Water Walking

I have always enjoyed and been intrigued by the narrative in Matthew (see Matthew 14:22-33) about Jesus walking on the sea. Of course, we don’t really get excited about Jesus doing that. After all, He could do anything!

What excites me about the telling of the incident is that Peter did a little water walking as well. I don’t know how far he walked, or how deep the water was, but I do know there are some factors that contributed to his conquest of that which, for all the world, seems impossible.

First, I noticed that there has to be a subsiding of fear (vs. 27) in the heart of an individual who want to do something “out of the ordinary.” Then I see that there is a command from God (vs. 29). What focuses my attention there, because we have a lot of commands from God, is the simplicity of the Word. “Come.” There’s not a whole lot of theological, exegetical, syntactical difficulty in that. Jesus said, “Come”, and Peter got out of the boat.

Now let me say, I’ve read the next verse or two and I am familiar with the actions which took place there, but what grabs me, is that Peter got out of the boat. That may be the exact point at which many of us fail. Even in the midst of a storm, a contrary wind, the Book calls it, there is some safety in the boat. It’s a whole lot easier to stay in the boat. I can testify to that.

But Peter, bless his little heart, closed his mouth for a change and opened his faith, even if just a little, and climbed over the side. Sometimes we miss one of the best parts of this narrative because we get caught up in the “sinking” and the “saving.” Take a few seconds to notice verse 32. How ever far the distance, long or short, Peter got to walk back to the boat with Jesus. Isn’t that what it is really all about, just walking with Him?

Well, here’s my take on it. I’d rather risk sinking in the water on my way to meet Jesus, than remain semi-safe in the boat lacking faith.