A Boat, A Storm, and Trust
The Sea of Galilee, with its deep blue water, gives off a quiet, picturesque beauty, but the weather is unpredictable. After feeding the 5000, Jesus sends his disciples to the far shore, staying behind to dismiss the people and talk with His Father. Normally this 6 mile trip takes a couple of hours. But a storm begins to howl and waves attack their small wooden vessel, leaving their soaked clothes clinging to their bodies. The salt water stings their faces, leaving the taste in their mouth. Their knuckles are white, their muscles tight, and their hearts race in their struggle against these ten foot waves. The upheaval of the sea surrounds them, taking them hostage, and creating in them a fear they will never reach shore. They frantically seek sight of the shore, but the darkness and storm hide it. After battling this storm for hours, their thoughts keeping coming back to Jesus. Where is He? We need Him!Ever had a bad day (or night) and say, "things can't get any worse". What usually happened? Well, most nightmares have a ghost, and He came, walking on the water. Or probably through these ten foot waves still attacking their boat In their fragile state, the sight of someone walking through those waves added to their trembling hearts and they "cried out in fear".
Fear is something we must deal with, often paralyzing, a thief of our motivation. Fear is what keeps us from accomplishing, achieving, and in many cases, being a vessel for God's great power. But other times ,coupled with faith, it pushes us out of a sinking boat.
This ghost is Jesus, they find, when He says, "Take courage! It is I, don't be afraid".
In a heartbeat Peter asks, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." What kind of trust does Peter have in Jesus to not only ask to walk on the water but actually do it?
Peter is picked on for being distracted by the waves, taking his eyes off Jesus, and sinking. In defense of Peter, this isn't a calm, smooth body of water. Like Peter, our faith today still faces distractions from the storms of the world. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we'll walk by faith but if we let the storms distract us, we will sink.
ã Jim Ness
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