Water Walking
“During the fourth watch of the night 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. (Matthew 14:25-29)
As I imagine myself in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, the first thing I find myself identifying with is the terror that these young men felt at seeing a figure coming toward them during the fourth watch of night. It had to be a ghost! What else could explain what they were seeing? Then, a Voice calls to them from the center of their fear and --- it's One that they recognize as their friend and teacher. “Take Courage! It is I. Don’t’ be afraid.” What would it be like to hear Jesus say these words in the midst of whatever has frightened or disturbed your soul? I find myself reading and re-reading the sentence, taking it in for myself, for today, for my life, here and now.
I am captivated next by Peter’s reply to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you tell me to come to you on the water.” What? Peter didn’t just want to be with Jesus, he wanted to be next to Him on the water! Think about it. In short order, Jesus would have joined Peter and the disciples on the boat but Peter wants more than that! He wants Jesus AND he wants to do what Jesus is doing. He wants to feel the water under his feet and the power of His Savior commanding him to step out into an impossible possibility. Can you imagine what Peter was thinking and feeling?
It boggles my mind and calls to my spirit with a grand invitation to want ALL that Jesus has for me — to water-walking moments!
Was it seeing Jesus or seeing Him defy the laws of nature that filled Peter with the gumption to ask to be commanded to do the impossible? “Come!” and that was all he needed to hear in order to get out of the boat and put his feet ON the water!
Now, I know that Peter sinks but before he does, he walks on water!
I want to be with Jesus, too and I want to let His water-walking life inspire moments where I, too, say “If it’s you, tell me to come” no matter how frightening or impossible the first steps might seem. I want to hear His voice of love and authority sweep me up and out of my fears and place my wobbly feet on the water beside His!"
“All of you, Lord! All of you. Let me hear your voice of love calling to me from the midst of my worries with a command to take courage! If it’s Your voice declaring, “It is I. Do not be afraid” I will not be afraid! If it’s You, Lord, make a way on the waters and tell me to come! Amen.”
What about you?
Where do you need to hear Jesus say, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid” ?
What does this passage stir in you? What is in your heart to ask of Jesus?
Where do you need to hear Jesus say “Come” today?
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