Scripture: Matthew 14: 21 - 30
A Walk on the Wild Side
It had been a long hot day. Not much ground had been covered as far as distance was concerned, but much had been accomplished. Every step of the way there had been people to talk too or move out of the way. The Men were tired of running interference for their leader, but it had to be done or they would not make their destination by nightfall.
Now it appeared the mass of people were behind them and it was getting dark. They needed to find a place to bed down for the night. Their feet were weary. They were weary and very distraught. Some walked with their head down, contemplating the days events. Others walked with their head down from sheer tiredness. Sometimes it was difficult to put one foot in front of the other, but somehow they found the strength.
Others walked in deep conversation with the man by their side. Discussing or arguing a fine point in law. Still others walked keeping a wary eye out for interlopers or soldiers. However, their leader walked alone. It was like an area of protection was drawn in a circle around him. An area that could not be violated. He needed to be alone. He needed to be kept isolated while he was deep in thought.
The look of wariness was plain to see on his face. Sorrow had made his eyes rest deep their sockets and the eyes looked blankly at the ground, unseeing yet not unaware. The fine lines around the eyes were rather prominent. There were bags under his eyes. His hair hung limp around his head and rested rather straggly on his shoulders. His lips, those smiling lips were now set in determination. His garment, once white, now was smudged from the dirt of the road. His dust covered feet kept plodding along the road.
Two steps behind him was a dark haired individual. His eyes were not focused on the road. His thoughts were not on deep theological matters. No, his eyes were constantly moving from his master to the area around the tight little group and then back to his master. It was as if he was the self-imposed guardian of the leader. His eyes did not waver in keeping their vigilance. Up, down, left, right. They never remained long on one area but kept shifting looking for anything out of the ordinary. Occasionally, he would look at the sky and a moment of concern would cross his face. He noted that not only was it getting late, but the weather was changing. A storm was coming. He did not want his master nor the group to be caught without shelter for the evening.
On the group plodded, not moving fast, but yet covering much ground. Finally, the leader stopped suddenly and looked up. Just ahead of him were a large group of people. Conversation stopped among the men behind him. The men looked with surprise at the multitude waiting ahead. They looked at their leader with questioning eyes.
The vast throng of people had hopeful looks in their eyes. There were the lame and sick.
There were lepers and blind people.
There were patricians and working class people.
There were those who walked only with assistance and still others that were carried on stretchers.
There were the sick and the sick in spirit. All of these people were now facing Jesus hoping that he had the cure they wanted, needed, and were so desperately seeking.
Jesus did not hesitate but began to move forward and mix with the people who obviously were waiting to speak with him. Peter hurried to his masters side and spoke into his ear, “Master you must make these people go home, it is late, they need to eat and get out of the upcoming storm.”
But Jesus was equally adamant. He told his disciples to gather their food together and feed the people. The disciples were astonished. They did not have enough food the feed the vast multitude, let alone themselves.
Jesus appeared unconcerned. He told them to gather their food together and canvas amongst the people and see what they had. The disciples were skeptical but did as they were bid. After awhile they came back to Jesus and showed him that all they were able to obtain were a few loaves of bread and some fish. Obviously not enough to feed thousands of people.
Jesus said it was enough. He bid the disciples to break the bread and divide up the fish and distribute it among the people. This they did and when they were finished they found they had a surplus of bread and fish. The disciples were astonished!
These men had been walking and talking with Jesus for months.
They had witnessed countless miracles.
They had seen amazing things happen right before their eyes.
They had sat at the knees of Jesus and listened to his words of wisdom. Yet, they still could not believe their eyes. What little faith they had. Their trust in Jesus probably would not fill one of the baskets of bread they had passed around to the thousands sitting there that day. Indeed, it is quite possible that the multitude had more faith and trust in Jesus that day then the disciples had!
Jesus stood among the people and spoke softly to them. He told them about the God that loves them and cares for them. He told them how they could share in the love of God and feel peace. He laid his hands on the sick, lame, and blind. He provided the miracles they had heard about and he provided them the message that they needed.
Time passed swiftly and finally the crowd started to disperse. Jesus was even more tired and knew that he had to go someplace alone to rest and seek communion with his father. He told the apostles to get in the nearest boat and take it across the lake where he will rejoin them.
Several of the apostles were stunned that Jesus would leave them. They did not feel that it would be safe for Jesus to travel alone. Another group of apostles were hesitant to get in the boat because of the threatening weather. They knew that a storm would toss the little boat roughly and possibly overturn it. They had little desire to be drowned out in the lake that night. They also were not keen on rowing the boat across a fifteen mile lake in the middle of rough water.
Still, Jesus was adamant that they get in the boat and head across the lake. The men complied, albeit reluctantly. It was late, approximately during the second watch, that Jesus started up the hill to get the rest he so desperately needed.
The apostles took turns manning the oars as they started across the wind swept lake. The waves were getting higher. The wind was blowing stronger. The water was coming in faster and faster on that tiny little boat. Hour after hour the rough seas were tossing them about. The men began to feel like a cork in a bathtub that a child was gleefully splashing in. They were scared! Frightened! Some began to huddle low in the boat moaning and crying for mercy. They had great doubt that they would survive until morning.
Sometime around the fourth watch, or after three in the morning, one of the men manning the oars looked up and saw an apparition coming towards them through the gloom and rain. As the apparition approached closer it seemed to get brighter.
