Do you remember that classic line from the movie Jaws? Roy Scheider had just seen the shark and he called to Robert Shaw, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat”. Great line.
Have you ever been on the water in a storm and felt your boat might now handle it? I have. We were out for ride on the Mississippi, in a pontoon boat about ten years back. We actually had two boats; it was a break from work. Picnic on the beach type day. But, as the clouds began to gather we knew we had to get back up stream to the docking area. Lightning was flashing, the wind was blowing, the water was choppy and the motors on the pontoons were running full speed and still they were struggling to get us to our desired end.
I was praying!
Don’t consider the boat or the waves!!! It was a struggle but we finally got back safely. I felt like I was living a story from the Bible.
Jesus had just learned that his cousin and dear friend, John, had been beheaded. He wanted to go somewhere to be alone so he got in a boat with his disciples and crossed the Sea of Galilee. The people heard where Jesus was headed so they ran ahead on the shore and were waiting for Him when He got out of the boat.
Jesus didn’t consider his own sorrow but instead was moved with compassion for the people – He healed them and taught them God’s word. What a terrific way to handle a tragic situation! Satan had used Herod to kill John the Baptist and Jesus approach to the situation was to go out and heal people and set them free from Satan’s oppression. (That’s another lesson for another time).
The people stayed late into the day. The disciples told Jesus to send them away so that they could go eat. Jesus said, no you feed them and then we have the miracle of the five loaves and two fish feeding over five thousand men and their families. Another great miracle!!
After the meal, Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat and head home. He would come later. Jesus sent the people away and then He went up into the hills to pray. Out on the sea it was turning into a scene from Gilligan’s Island. What should have been a couple hours on the water had turned into an all night adventure and they still weren’t to shore. Now these disciples were seasoned fisherman and they knew how to handle a boat in a storm but they were having no success. The Bible says it was about the third watch of the night, between 3 and 6 am, and Jesus came walking to them on the water.
The disciples were very frightened when they saw Jesus and thought that He was a ghost. He said something to them that He repeated many times during his time with them, “Fear not”. Jesus knew that fear, considering things other than God’s word and God’s way, will overpower faith if it is allowed to run unchecked.
So Peter looking at Jesus, said “Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14: 28. Now what was Jesus to say – “No Peter it’s really not me but just your imagination” or “Peter, it’s me but you can’t handle this so don’t come.” No, Jesus response was one of faith. “Peter, come.”
Peter “considered not” the boat, the other disciples, the wind or the waves and he got out of the boat and started walking to Jesus. WOW! But wait, Peter keep looking at Jesus – don’t look at the waves!!!
“Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. 30 But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves. He was afraid and began sinking into the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!” 31 Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?” 32 After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the followers in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:29-32 ERV
I’ve heard one preached ask, “What did the wind and waves have to do with anything? Peter couldn’t have walked on water on a calm day if it wasn’t for Jesus.” And the same is true for us!
We see a truth in God’s word, we get out of the boat of public opinion and the world’s way of thinking and start to walk by faith to Jesus. Then we see the winds and the waves of family criticism, a call from the bank or a doctor’s report and we start to sink. Call out to Jesus – He’s there and He’ll lift you up.
Keep your eyes focused on Jesus today. Don’t let fear of cause you to sink. Consider them not but consider the One who told you to come, He truly is the Son of God.