"Amazing"
It was still dark in the early morning, and Peter was walking on the water. He wasn’t just stepping into a puddle; he was literally walking on the top of a lake ... a large lake with choppy water and strong blowing winds. He jumped out of a boat in the middle of rough waters because Jesus told him to do it and Peter did the amazing . . . until he didn’t.
Matthew 14 tells us the story. Jesus had sent the disciples ahead of him in a boat so that he could stay by himself to pray. It had been a long day, and he needed some time with his Father. So, Jesus talked to God until sometime after three in the morning. The disciples were in a boat in the middle of the lake and were having great difficulty crossing it since a strong headwind was against them and the waves were beating against the boat with force. After his prayers, Jesus chose to walk across the lake and the disciples saw him, but they weren’t sure what they were seeing. They thought it was a ghost, and they were terrified! Jesus sees their fear and cries out to them, “It’s me! Don’t be afraid!” Peter recognizes the Lord’s voice. Then Peter says, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water!” So, Jesus yells, “Come on!” Peter looks at Jesus, takes him at his word and jumps out of the boat. He then did the amazing; he walks on the lake . . . until he doesn’t. You see, Peter suddenly remembers the waves and the wind, and as his attention turns from Jesus to the dangers around him, he begins to sink. Amid his distractions and near drowning, he cries out again to Jesus and Jesus reaches out and rescues him.
We may not know what it feels like to walk on water, but we know about distractions and dangers. We read about them on our news apps and see reports of them on TV. The world seems to be in chaos. We find ourselves in the middle of a cultural storm of angry words, verbal threats, and competing ideologies. We fear the threats of mass shootings, current and potential wars, and where the immorality in our culture may lead us and our children. Our relationships often feel the stormy wind of betrayal, miscommunication, conflict, and unmet expectations. Within ourselves we are hit with waves of loneliness, grief, fear, and anxiety. All of these cry out for our attention and sometimes even devotion, but there is only one who we really need, and that One is Jesus.
It’s not that we should pretend that there is no chaos or danger; it’s that we keep our eyes on Jesus despite the chaos and danger. The writer of Hebrews tells those who were facing their own chaos and distractions to keep their eyes on Jesus:
Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus is necessary because he’s been through storms himself and he can show us the way through. Can you see Jesus through what you are facing right now? Do you recognize his voice? Maybe, if you listen well, you can hear him calling you to step towards him through the storm. Maybe, if you walk toward him you will see him more clearly. When the world’s chaos causes you to fear, when the distractions of sin call you to give in, and the weight of physical and emotional pain pull you down, don’t forget to listen to the voice of Jesus and fix your eyes on him. When you do, don’t be surprised to be part of something amazing.
I know, some may say wait, Peter failed, he sunk, and lacked faith. But don’t lose sight of what Peter did do or of who was there to rescue him. Jesus, the Son of God, the one who calms storms was in the middle of the storm with Peter and rescued him. Jesus loves his people enough to be with them in their storms of life, cares enough to rescue them even when they fail, and calls them to walk with him in doing the impossible . . . that truly is Amazing!
Matthew 14 tells us the story. Jesus had sent the disciples ahead of him in a boat so that he could stay by himself to pray. It had been a long day, and he needed some time with his Father. So, Jesus talked to God until sometime after three in the morning. The disciples were in a boat in the middle of the lake and were having great difficulty crossing it since a strong headwind was against them and the waves were beating against the boat with force. After his prayers, Jesus chose to walk across the lake and the disciples saw him, but they weren’t sure what they were seeing. They thought it was a ghost, and they were terrified! Jesus sees their fear and cries out to them, “It’s me! Don’t be afraid!” Peter recognizes the Lord’s voice. Then Peter says, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water!” So, Jesus yells, “Come on!” Peter looks at Jesus, takes him at his word and jumps out of the boat. He then did the amazing; he walks on the lake . . . until he doesn’t. You see, Peter suddenly remembers the waves and the wind, and as his attention turns from Jesus to the dangers around him, he begins to sink. Amid his distractions and near drowning, he cries out again to Jesus and Jesus reaches out and rescues him.
We may not know what it feels like to walk on water, but we know about distractions and dangers. We read about them on our news apps and see reports of them on TV. The world seems to be in chaos. We find ourselves in the middle of a cultural storm of angry words, verbal threats, and competing ideologies. We fear the threats of mass shootings, current and potential wars, and where the immorality in our culture may lead us and our children. Our relationships often feel the stormy wind of betrayal, miscommunication, conflict, and unmet expectations. Within ourselves we are hit with waves of loneliness, grief, fear, and anxiety. All of these cry out for our attention and sometimes even devotion, but there is only one who we really need, and that One is Jesus.
It’s not that we should pretend that there is no chaos or danger; it’s that we keep our eyes on Jesus despite the chaos and danger. The writer of Hebrews tells those who were facing their own chaos and distractions to keep their eyes on Jesus:
Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus is necessary because he’s been through storms himself and he can show us the way through. Can you see Jesus through what you are facing right now? Do you recognize his voice? Maybe, if you listen well, you can hear him calling you to step towards him through the storm. Maybe, if you walk toward him you will see him more clearly. When the world’s chaos causes you to fear, when the distractions of sin call you to give in, and the weight of physical and emotional pain pull you down, don’t forget to listen to the voice of Jesus and fix your eyes on him. When you do, don’t be surprised to be part of something amazing.
I know, some may say wait, Peter failed, he sunk, and lacked faith. But don’t lose sight of what Peter did do or of who was there to rescue him. Jesus, the Son of God, the one who calms storms was in the middle of the storm with Peter and rescued him. Jesus loves his people enough to be with them in their storms of life, cares enough to rescue them even when they fail, and calls them to walk with him in doing the impossible . . . that truly is Amazing!
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