The men were even more horrified! Not only had they begun to believe that they were in danger of imminent death, now here comes the angel of death to take them away! It could only be something fearful walking across the lake! No human could walk that far over water! After all, they were now in the middle of the lake. Over four miles from the nearest shore! This apparition, this ghost coming towards them could not be there except for one purpose and that was not a good thing!
“Fear not!” said the ghost, “It is I.”
“My Lord?” the men cried out, “Is it really you?”
As the apparition drew closer they could see that it was Jesus, yet they refused to believe their eyes. Despite the gloom. Despite the rain. Despite the lateness of the hour and the darkness of the night. Jesus had noticed them laboring at the oars against the heavy sea. He saw them becoming more frightened. He took pity on them and came across the stormy sea to their rescue.
Yet, one amongst them did not question their good fortune. Peter, boldly asked the Lord, “Master, if it really be you, command me to come out in the water.”
The others still cowered in the boat, afraid to believe their own eyes, now looked bewildered at Peter. “What in the world are you talking about?” They inquired.
“Are you some kind of idiot?” they asked.
“You are four miles away from land. You will drown, you knucklehead!!” Pointed out one of the more perceptive individuals.
However, Peter was not to be denied. He could plainly see that the man approaching was his Lord and Saviour. He had no doubts. He had no fears. He knew that if the Lord commanded so it will be.
“Come” said the Lord.
And with those words of command Peter stepped boldly out of the boat and began to walk on water. Bearing complete faith in his Lord, Peter stepped out of that boat without fear or question.
Back in the 1960"s there was a show that came on in the evening. It only lasted about a year on network television. It was about a group of intrepid explorer’s that traveled to distant lands. Each week the explorer’s had new experiences and new challenges. At the start of the program during the playing of the credits there was a voice over. In the little spiel the man says that these explorers would “go boldly where no man has gone before.”
I think you can agree with me that Peter boldly went where no man had gone before. He boldly stepped out of that boat and walked on water. Later, he would boldly take his sword in an attempt to defend his Savior against the Roman Legionnaires. Still later, he would boldly take the message of the Gospel across the land and withstand pain and suffering for his Lord.
How could he boldly do what he did? It was because he believed. He believed in his Lord. He knew that if his Lord said something could be done than he knew that it would be done. He saw the evidence with his own eyes. He saw the Lord walking on water. He knew that the Lord could command him to do the same. No hesitation. No doubt.
How far did he walk? We don’t know. What we do know is that initially he was successful. At what point did he begin to sink? We can’t precisely say. What we do know is that he looked down to see what he was doing and at that point he began to sink.
What is important is not that he sank, but that he walked on the water. Why? Because he did not falter, but immediately stepped out of the boat upon Jesus’s command.
He was obedient to his Lord and he wanted to be closer to his Lord.
He walked with faith.
He walked without doubt.
He stepped out of that boat without any fear.
Because Peter believed, he was successful. The same is true for us. If we only believe we too can be successful. We can stand on the word of God and be bold. We do not have to fear anything because God will hold us up and not let us sink. Instead of cowering in the boat against the storms of this world we need to boldly step forth and draw closer to our Lord.
Now why did Peter begin to sink? He saw the high waves. He was buffeted by the high winds. He began to doubt and became afraid. He looked down and took his eyes off Jesus.
The moment we take our eyes off Jesus we too will begin to sink. The moment we begin to concentrate on ourselves, to take either pride in what we are accomplishing or to feel panicky in our circumstances we will begin to sink into the mire and muck of this sinful world. Instead of sinking, we need to walk.
There is much in this world to tempt us. There is much in this world to overcome. There are many burdens in this world that we feel that we must carry. It would be well for us to remember though that Jesus has very broad shoulders.
Just as Jesus saw the condition of that little group of intrepid sailors, so He sees our condition. He will walk across the storm-tossed seas to save us, yet we have to quite cowering down in the sinking boat and step boldly forward to take his hand if we want to be saved.
Peter didn’t drown when he began to sink. The Lord reached down and Peter grabbed his hand. Thus, Peter was saved when doubt could have drowned him. Though he was in dire straits, Peter still had presence of mind to reach up to the Lord. He prayed to the Lord to save him, and Jesus did. Peter could have succumbed to his doubts, but he didn’t.
Peter could have given up at any time during his ministry, but he didn’t.
Peter could have let the worries of the world get to him, but he didn’t.
Peter could have listened to his shipmates, but he didn’t.
Peter didn’t have a great amount of faith. Remember, he was originally in the same boat being tossed and worried about his future. Remember also, that when he was walking on the water he began to doubt and thus started sinking. Yet, the little faith that he did have was sufficient to save him. The little faith that he had compelled him to offer up a prayer that ultimately saved him.
A twelve-year-old boy became a Christian during a revival. The next week at school his friends questioned him about the experience. "Did you see a vision?" asked one friend. "Did you hear God speak?" asked another. The youngster answered no to all these questions. "Well, how did you know you were saved?" they asked. The boy searched for an answer and finally he said, "It’s like when you catch a fish, you can’t see the fish or hear the fish; you just feel him tugging on your line. I just felt God tugging on my heart."
We too, have doubts. We too, have fears. But, do we have enough faith? Do we feel Christ tugging at our hearts? Peter did and had a long and successful walk with Jesus.
The question I have for you is, “How is your walk with Jesus?”
