You just got to love Peter. You gotta love him. I’m not really the Peter type disciple. I’m not the boisterous, brash, cut off your ear if I need to, kind. But I do love and laugh at his realness and enthusiasm, and often wish I was a lot more Peter-ish. Case in point…
Jesus and Peter Walk on the Water
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:22-32
Storms at Night
I LOVE THIS! Here’s the scene: A bunch of fisherman and other guys familiar with the Sea of Galilee, out a far distance in somebody’s boat, in the middle of the night. Can you imagine the darkness? When I was kid, my stepdad had a trotline on one of the inlets of Lake Houston. More than once, we went out at night to check the lines. (Those without fishing license prefer the darkness. Ahem.) When he would turn off the trolling motor and all we had for light was a flashlight, which he used sparingly, it was dark and oh so eerily quiet.
On the Sea of Galilee, the scene was the same until a storm suddenly blew. While I was in Israel, we took a boat ride, at night, into the Sea of Galilee. I don’t know where we went, because it was dark, but I know we ended up where we started. We had a wonderful time of worship and teaching, but I really just wanted to turn off the lights and music and imagine.
We were told that the Sea of Galilee is notorious for sudden storms. It has something to do with the mountains, blah, blah, blah. Sorry, I was probably imagining at the moment. He told us, on the tour he led prior to ours, they were hit by one of those storms. They normally tie 2 or 3 boats together to keep the groups in close proximity. During this storm, all the ropes had to be cut to keep the boats from crashing into each other. Life jackets were issued. I’m not sure about seating. We all had those plastic lawn chairs that I’m sure slid from one end to another, with tourists holding on for dear life. I know it was scary for them and I wondered if anyone had the boldness to stand and say, “Peace, be still!”
Then Comes a Ghost
For the disciples, it was crazy. A storm blows in. They’re far from shore. Jesus is somewhere on a mountain praying. It’s dark. And when things couldn’t be any more tremulous, they see a ghost.
Yep, life’s like that sometime. Have you ever looked at your “storm” and thought things couldn’t get any worse, and then a ghost appears. I guess it would take your mind off the storm for the moment. In today’s modern life, you are running late to yet another Teacher/Parent conference concerning son Johnny, when your 5 year old throws up in your new Skechers, and the family dog hasn’t come home since you let her out last night. The SUV is on empty and your husband has the gas card. Then the phone rings.
Your mammogram showed some suspicious spots. Can you come in for further testing? There’s a ghost.
The Bible says this terrified the disciples. They screamed in fear. I’ve never heard my husband scream in fear. (Unless it was on Space Mountain at Disney World.) These guys were afraid. Masculine pride left with the howling wind, and they screamed in terror at this ghost.
Jesus Gives Words of Comfort
“Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus
Man, I need this on a bracelet, t-shirt, or something. “Be courageous. I am here. DON’T BE AFRAID.” Repeat.
Check out Peter, though. He says, “If it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
Why Not Just Ask for the Moon too, Peter?
Peter and the disciples are no doubt at risk of drowning. The waves are crashing, there is lightning, rain, wind, the works. MOST people would ask the Lord to rescue them.
“Still this storm, Lord!”
“Get us to shore!”
“Keep our boat strong!”
“Make 12 lifejackets splash into our boat!”
“Rescue ME!!!”
This is how I pray. “Get me out of this situation. I will lay out a 12 point plan that if You will follow, we will all safely arrive on shore…just a little waterlogged. Now, God, here’s what you need to do in order for us to survive. That is Your will……….Right?”
Peter, on the other hand, says “Lord, if that’s you, let me come play too!!” He’s not worried about surviving, or the boat, or the lesson learned, or the storm. He just wants to walk on water! His friend, Jesus, had done some really cool things, but this was epic. Fisherman Peter, had never seen a man walk on water. He was not about surviving a stormy night. He wanted to ride the waves with Jesus. And that was his prayer. “Call me out there too, Lord.” Call me right out in the middle of the storm, as long as I am with You!
Jesus’ one word answer is direct. “Come.” Isn’t that perfect? Just come.
Peter climbs out of the boat and walks on water. So cool. It dawns on me. This miracle really wasn’t necessary. This was just a little fun in the midst of the storm. If Peter hadn’t asked, it may have never happened, but Jesus was happy to oblige. The audacity to ask for a thrill during a trial.
We all know the rest of the story. Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind. His faith wavers and he begins to sink. He cries out to the Lord and the Lord rescues him. The Lord has a question.
Why Did You Doubt?
Catch the Lord’s words. “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” FOR REAL. Why, Peter? I’m dying to know what would have happened if Peter had not looked at the wind and lost faith. Would Jesus and Peter have danced and ran and slid on the seas? After a while, surely another disciple or two or twelve would have climbed out of the boat too. Can you see it? All these grown men running and playing on the water, just because Peter had the crazy faith to ask. What a fun story that would have been for Sunday school 2000 years later.
Instead, they climbed in the boat and the storm ceased. All were safe and sound. They then worshipped the Lord, their Rescuer. “Truly, you are the Son of God.” That’s beautiful too. He certainly deserved it. He saved their lives. But I have to wonder if the Lord would have enjoyed, even more, some miraculous fun with friends on the Sea. You can almost hear his disappointment, “Why did you doubt?”. It could have been so amazing.
How many times have I needed some light in a dark place? I’ve begged for a candle or borrowed a flashlight when the Lord would have handed me the moon? I have worried and strained to fix my world. I have worn out pillows and sheets “sleeping” with my mind going full speed ahead. All the while there stood Jesus standing in a cloud of peace that passes understanding. I’ve been so exhausted that jokes weren’t funny and kids were annoying. I needed rest and a long, deep, belly laugh. There stands Jesus beckoning me to become like a child so I, too, can enter the Kingdom.
“Why did you doubt? We could have had so much fun.”
love love LOVE!!