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136. Jesus Says, "Come!"


Matthew 14:22-36, Mark 6:45-56, John 6:16-24
Key Verse: "Come," He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came "toward," Jesus.
Matthew 14:29

We surely do worship The Lord of Second chances. Do you remember the first time the disciples found themselves in a similar predicament? Jesus was asleep in the boat, yet, when the wind and the waves kicked up, they were afraid. Now Jesus allows their faith to be tempted, or tested again. The only difference is, Jesus is not physically with them, so they think. I'm sure that Jesus was hoping that they had learned their lesson and this time they would be able to remain calm. Unfortunately, just as the feeding of the 5,000 was a similar test to being sent out into the villages, a test which the disciples failed, this is another repeat with similar results. That is, similar results, except for Peter.

I don't know why all three accounts do not mention Peter. If Mark's gospel truly is told from Peter's perspective, then, perhaps Peter was being modest, just as in John's gospel, rather than mentioning himself by name, John refers to himself as, "the one Jesus loved." What is significant, however, is that Matthew makes sure that Peter's act of faith is recorded.
Before meeting Jesus, Matthew, the tax collector, and Peter, the fisherman, would have probably considered each other enemies. Matthew would have been one of those agents of Rome who made sure that Peter paid his taxes on whatever he caught and sold. Now, however, as one of the disciples who sat and watched, Matthew witnessed Peter step out of the boat and walk toward Jesus. Matthew makes sure that Peter's faith in action is not forgotten.

Later on, in the gospel of John, Jesus will say that His sheep know His voice. His voice was all Peter needed to dare to draw closer.

Jesus is often assumed to have rebuked Peter when he faltered on the water. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matt. 14:31) I don't necessarily see this statement as a rebuke, especially since earlier, Jesus had talked about faith as little as a mustard seed being able to do great things. I hear Jesus words more like a loving parent, watching their child learn to walk, scooping them up when the child falls and saying, "You fell down!" I believe that Jesus appreciated Peter's attempt to get closer to Him, and in truth, Peter drew closer to Jesus that night than any of those who stayed in the boat.

I'm sure that Jesus would have been thrilled if all twelve had climbed out of the boat, in faith. Humbly, however, when he gets into the boat, he says nothing to those who stayed behind. Sadly, I wonder how often I would be categorized as one of those who stayed behind. What we who like to play it safe need to remember is that things are not always as they appear. Of the twelve, standing next to Jesus, on the water, outside the boat, Peter was the safest of all of them. That is a good lesson for life. As dangerous or uncertain as circumstances may appear, we are safest standing next to Jesus instead of clinging to "the boat," what we see as our known securities.

"But my eyes are fixed on You, O Sovereign Lord; in You I take refuge. Do not give me over to death. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety."
Psalm 141:8-10

Hymn: "O For a Faith That Will Not Shrink"

 And: "The Voice of Truth"

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