“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?’”
- Matthew 14:27-31 -
Jesus retreats again to a solitary place on the mountainside, whereas the disciples are found on the lake. The image of Jesus praying while his followers are battling the wind should bring us comfort. How conscious of his intercession are you today? Robert Murray M’Cheyne, a nineteenth-century Scottish minister, said, ‘If I could hear Christ, praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; he is praying for me!’
Leaving the mountainside, Jesus makes his way to the boat by walking on the water. The disciples are afraid of the figure walking towards them. Having identified himself, Jesus speaks the oft-repeated command in Scripture, ‘Don’t be afraid’ (v 27). You may be battling in a storm today. May I encourage you to take your gaze off the storm and fix it instead on the one who comes to join you in the battle, speaking courage.
Peter’s response to the arrival of Jesus is referenced by biblical commentators with words such as hasty, impulsive, failed, and rash. I understand, but I can’t help regarding this as somewhat harsh. Do we have the courage to jump out of the boat and respond to such an invitation from Christ? Let’s not forget that for a while Peter did actually walk on water!2 Peter’s reaction when his focus shifted from the person whom he walked towards to the storm around him, is to cry out to Jesus to save him. Graciously, Peter was able to testify with the psalmist, ‘When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.’3 Know today that when you cry to your advocate for rescue, his arm reaches into the depths.
Apply: Still my anxious thoughts. May I know the depths of your unfailing love today.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, how wonderful it is to know that you are for me and not against me. When I am struggling and reach out to you, you are already reaching out to me. Thank you Lord.
(From Encounter with God).
* My note:
The Lord Jesus prayed on the mountain from evening till the dawn is interceding for us at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 7:25). Thus, we should not afraid in the midst of our battle in life.
When we walk on the water during the storm, we should not just see storms, but Jesus who is with us. If we cry out to Him, He immediately reaches us and rescues us. Hallelujah!