Today’s Reading: Matthew 14:22-36
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. – Matthew 14:22-23
JESUS SENT THEM OUT ONTO THE LAKE.
Jesus intentionally spent time alone in prayer. So much had happened and he had been consistently surrounded by people. It was time to spend the evening with God — to be refreshed, restored, and renewed. He knew there would be difficult days ahead for him and for his disciples. It was time to reveal himself to his closest followers in a new way.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” – Matthew 14:24-26
Imagine what this might have been like for them. Many of them were fishermen, so this probably was not the first time they had been in a boat when the weather had turned. But perhaps they were farther out from the land than they had been during a storm; perhaps the waves were stronger than they had experienced before. In the midst of the familiar, there was a new challenge, and they were struggling.
JESUS WAS WITH THEM IN THE STORM.
The disciples were where they were told to be. Jesus had insisted they get into the boat and cross over to the other side of the lake. It had been a long day. It was time to send the people home and time to travel to the next place. It was in obeying Jesus that the disciples found themselves in a storm they could not get themselves out of. And in the midst of the heavy waves and strong winds, Jesus made himself known to them. In order to experience the power of Jesus, they had to fully experience the storm.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. – Matthew 14:27-29a
JESUS INVITED PETER TO WALK OUT ON THE WATER TO HIM.
The invitation was clear — Jesus was calling Peter to come out onto the water, even though the waves were large and the wind was strong. Peter had a choice to make. He could experience Jesus from the safety of the boat or he could experience Jesus in a place that required a whole new level of faith.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. – Matthew 14:29b-33
It took a large amount of faith for Peter to step over the side of the boat. One foot in front of the other, he made his way toward Jesus. He was walking on the surface of the water, able to do something he had never seen before because the power of Jesus enabled him to do it. But the storm had not stopped. His experience of Jesus was in the midst of the storm. Overwhelmed with the “what ifs” and extremely aware of the dangerous nature of his circumstances, Peter lost his focus on who he knew Jesus to be, and he began to sink.
I cannot blame Peter here. I know what it is to go over the side of the boat in confidence and then lose focus of Jesus in it all. I know what it is to sink in the midst of life’s storms. But I also know what it feels like for Jesus to reach out and take hold of me, pulling me back to a place of recognizing his power and his authority over the circumstances of my life. It is in those moments when I have truly recognized who Jesus is, just like Peter did.
JESUS LED PETER BACK TO THE BOAT AND CALMED THE STORM.
After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed. – Matthew 14:34-36
Lord, thank you for the reminder this morning that it is in the midst of life’s storms that we experience your power. Responding in obedience to what you are calling us to do does not guarantee there won’t be strong winds, heavy rain, and large waves. There will be times when we are in over our heads and our natural response will be fear. But this one thing we know — you are bigger than all of it! You are capable of calming the storm, and we thank you for all of the times we have been blessed by your power over a situation. But sometimes you require us to have faith in you while the swell is over our heads and the threat of a breaking wave is real. Help us to trust you in those situations. GIve us faith to walk on the water to you today. Amen.