22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It's a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
The multitudes had been fed and were now even desirous of making the Master their king by force (not part of the plan) therefore Jesus breaks up the assembly - first sending His guys ahead of Him by boat to the other side and then dismissing the crowd. Our Lord retreats up the mountainside to be with His Dad - communing in private prayer - and there He stayed until early morning. Even when the tempest began to blow He remained steady, focused and fervent in prayer. He sets the example for us according to own His rule regarding private prayer earlier in Matthew:
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:6 (NIV)
While Jesus was praying, the disciples discover themselves paddling in a terrific tempest in the middle of the billowing sea and, by the way, they were exactly where Christ had sent them – they had been obedient to His Word. Just because we are smack dab in the middle of a great turbulence does not for one second mean that we are not smack dab in the center His will. Indeed, the disciples seemed always to be going from the fire into the frying pan and ever in the center of God’s perfect and pleasing will. And we think it’s going to be different for us?
“Jesus promised His disciples three things: that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.” F.R. Maltby
Knowing their dire situation, sweet Jesus sets out in mercy – walking on the water to rescue – hastening to their help. Terrified that He was an apparition, they cry out in fear. I guess so! Here they are in the middle of a raging sea, pre-dawn darkness and all of a sudden they see someone in the distance walking on water – not a usual sight to be sure! He gives the Word: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” He makes Himself known and therein lays their and our sufficiency. It was enough to put them at ease – encouraging them against their fright. In those Words It was as if He tells them – just like He tells every other believer in Him - “Don’t be afraid of the tempests and the waves of your circumstances – do not fear them – I am with you.” Nothing must be a terror to those whom Christ is with.
“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you: everything passes away except God; God alone is sufficient.” St. Theresa
27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
Lastly, we discover Peter desirous of walking on the water to the Lord Jesus. Pete asks permission and it’s granted by the One who created and can calm the sea. To Peter’s credit, he gets out of the boat – you obviously cannot walk on water unless you get out of the boat! Through the strength of Christ, Peter was born up above the world – kept from sinking into it or being overwhelmed by it or wallowing hopelessly in it. He was upheld by Christ’s power. Isn’t that exactly what Jesus offers to all of us as well? There is no danger in sinking when underneath are His everlasting arms of strength.
This begs the question for us all - does our focus remain on the wind and turbulence of our circumstances or on the wisdom and Truth of our Christ? To answer that, perhaps we should assess our present situations – are we walking on water – even amidst our trials or are we sinking like a brick? If we truly stay focused on Jesus – maintaining a complete reliance upon Him and not ourselves, we need not be concerned about how and where He engineers our circumstances – we need only remain looking up. I am reminded of the writer of Hebrew’s admonition:
1 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 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him 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 sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)