Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he sent the people home. Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. Matthew 14:22-24
There’s something about this story that comforts me. The disciples were going where God wanted them to go. They were doing what God wanted them to do. It was Jesus’ suggestion that they cross the lake. And they still encountered rough seas. As a matter of fact, I kind of wonder if once they left their nets to follow Jesus, they were guaranteed rough seas. They certainly became targets for an enemy who would do anything to sink them before they really got started.
So it’s not surprising that once again we find the disciples in trouble without any hope of reaching shore. Once again their circumstances threatened to overwhelm them. They weren’t safe in the boat.
Jesus came to them, walking on the water. Matthew 14:25
He walked above the circumstances that threatened them. He could have just spoken the word and the storm would have calmed down. He had already done that in the past (Matthew 8:23-27). But if He had just spoken from the hills, they wouldn’t have seen Him responding to their desperate need.
When the disciples saw him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. Matthew 14:26
The disciples didn’t recognize him. Sometimes we don’t recognize Jesus. He comes in ways we don’t expect and we are afraid. We can’t comprehend that this thing that terrifies us is actually the means of our salvation. It’s the lifeboat. It’s the rescue helicopter.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s alright,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27
This is what Jesus always says to us. It’s alright. I’m here. Don’t be afraid. You’re not alone. I’m not frightened of this thing that threatens you. This is under my feet, under my control. And I am with you. So you are safe.
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.” Matthew 14:28
Peter didn’t doubt what Jesus could do – look at the crazy sign he asked for. He doubted that it was really Jesus. He wanted confirmation that the thing that frightened him was really the One who loved him, not a ghost to be afraid of.
We can make the same request – Lord, reveal to us that this scary thing that threatens us is really you. Let us see you in the cancer diagnosis, the job loss, the medical condition, the car accident, the lawsuit, the tragedy. Let us know that you are really the one coming to us. Because if it’s you, we have no reason to be afraid. Because you love us. Because you are not a threat to us. If it’s really you, there’s no reason to fear.
Peter didn’t ask Jesus to prove his identity by calming the storm – he asked Jesus to prove who He was by empowering him to do the impossible.
“All right, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Matthew 14:29-30
Who did Peter cry out to in his fear? It was Jesus. He didn’t doubt Jesus’ power to save. He doubted his ability to continue to do what God had empowered and enabled him to do. He lost faith in himself because he allowed the threatening circumstances to draw away his focus.
Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. “You don’t have much faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. Matthew 14:31-33
The whole point was to reveal Jesus more clearly so they would know and not doubt. Once Jesus was no longer with them, once they were launched into their personal ministries, they would need to remember this: God loves you. Their confident knowledge of this truth would become “like a strong and trustworthy anchor for [the] soul” (Hebrews 6:19).
It would anchor them to Christ. It would keep them from being blown off course during the storms to come, or from drifting away from Him when the seas were calm. It would remind them to look for God’s unstoppable love coming to them in unexpected ways, in unexpected places, enabling them to do impossible things.