oh to have this kind of courage and hope!
To look out through the storm and ask Jesus
to show Himself mighty by inviting ME to do the impossible.
I want to be that kind of Jesus follower.
Peter certainly didn’t get it all right all the time, sometimes he had to be firmly corrected.
But the confidence that he found in his relationship with Jesus is truly inspiring.
As I read these verses, I imagined what it must have been like to hear Jesus respond “Come”…
and then to climb over the side of the boat,
stepping my foot down into water and finding sure footing.
To begin walking on the waves, as the water crashed against my legs, doing the impossible…and then to realize the impossibility of it
and panic.
It was in that moment of fear,
of distraction,
of focusing on the danger rather than the rescuer-
that is the moment when Peter began to sink.
Here’s what struck me, though.
If you’ve ever stepped off of the side of a pool into the water, you know one thing for sure,
you do not “begin” to sink.
Gravity works well, even in water, and sinking is immediate and fairly quick.
But it seems like that’s not what happened to Peter…
The verse says “beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand” and “caught hold of him”.
It reads almost like it happened in slow motion.
I wonder if Jesus allowed just a little bit of sinking to remind Peter that
it was Jesus alone that was enabling him to walk on that water.
Peter wasn’t doing anything amazing, Jesus was!
After saving him, Jesus says to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” –
The word translated “You of little faith” communicates the idea of faith that is “too little” –
It’s just not quite big enough…
not sufficient for what is needed.
Perhaps it’s when our faith is “too little” that the struggles of this life begin to be more than we can handle
and so we begin to sink.
Jesus asked Peter why he doubted.
I wonder about Peter’s doubt.
Did he doubt that Jesus was able to keep him above the water?
Did he doubt that Jesus was willing to keep him above the water?
Did he doubt that Jesus was who He said He was?
Whatever it was, whatever the doubt…
It wasn’t enough to keep Jesus from saving him.
Did you notice that?
All Peter had to do was cry out to Jesus to save him and
Jesus reached out and caught hold of him.
Jesus didn’t look at him sinking and say,
“Your faith is too small and if it doesn’t increase right now
you will surely sink to the bottom of the sea.”
Nope, Jesus rescued Peter as soon as He cried out to His Lord,
even while he was sinking in his doubt
I want to be like Peter.
I want to be bold enough to ask Jesus to do the impossible and
I want to be confident enough in Jesus, that when I am afraid and begin to sink,
I immediately call out to Him, knowing He will reach out catch hold of me.
And when I look into the face of my Savior, I want to fall on my face and say
“Truly, you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)
