This year, I decided to really concentrate on the four books of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The intention is to really drill down, verse by verse, to learn the nature and disposition of Christ as much as I can.
The more I read Matthew (and that’s as far as I’ve gotten), and the Bible in general, the more I see the blueprints for the same message: God. First and only. I’ve heard this over and over since I was little (e.g. 10 Commandments), but now, I have a better, deeper understanding, I think.
I read Matthew 14: 22-33 today (see below) when Jesus walked on the water. But first, a little back story to provide context. In the preceding verses, Jesus’s response to John the Baptist’s death was retreat to spend time alone. After that, he headed right into the feeding of the 5,000.
That act alone seems symbolic. John the Baptist’s message and death + Jesus’s message + death would lead to many more being “fed” and saved. The numbers are far beyond any sensible human accounting: Millions and millions for the price of two.
After that, Jesus’s response was once again to retreat - alone. He sent the disciplines away in a boat, during which encountered rough seas, Jesus met them, Peter walked on water, and then he sank.
The parable is a snapshot of the cycle humans are in throughout their earthly lives: Valley to mountaintop, over and over. To explain, Jesus went off by Himself. Did He go to re-group? Did He go to think through a Plan? More than likely, He went off to spend time - like all of us - glorifying and cultivating a personal relationship with His Father. It’s confusing, but I get it. He is three in One, but still, Jesus was the Son, and He was/is setting a blueprint for all of us with regard to His expectations on how to live.
Even though Jesus went off by Himself and sent the disciples on their way in the boat, this is more about Man separating from Christ. Through decisions - whether due to overt actions or spiritual laxity, we separate ourselves from God. As a result, we perceive (in our self-centeredness) that He has left US, which is never the case. He is always near and reappears at just the right time.
While the disciplines were in the boat, the waves battered the boat, just as when we are separate from God, we are battered by difficulty, life circumstances, pain, etc. We cry out for a Savior to save us, and like I said, He is always near and reappears at just the right time.
When the disciples perceived Him, they cried, “It’s a ghost!” (v.28). Their vision of Him was skewed. Likewise, when we are separated from God, our vision is skewed. We don’t see Christ as, or for, Who He really is. Our vision makes what should be clear, distorted.
Peter was the one to speak. He saw and asked Jesus for a sign - a seemingly impossible one - to walk on water. Of the disciples, he was the first to recognize God - the first to start climbing from the valley to the mountaintop. His faith had returned, with a tiny “but” attached to it - “Command me to come to you” (v.28). Peter was almost there; he was presumably ahead of the others in his restored faith and beliefs, but not 100%. And as we know, in God’s terms, less than 100% is as good as 0%. He demands all. Jesus proved this point as Peter started to sink.
“Lord, save me!” (v. 30).
No “saving” would have been necessary if Peter - if we - had committed 100% in the first place. On the one hand, the saving of Peter is a Jesus flex, proving that He can and will save us, if and when He chooses. On the other hand, the faltering of faith is a distraction that presumably slows the growth process - for us and others. But then again, does it? God already knew what was going to happen. There are no surprises. . .
Either way, Peter, and the rest of us, are “schooled” when Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (v.31).
Once again, Peter, the disciples (and we, as we meander through the cyclical nature of our lives) traverse the valley and scale the mountaintop. Peter’s response is “Truly, you are the Son of God” (v. 33). Once again, Peter and the disciples were equipped and renewed to go forth, pick up their crosses daily, and live lives as “captives for Christ,” which is eyes on Him 24/7, all-in, to do what He calls us to do.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he[a] made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance[b] from land,[c] battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning.[d] 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.
27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.”
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind,[e] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.
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