I walked outside before dawn, not sure if I was happy to be awake, and there it was — the sky. Even in my sleepiness the brilliance of the stars amazed me. As I set out for a walk with my dog, I had to stop once more and gaze up. The magnitude of the universe struck me again, and my heart echoed, “What is man that you are mindful of him…” (Ps 8:4).
I was now convinced my day was starting off just right — God mercifully reminding me of his place and of mine. How is it that the sky can beckon us to behold something bigger than ourselves?
“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
(Psalm 19:1)
I had woken still worried about yesterday’s unfinished business and now that I was here, humbled by my place in God’s plan and his kindness toward me, I attempted to focus my mind on all that is good, right, and true. But my thoughts kept meandering back into fearful territory, bent toward worry and doubt.
A few thousand years ago our brother Peter also struggled with fear and doubt. As Peter and the disciples were adrift one night on the Sea of Galilee, they were terrified to look up and see Jesus walking toward them on the water. They had been with Jesus the day before, witnessing his healing multitudes and feeding thousands — they had to be exhausted. Matthew tells us they thought they were seeing a ghost (Matt 14:26). In their distress, Jesus “immediately” identified himself, “Take heart: it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matt 14:27).
He did not wait to get closer so they could see him clearly; he heard their alarmed cries and sought to comfort them. What a gracious gift to immediately have your fears calmed by the Creator.
For Peter, though, Jesus’ words were not enough. He responded, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matt 14:28, emphasis added).
If it is you? Peter’s question might strike us as irreverent since we now have the whole Bible to read, but he was honest in asking. He had not read through the end of the New Testament; he did not yet fully understand who Jesus was. Despite Peter’s doubt, Jesus commanded him to “Come” (Matt 14:29) and, surprisingly, Peter obeyed.
I probably would have stayed in the boat gripped with fear. To read that doubtful, frightened Peter stood up and stepped out shows us that his faith was alive. This would not be the last time Peter questioned Jesus. Jesus knew he had serious doubts, yet on this occasion Peter did not receive a rebuke — he received an invitation. Not only was he invited by the only one with authority to make such an offer, but Jesus then gave him the power to do what Jesus was doing — to walk on water.
Let us not miss this — Jesus walked (in the dark, on the turbulent sea!) to the disciples’ boat, sought to calm their fears, received dread and doubt in response, and still invited Peter to join him in defying the laws of physics. God did not condemn Peter’s sincere question, but offered his power and assurances to a human fraught with uncertainty and disbelief. Amazing grace, indeed.
Amidst the antagonizing winds and waves, Peter saw the fragility of his situation and lost his footing. He was only able to walk on water as long as he was focused on his Master. As he sank, his floundering faith in Christ propelled him to cry, “Lord, save me” (Matt 14:30) and for the third time in this story, Jesus did something “immediately.”
He reached out and grabbed Peter, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Christ did not leave him flailing in the water. Instead, he saved him, reminding Peter he had no reason to doubt Christ’s compassion and ability to rescue him.
As Jesus and Peter reached the safety of the boat, the winds finally stopped. For the first time in Matthew’s gospel the disciples responded with worship, together proclaiming the deity of Christ (Matt 14:33). The Son of God had been revealed in the dark hours of the early morning to this group of scared and tired disciples. In this moment, and throughout his life, Christ humbly displayed God’s power and kindness to a weak and broken world.
When I reflect carefully, I find I am like Peter asking, “Lord, is it really you? Can you meet my needs, assuage my fears, and help? Are you who you say you are, are you enough to calm the storm in my soul?”
Matthew provides us with marvelous news — the same God who took on flesh and walked on water meets us in our honest questions and meets our children in theirs. We can pass this assurance on to those little lives with whom God has entrusted to us. God does not scorn their honest questions. Their young faith, and ours, poses no threat to his identity, authority, and power. God will use our wrestling to strengthen our faith as he did with Peter’s.
Featured image, JESUS ET PIERRE SUR LES EAUX, by Gustave Brion
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