28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” - Matthew 14:28-33
Do you like Peter?
When I started reading the bible, Peter is an apostle whom my heart is drawn to greatly. The reason is not merely because he is a great apostle to the Jews, but it is also because of his multiple one-on-one experience he had with Jesus that I could resonate with.
In the passage of Matthew 14, the disciples who had been following Jesus closely and had witnessed miracles after miracles performed by Jesus were sent by Him onto a boat. As they were left on the boat by themselves, they were being hit by the waves and the wind, greatly distressed by the inner insecurities and external threats they were in. When Jesus came to their rescue by walking on the water, they were terrified and thought that He must be a ghost! And then came Peter's one-on-one experience with Jesus here.
Like the disciples, believers like ourselves who have experienced grace in our lives often become distressed when we are hit by waves of lives and the perceived absence of Christ in our struggle. We are distressed because we tend to equate God's presence to no waves, no wind, no struggle, and no fight. As much as we would like to deny, we secretly long for a smooth-sailing life that is freed from troubles.
God knows about our heartfelt inclinations too. He knows that it is not the trouble-free life that makes us strong, it cannot strengthen our feeble arms against the demonic attack. Instead, it is faith and assurance in Christ that are strengthened through trials that enable us to enjoy a life that is more satisfying that a trouble-free life. Which is why Jesus comforts us saying,
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).
What should we do when we are thrown into struggles that threaten to destroy our faith in Christ? I often find hope through Peter's response to Christ in this incidence, and also from Christ's response to Peter's baby faith.
Jesus walked on the water (v 25)
Why did He have to walk on the water? Certainly, He being God He is, is able to do any supernatural things including walking on the water. Here, the boat of disciples were distressed in the middle of the lake, and to come to them in the fastest possible time, both swimming and rowing a boat will be too time-consuming - thus Jesus walked on the water so that He can come to them in the earliest possible time. The Lord does it to demonstrate His love and willingness to do whatever that is necessary to rescue His sheep, and there will never be a place on earth where Christ cannot find us and save us.
In response to their fear and calling Him as ghost (Matthew 13:26) , Jesus said, "Take courage, It is I! Do not be afraid!"
The disciples may not be expecting Jesus to come to their rescue. If they have, they would not have shouted in fear and unable to discern Him. They called Jesus ghost because they cannot accept and believe the reality that Jesus would come to them in this manner. But in response to all these, instead of scolding them, Jesus understood their vulnerabilities and affirmed them - Take courage!
Why?
Because "It is I. Do not be afraid". There is no reason to fear, because the God who created Heaven and Earth, and you, is here with you, helping you, guiding you, and empowering you. There is no reason to fear because Christ has taken all our sins when we were still ignorant, and died on the Cross for us so that we can be freed from condemnation. There is no reason to fear because He will neither leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
Then came the 1-1 experience of Peter with Christ.
Peter said "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water". He said, "Come!"
With the lingering doubts, I also pray that believers can deal with the doubts about Christ, who is for us and with us, the Peter-way. Instead of remaining in doubts about Jesus, Peter asked for clarification with Jesus, hoping to get verification from Him alone. It is not so much of Peter himself wanting to do supernatural act of walking on the water, it is more of Peter's willingness to pursue this personal experience with God - one which we fear, yet desire.
Jesus encouraged Peter by saying "Come". Come and test and approve my will. Come and learn about your weakness and see how Christ's strength is made perfect in your weakness. Jesus didn't say swim over, Jesus just said - Come. I see that as Christ encouraging us to come towards Him with all we are - with our broken heart, our ordinary conditions, our disbelief, our insufficiencies...
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
Peter indeed walked on the water when he focussed on Jesus. What kept him walking on the water wasn't Jesus's physical hands on him at that point of time, rather, it was Peter's trust in what Jesus had commanded him to do that kept him walking on the water. Trusting in Jesus for what He has said and for who He is, are so crucial. When you trust, God's power becomes our power; when you trust, God's promise becomes yours; when you trust, God is also trustworthy to show you He is indeed living and active even in the seemingly scary circumstances.
As Peter walked, he saw the wind and was frightened, and he began to sink. But as soon as he sank, he cried out "Lord, save me!" Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Peter's faith was weak and imperfect, but it was certainly real. Like Peter, when our eyes are focussed on other things except Jesus such as our insufficiencies, less ideal conditions and other factors, we also find ourselves sinking, despite we have attempted the first step by faith in Christ. But the very least we can do is to learn from Peter, in our helplessness, struggles, and doubts, cry to the Savior whose hands are always extending towards us to catch us from sinking.
How blessed are us who can hear Jesus saying to us "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
It's Christ's reminder to us not to focus on the wrong thing but on Him - His character, His promise, His power through the indwelling Holy Spirit in you who believe. Indeed, the waves and wind are at times very strong, but our spiritual mind and experience can go ahead of our rational mind. Like us, Peter's understanding of Christ was faulty and imperfect, but Christ is always working in us and transforming us simply because we love, trust and want to listen from Him, and when we honestly meant to obey Him.
Fear not the waves and wind. No matter how ferocious they are, they are within Christ's sovereignty. They are merely elements in God's workshop to strengthen our faith, repair our insecurities, and deal with our misplaced faith. Draw on our faith in Christ for who He is and His finished work on the Cross.
Peter walked on the water, you can too. All we need is to focus on Christ, and Holy Spirit will work beyond our imagination so that Christ receives all glory.
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