Day 19—Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn 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 worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Many of us are familiar with this story: Jesus walking on water and inviting Peter to join Him—it’s almost too fantastic to believe! If you’re like me, it’s one of those stories that you’ve heard so many times that it fails to amaze you anymore. We’ve heard different sermons focusing on Peter’s faith and boldness as he stepped out onto the water, or zooming in on his lack of faith as he removed his eyes from Christ and sank beneath the waves.
Any sermon will fail to truly impact us, though, unless we actually put ourselves in this situation. Imagine it—the disciples had been out on the water all night long, battling waves sweeping over the deck as their boat was thrashed by the wind. No lifeboats, no life jackets, no safety flares: just them versus nature at her fiercest.
Enter Jesus: strolling across the waves like it’s no big thing, initially scaring the life out of the disciples until they realized who He was. In this scenario, after being tossed around by the sea all night, what seems like the safest place to be? If it was me, I would be clinging to the mast of that boat like there was no tomorrow. The other disciples agreed with me. But Peter? He realizes that the safest place to be is with Jesus, out in the storm. So he steps out on the water, in an act of logic-defying, unadulterated faith.
In the stormy times of life—or calm ones, for that matter—what do we cling to? Our own plans and wisdom, which seem safe like the boat but are actually close to being torn apart? Or do we realize that the safest option is to walk with Christ, no matter how impossible it might seem?
Dig Deeper
What are some of the “safe” things you cling to (like the disciples clung to their boat)? How safe are they, really? What is something that Jesus is calling you to follow Him through? Is it safer to cling to your boat or to walk with Him?
Family Talk
What is something you wish you could do but it seems impossible? Have you ever tried to do something that seemed impossible? Peter tried to walk on water, because he wanted to be with Jesus. Which of these is hardest for you to do? Pick one of these to step out and do this week: pray for my friends, tell my friends about Jesus, read or listen to Bible stories, be kind to my brother or sister.
Chosen Words 