Get Out of the Boat
In Matthew 14 (NIV), we find the story of how Peter attempts to walk on water with Jesus.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
This story is often used to describe how our lack of faith and focus on Jesus can cause us to sink into sin but I want to look at this story in a different light. We tend to focus negatively on Peter and his lack of faith but Peter also left a great example. Look at verse 29 again. It says, Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Peter, in the midst of the raging sea, did what the other disciples would not…he got out and went to Jesus.
It’s difficult, isn’t it, to make that first step…to take a leap of faith into a scary situation all for the purpose of seeking out Jesus. Every Christian does it when they finally step out to confess their sins and to repent and be baptized for remission of their sins. However, seeking out Jesus often requires us to get out of the boat where the rest of the world is sitting.
It’s scary when we step out into unknown waters and yes, we sometimes do just like Peter. We look away from Jesus, loose faith, and begin to sink but never forget what happened in verse 31. It says, Immediately Jesus reached out and caught him. Losing faith happens to the best of us and Jesus knows that we, just like Peter, are not perfect. He is there to catch us and help us find our footing again.
Don’t let fear keep you from seeking out Jesus. Get out of the boat and go to him.
