WaterReady

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.

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?'

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'" 

~Matthew 14:25-33

We're looking at a longer passage today, but I just couldn't think of a way to cut down the length without losing the beauty of the Gospel. And really, it's such a great scene, why make it shorter?

Now, most of the time we use this passage as a message of: "Get out of that boat of comfort and you can do anything!" At least, that's how I've heard it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad way to look at it, but I think there are other things to consider as well.

A bit of what I didn't include in the quote is that the boat was being "buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it." (v. 24) So they weren't just out for a pleasurable ride--the sea was not still. I don't know how comforting a boat in that kind of weather would be. Granted, it would have been safer than being out in the waves themselves. If anything, we ought to talk about how this passage tells us to get out in the storm, even when we don't want to--like going from the frying pan to the fire.

I don't think any of us can blame the disciples for freaking out when the see Jesus walking on the water--it would be an incredible sight to see. But of course Peter needed proof that it was Him. Aren't we always seeking proof for things we can't explain? Now, if I were Peter I would have thought of something else to prove it was Jesus than going out on the water myself. I mean, really, he could have waited until He was in the boat; it would have been clear enough then. But no, he tells Him to call him out onto the sea. And so he goes. It's interesting, Peter must have believed it was the Christ because he does walk on the water for a time.

But what happens? He recognizes what he's doing and suddenly doesn't believe he can walk on water anymore--so he begins to sink. How often do we do this to ourselves? We feel called to do something (write a book, share the Gospel, be a missionary, ect.) and then we realize what exactly we've gotten ourselves into and we stop believing that we are capable. Perhaps this is because we believe we're doing it alone, that we don't have the support of God. Or perhaps we simply forget that we can't do much of anything well without Him. And then we see the metaphorical storm we've stepped into, and we lose faith.

We cry out, much like Peter, "Lord, save me! Help me to do this thing!" And Christ reaches out to lift us from the waters.

Imagine what Jesus is thinking here, "I was helping you to walk on water! Why would you lose your faith now? Why did you doubt that I would be with you? I love you! I would never forsake you..." As always, in the passage He asks one question, but it certainly is a poignant one. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Woah. Why do we doubt? What is it that makes of lose our faith? We get so distracted for the storm around us that we lose focus on the most important thing.

When they get into the boat again, the winds died down. It was then that the disciples said, "Truly you are the Son of God." Now wait a minute....He was just walking on water, and it wasn't until the storm was calmed that you actually believed He was the Son of God? What?!? But really, don't we do this all the time? There is evidence of His glory all around us, but it's the big stuff that really catches out attention.

So my question to you is this: Are you WaterReady? And by that I mean, are you willing to step out into the water and lose control? In order to be truly WaterReady you must have complete faith in Jesus Christ. To quote a very popular verse, "I can do everything through him who give me strength." (Philippians 4:13) Rid yourself of doubt, and step out of the boat. When Christ brings you back to it, it will be in a better condition than when you left it.