The Gospels are full of miraculous accounts of Jesus’ ministry, from turning water into wine to restoring sight to the blind, healing the crippled, feeding thousands and, of course, rising from the dead.
There are numerous reasons why Jesus chose to defy natural or scientific laws. In some cases, He was looking to demonstrate He was the Messiah. In other instances, He used it to teach a lesson or make an important point.
Lately, especially as the culture rocks and roils like an angry and stormy sea, I’ve been thinking about the miracle of Jesus walking on the water – and the apostle Peter doing the same for a while, only to soon sink after doubting He could do it. While Jesus walking on the waves is recorded in all three Gospels (Matthew 14:22-3, Mark 6:45-56, and John 6:16-21), only Matthew records Peter’s jaunt.
Regardless, all three seem particularly relevant to Christians facing an increasingly hostile time.
As you’ll recall, Jesus had just fed the enormous crowd by multiplying the little bit of bread and fish on hand. Heading up the mountain to pray, He sent the disciples out onto the Sea of Galilee. We read that the winds were strong, and at some point, Jesus decided to walk out in their direction. When they spotted Him, they thought He was a ghost, but Jesus tried to put them at ease.
“Take heart; it is I,” He replied to them. “Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50).
Matthew records the apostle Peter then hollered out into the wind, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). So, Jesus invited him, and Peter began to walk on the water, too. Everything was going just fine until the sight of the waves filled Peter with fear. We read he was overwhelmed and began to sink.
“Lord, save me!” Peter yelled. Matthew writes, “Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 30-32).
Peter often gets a bad rap for all his human foibles – his imperfections, impatience, impetuousness, impulsiveness, his lack of loyalty, denying Jesus three times – he was a very messy and complicated guy. In other words, he was very human, and man many can relate to.
And yet, Peter was the only disciple who had the guts to get out of the boat. Yes, he allowed his fear to trip him up, but he was out there, and giving it a courageous go.
Today’s Christians need to be modern-day Peters.
Christians need to get out of the boat.
We’ll encounter the waves of an uneven election, the wild winds of imperfect candidates, the rain from critics who talk but don’t do anything productive.
It’s time to keep our eyes on Jesus and walk on the water, recognizing that if He brought us here, He’ll bring us through it, too.
Teddy Roosevelt was one man who encountered and endured his share of criticism over the years. He understood that critics don’t pick on failures, but on people making a difference. He famously said:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Christians are focused on the effort, on taking action, and doing our best to make a difference for good.
One of the more reassuring takeaways from the story of Jesus and Peter on the Sea of Galilee is the reminder that it’s the Lord who is in complete control of the elements. It was Jesus who stretched out His hand to Peter. It was Jesus who quieted the winds, and it is Jesus who remains sovereign over all things – including the 2024 Election.
It’s time to get out of the boat.
Image from Shutterstock.
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