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The twelve disciples were very concerned about the storm on the Sea of Galilee that descended upon them from out of nowhere and struggled to row the boat to land. Then they saw an apparition walking by and were very afraid (Mt 14:26). The disciples shifted their concerns to a higher gear of fear. Their hearts were running in overdrive. The ghost-like figure identified Himself as Jesus to the disciples and instructed them not to be afraid (Mk 6:50).
Nobody could have foreseen the next unpredictable event. It was so radical, so out there, so unthinkable, so unfeasible that anyone of the disciples would get out of the boat and into the windswept sea! Eleven of them expected, after the announcement by Jesus, to simply wait for Him to come to the boat in keeping within the rules of sanity and scared out of their wits. Peter started yelling to Jesus for permission to come to where He was in the turbulent waters, and the next thing they knew Peter was overboard walking on the water just like Jesus (Mt 14:28-29)! They had to have been stupefied by it all!
So let’s quickly summarize the situation. The disciples are in fear of failing to reach the shore and capsizing and drowning in the sea. There’s a ghost walking on the water that turns out to be Jesus. Then Peter jumps out of the boat and starts walking on the water. Nobody is ever going to believe their story if they make it to shore!
Now Matthew records the next episode,
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me’” (Mt 14:30)!
We must give Peter credit here. Nobody else got out of the boat. They didn’t realize that safe harbor is wherever Jesus is; and He was out there in the angry waters. Actually, the safest place to be is wherever God wants us to be, not where common sense dictates. It doesn’t mean that the safest place isn’t a scary place, for the wind was furious and the waves troubled, but Jesus was there with Peter as He is with us. Since nothing enters our life without God’s approval, the safest most sensible place to be is at the center of God’s will, wherever that takes us.
When Peter went over the side of the boat, he learned a very important spiritual reality – whenever our faith takes a dip it is because we have taken our eyes off of Christ; it’s called unbelief in the promises of God. When Peter saw the fury of the wind and the waves; he panicked and started to sink. This always happens whenever our eyes are focused on the circumstances of life rather than Christ.
Then we have a beautiful portrait of rescue painted in words that would make Michelangelo look like a paint-by-the-numbers artist –
“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him” (Mt 14:31a; cf. Jn 10:27-28).... It speaks for itself.
Then Jesus asked Peter a question,
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt” Mt 14:31b)?
Jesus never asked a question for information; it was always for the benefit of the hearer. Peter began to sink because his step was bigger than his faith, a faith that contained the element of doubt. And just the right wind and wave brought it out of Peter! So he lost his momentum and started going down immediately; Peter's fear of the wind and the waves exceeded God’s ability to make His will possible – “Come” (Mt 14:29).
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt” Mt 14:31b)?
Jesus never asked a question for information; it was always for the benefit of the hearer. Peter began to sink because his step was bigger than his faith, a faith that contained the element of doubt. And just the right wind and wave brought it out of Peter! So he lost his momentum and started going down immediately; Peter's fear of the wind and the waves exceeded God’s ability to make His will possible – “Come” (Mt 14:29).
Unfortunately, this is way too common an occurrence in the life of the vast majority of believers. Focusing on the circumstances have a way of distracting and preventing us from obeying the will of God. But Peter’s heart was hardened along with the others on the boat (Mk 6:52). Stony hearts cannot successfully carry out the commands of Jesus whether they attempt to do something extraordinary or content to do something ordinary like riding out the waves of life in a boat waiting for Jesus to do something.
Nevertheless, Peter did something no other man had ever done before or ever will, except for the God-Man; he literally walked on the water. How on top of the world was that! In reality it was short lived, and the bottom is always willing to greet a person of little faith rather quickly.
Nevertheless, Peter did something no other man had ever done before or ever will, except for the God-Man; he literally walked on the water. How on top of the world was that! In reality it was short lived, and the bottom is always willing to greet a person of little faith rather quickly.
Isn’t it better to have attempted and failed than to have remained in the boat with everyone else and failed anyway? It was so impulsive, yet so refreshing, bold and daring. Perhaps too much carnal calculating keeps us bobbing on the waves of life. Situations sure have a way of bringing to the surface the spiritual impurities in our life don’t they?
Well, the story has a happy ending.
“And when they [Peter and Jesus] got into the boat, the wind ceased” (Mt 14:32).
The boat went from being in the middle of the sea (Mt 14:24) to being at landfall (Jn 6:21), coincidental? No, it would be safe to say that Jesus possesses an all powerful ability to make anything happen in our lives even if it defies rationality, cutting deep across the grain of human logic. And all the disciples had an epiphany that early morning for breakfast,
“And when they [Peter and Jesus] got into the boat, the wind ceased” (Mt 14:32).
The boat went from being in the middle of the sea (Mt 14:24) to being at landfall (Jn 6:21), coincidental? No, it would be safe to say that Jesus possesses an all powerful ability to make anything happen in our lives even if it defies rationality, cutting deep across the grain of human logic. And all the disciples had an epiphany that early morning for breakfast,
“Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (Mt 14:33).
How are you doing in the midst of your impossible circumstances today? Jesus isn’t asking us to walk on water but commanding us to walk according to His Word regardless of the wind and the waves of our situation; which by the way, He allowed to enter into our lives in the first place by His providence. Jesus simply wants us to believe that with Him all things are possible and to walk without doubt in that belief.
There is one thing for sure that is impossible for any of us who name the name of Christ,
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God [emphasis mine, remember Jesus’ command to Peter] must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb11:6).
So go ahead; launch out into the deep even if the rest decide to remain in the boat; it’s called walking by faith in the sea of life. Come to think about it, walking by faith is as close to walking on the water as we'll ever get! And by the way Jesus says, "Come." <><
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