Matthew 14.22-33 (Walking on Water)

I have been thinking about Peter’s walk on water for some time. That’s the story in the Gospels where Peter asks Jesus to allow him to walk on water during a storm. “Lord, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14.28). Jesus replies to his request, “Come.” And for a moment, Peter is actually walking on water!

Of course, Peter begins to sink when he takes his eyes off of Jesus and stares at the violent sky.

One time, I asked a class full of people, “What do you think about Peter in this story?” One gentleman replied, “I think he’s a failure. Ultimately he sank and so showed he didn’t have faith.” I asked him further, “What about the eleven disciples still in the boat? What do you think about them?” He frowned. He didn’t know where I was going with that.

I believe Peter was successful that day. Of course it matters that he sank and so revealed he still had a lot to go. It did show that he lacked the necessary faith. But on the other hand, he dared to take up the litmus test of faith. For him, and really for all the disciples, the event became a chance to test out their faith. In that situation, Peter stood up from among his peers and waved his hand loudly, “Jesus, I want to go first!” And Jesus responded, “Okay! You are first! Come!” The rest of the disciples sat around in silence and watched.

And with the faith test completed, Peter got back his results and found out what he needed to work on. He needed to keep his eyes on Jesus and not on his problems. The disciples sat around in silence and watched.

But he also found out that he could walk on water! He experienced it, if for only a moment. As he stepped out of the boat and dared to set his first foot into the water, he looked at Jesus and the water felt firm under his foot. And with confidence, he set the other foot into the water, and as he looked at Jesus, that foot also felt firm. He let go of the boat and found himself, miraculously, standing on water. Impossible! But he did it. But more! Our passage records, "So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on water, and came toward Jesus" (v.29). Wow! I don't know how many steps he took, but he took deliberate steps! There was definite direction, toward Jesus! And I think Peter was so far from the boat that he could not on his own swim back into the boat so that he could only cry out, "Lord, save me!" (v.30). Can you imagine the shock of the disciples in the boat? With opened mouths, they watched.

And Peter found out that Jesus got his back. As soon as he began to sink, Jesus was right there (how did he get to Peter so quick?!?), “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him” (v.31). Peter didn't drown. Jesus wouldn't let that happen! That day, through that event, I think Peter was able to test his safety net (the kind that trapeze artists use when they perform) and found it completely dependable. Next time he takes the faith challenge, he won’t be as scared or as worried because he knows by experience, that his divine safety net is secure. And the disciples sat around in silence and watched.

So who do we want to be in this story? It’s obvious that we all want to be Peter. We want to experience God and his power. We long to have our own walking on water experience! And we want to have Jesus reach out his hand to catch us. How exciting would that be! But, and here’s an important but, all of this was possible precisely because Peter made the decision to step out of the boat. He made a choice to test out his faith, to dare to walk on water, to go beyond the routine, to ask for the extraordinary, to experience life beyond the regular!

Just like Peter in this story, and Moses at the burning bush, and Paul on the road to Damascus, and through so many other examples, the Bible tells us that God comes to us in a personal way and invites us to step out in faith. Some of them are minor, someone called them the whispers of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, but some are pretty major! And we hear testimonies from those Peters around us who raised their hands and said “YES.”They give testimonies that give us goose bumps. At our church in May, we are going to hear from a successful surgeon who is selling his possessions, high position, and comfortable life and departing for Ethiopia with his family because they heard the call of God and chose to be like Peter and Moses and Paul. And we are going to amazed at their story and listen with open mouths. Just like the disciples.

This article is not a push for missions (unless that is what God is calling you for). Rather, I believe God calls us to live out a life of faith on a regular basis. To stand up from our position inside the comfortable boat of life and dare to walk out in faith, to work on something that is divinely inspired, to choose to participate in what God is doing at the cost of our time and comforts, to give of our money and our selves as acts of Peter-like faiths. And I turn the pointing finger at myself -- so what have I done? How am I any different from the disciples in the story? And I remain humbled and sinful. Peter remains my motivation.