June 15, 2010

One account of the story of Jesus walking on water [Matthew 14:22-33]

Synopsis:

Jesus just finished spending the day teaching, healing, and fellowshipping with a huge crowd of people, at the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Needing a little quiet time to unwind after the tiring day, Jesus sent his disciples out in a boat across the sea and withdrew to the mountains to pray. In the middle of the night, Jesus decided to join his disciples by walking out to meet them. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, asked if he could get out of the boat and join Jesus by walking on the water. Peter started walking, but lost faith and began to sink. Jesus reached out and helped Peter back into the boat.
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1# (14:23) And after [Jesus] had dismissed the crowds, he went up o the mountain by himself to pray.

Here, Jesus takes some time to be alone after ministering to a huge crowd of people all day. We don’t have much detail about the event, other than he went to go pray. When we have been going and going, tending to the needs of others, it’s good to take a small amount of time for one’s self, to rest and reflect on things. This could be just refreshing enough to endure more time tending to others later.
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#2 (14:26) But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.

Here, the disciples see a figure coming across the sea, but never think to attribute the vision to Jesus walking on the water. Because they didn’t understand who Jesus was and what God is capable of, their minds quickly jumped to first thing they could think of and became afraid of the unknown. When we’re caught off-guard by seeing something unexpected, we often jump to unusual conclusions instead of realizing the obvious.
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#3 (14:29-31) He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Here, Peter has enough faith to step out of the boat, onto the water. He understood the power of Jesus, from God, was enabling him to walk on water, however, once he realized his situation, he doubted the power… the very power that was allowing him to walk on water. Because he doubted, he began to sink. When we’re in the midst of action, losing faith in the ability for the action to be carried out will have a direct, adverse effect on the chance of positive outcome.