What a neat story! In the middle of a storm,
gripped by fear, Peter experiences a surge of
faith. He isn’t even sure it’s Jesus (when
the disciples saw Jesus they thought he was a
ghost). He has probably just been through
an intense range of doubts and emotions. Jesus
had sent them on ahead in a boat while he went
to a mountaintop to pray. When the storm hit
they didn’t have Jesus with them, didn’t
know how to reach him. They must have wondered
if he was planning to drown them and get new
disciples.
But when Jesus appeared, walking on the
water, Peter asked for permission to do it too.
There are all sorts of implications in that
request.
- Peter had somehow grasped the principle
that Jesus’ power enabled him to do the
miraculous too. It must have thrilled Jesus.
Peter was starting to identify with Jesus in
a new and important way.
- Another principle being demonstrated was
that testing produces faith. Seeing Jesus
clearly coming to the rescue after a serious
test made Peter believe anything was
possible.
- Also, this was Peter’s idea. He asked
for permission and didn’t move until he
got it, but this project was initiated by
Peter. And Jesus granted it to him. What an
exciting thing it must have been for both of
them! Like baby’s first steps. Jesus must
have been so proud.
Okay, so Peter lost his nerve. Most sermons I’ve
heard on this passage focus on the failure of
his faith. He got out on the tossing lake, and
it was scary, and he started to sink. And it’s
true that Jesus chided him for his lack of
faith, but I don’t believe he scolded him
harshly. He was probably like a father whose
baby just took a pratfall who says, "Next
time watch where you’re going," and then
sets the baby on his feet again. Jesus didn’t
say, "Okay, you of little faith, swim back
to the boat." He caught him, lifted him up,
and they walked back to the boat together.
Preachers who focus on the failure are like
the eleven disciples who stayed in the boat and
snickered at Peter’s momentary lapse. There is
risk in faith. Faith is scary. Only one in 12
believers have walking-on-the-water faith.
contributed by Sara Wartes
