The Holy Bible
The New Testament
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (New International Version)
Chapter 14 Verses 22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Jesus, in some kind of haste ! Immediately He made the disciples go! Surely, there were things to discuss. For a great miracle of feeding the five thousand had just taken place. Pray, why hurry?
Ah! Therein lies the answer: Yes, He hurried to Pray.
There is a time for the multitude and there is a time for solitude. Alone with God. Father and Son. Talking. Enjoying each other’s company.
But, could there be another reason for sending off the disciples? We find out soon enough.
Boat buffeted ! Disciples in despair !
How often does this happen in our lives? A considerable distance from the shore, in the middle of the waters, no human help in the vicinity and the elements are against us. The wind is against our boat.
Followers of Christ, we may be. But there’s no guarantee for a smooth sailing through the journey of life.
Air travelers of our day can easily identify with this condition. Turbulence! Fasten seat belts, sit tight and pray. Well, the text doesn’t say they actually did, but that’s the most natural, spontaneous thing to do in trouble – cry out for help. And who can help, but God? Who else has authority over nature ?
So, when the buffeting begins, our prayer life improves ! A definite positive.
But the problem doesn’t quite vanish at once. In fact things get rather complicated: a ghost appears!
Now is your vision blurred? Have you allowed the things that are happening (not necessarily just to you) cloud you ability to see clearly.
He is God. He is near. He is coming to you (v. 25)
How ?
Walking on water! Exclamation mark, mine. The Bible doesn’t have it. No fuss. No surprise. Every thing is under His control. God of the universe. God of creation. He is in fact above Nature.
Orderly as He is, He doesn’t usually cause chaos by habitually flouting the laws of nature He wrote Himself. But, thank God He does make exceptions some times, when His children cry!
Walking on water ! A miracle to humans, but no big deal to the Divine. Like stepping out of the house to open the compound gate. Ordinary ! Mentioned in passing, almost as an afterthought, at the end of the sentence……….., walking on the lake.
And His first words to a thoroughly unnerved, shaken lot: “Take courage, it is I” (v.27) Encouraging, to say the least. Only chance of Salvation to say the most. There is none else to save.
He is coming to you, sure but will you make a move? Uh, uh. Problem. I am in a boat – with all the security it provides. Cocooned in a zone of comfort. Things may be pretty boisterous outside. But at least here, I am together with my buddies. Bound together in bonds of sameness. Shaking in fear may be, but shaking together! Jointly and severally!
But here is Jesus saying “Don’t be afraid” (v.27). Yes, with Him by your side, there is no fear. You believe it. But, would you act on it? The question is, how you get to His side from your side. Peter shows you how.
By climbing over the gunwale. Out of the boat. A most courageous decision. Yes, a clear and conscious DECISION to move towards Jesus. Away from the comfort of tradition, from the boundaries of knowledge and experience.
In to the unknown, yes, but unto Jesus.
For all his impetuosity and bravado, Peter is no fool. He first checks out. “Lord, if it is you…(v.28). Yes, if it is Jesus, there is no better decision. You don’t have to think twice. Just step out in faith.
But Peter, clever guy;his prayer was quite specific. He was not taking chances. He adds, “Tell me to come to you on the water”.
Jesus says: “come” (v.29). With Him, it is almost always “come”. A couple of times, you hear “go” is in reference to witnessing about Him to others. He is not One to turn away people. Doesn’t it say elsewhere in the scriptures that “……….whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).
“Come”. It is the Word of God. Word full of enabling power; the same power evident in Creation. If only you will obey. Come.
Come to Jesus. Never mind the chasm that exists between where you are (in your sinful state) and where He is (in His divine estate). Come. Bridging the gulf is His business. But will you display faith enough?
“Well done Peter. Congratulations!” Hey, who is this? If Peter is clever, the devil is cleverer. Subtle guy, the devil, is actually commending Peter on his decision to go to Jesus by stepping on the water.
Snap.
Peter loses focus. Looks around in a momentary flash of triumph at his incredible feat, only to be overwhelmed by the wind and lose his feet (v.30). Into the water. The gravity (of the situation) got him down.
Did I hear somebody tittering?
The devil (and may be the guys still in the boat!)
He loves to bring you down. And apparently he won.
Peter started well. But somewhere along the way, he lost the plot. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2), says the scriptures. He banked on the author part but he took his eyes off the finisher, and was nearly finished himself, and in his desperation (this time actually) cries out, “Lord, save me” (v.30)
God knows when you are going under. That is not the time to embark on a most edifying instruction on the efficacy of faith.
That is the time to extend a hand of help and you bet He does just that (v.31)
Now we don’t know how far Jesus was at that point of time. But no distance was too great for Him to reach out. To lift you up.
And then He gives Peter a further lesson in faith. “Why did you doubt?”
If the situation weren’t so grim, the irony would be hilarious. The original hero, taking a bum’s rap.
The story ends with all in the boat acknowledging Jesus to be the Son of God and worshipping Him. And Peter had learnt his lesson.
Hopefully.