It had been a busy time for Jesus” Disciples. They had heard Jesus preach, feed 5000 people and perform miraculous healings.
Now it seemed time for a little R and R. It appeared Jesus wanted to be alone.
He sent His Disciples out on the water without Him.
They did not know it, but the teacher was about to give a pop quiz.
“Later that night … the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.”
Matthew 14:23-24
Jesus knew what was happening, but He did not immediately go to them and rescue them. It was not until just before dawn that He went to them, walking on the water.
If He knew they were in trouble (He is God. He knows everything.), why did He not go to them immediately?
Have you ever had that question yourself? Lord You know everything. So you knew I needed you. Why did You not come?
Jesus is The Master Teacher. He demonstrates how to live life. He holds our hands and supports us while we learn.
But the time comes when He steps back and sees what we have learned. The time comes when we need to walk instead of being carried.
It was now time for Jesus’ Disciples to practice what they had learned. Jesus was with The Disciples, as He had been all their lives. But He was not immediately visible to their physical eyes.
The question was whether they could see Him with their spiritual eyes and do what He said to do.
We don’t know what happened during that long night on the lake.
The winds must have been fierce enough that they could not turn around and go back to shore nor could they go to the other side of the lake. They were stuck.
In that dark night, the disciples realized how much they did not know. They found how much they needed not only a teacher, a healer, a guide or a rescue boat, but how much they needed a Savior.
And then as the dawn neared, there He was. Jesus came to them, walking on the water. They freaked out! They thought they were seeing a ghost.
Have you ever prayed for God to come and help you and then He came in a way you never could have imagined?
Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14:27
Peter said, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.”
Matthew 14:28
Ever had those times when you thought, “Are You real? Prove it. Do something miraculous for me and I’ll believe You are here?”
Jesus does not need to prove Himself, but sometimes He will reveal Himself by giving us just what we think we want.
Peter got his miracle and a lesson he would never forget. He got baptized!
Jesus told him to come. Peter took the leap of faith. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was fine.
But when he looked around at his circumstances, his worldly mind said, “This can’t be right. I can’t do this!” He started to sink.
Ever been there? You get your miracle and then you look around and think this can’t be happening. You begin to sink.
Satan would love to yell, “That’s what you get, sucker. Made you look. Jesus isn’t really there.”
Immediately Jesus reached out His Hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:31
Like many stories, not every detail is shared. We really don’t know how quickly Jesus and Peter returned to the boat.
I like to imagine them skipping the waves together. Or perhaps Jesus went with Peter down into the water and showed him how many fish he was going to catch.
But whatever happened, “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!’”
If you are stuck in a storm, know this.
Jesus is with you. Use your spiritual eyes to see Him.
Know that He may appear in ways you never expected.
When He says, “Come,” be ready to step into a world beyond anything you have ever known.
Keep your eyes on Him, not your circumstances.
Don’t doubt!
“Be sure of this. I am with you always!”
Matthew 28:20
