I have a fear of walking across bridges, which sort of goes along with my bad fear of heights. A number of years ago, for a little while I worked at a company in Chicago where I had to cross a bridge spanning the Chicago River. Every morning and evening I had to walk across the bridge, and panic would set in. The only way I could force myself to do this was to look straight ahead, and refuse to look down towards the river. I would focus my gaze on some object on the other side of the bridge, and then proceed to walk swiftly until I got there. If I looked away and looked down, I would freeze. Keep the eyes focused on the object ahead! In our Scripture today, the Apostle Peter also needed to keep his eyes focused on one thing, and when he looked away, he found himself in a bad situation. Let’s read what happened.
Jesus had just performed the miracle of feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. It was now evening, and as the crowds left, He had His disciples get into a boat and proceed across the Sea of Galilee while He would go up the mountain alone to pray. While they were in the boat, a storm came with strong winds, and the boat was being tossed about (vs. 22-24).
As the Son of God, Jesus knew that a storm was coming. We might wonder why He would explicitly send His disciples off in the boat, knowing about that storm. This was intentional, not accidental. The disciples were caught in that storm because they obeyed Jesus, not because they disobeyed Him. Obedience does not exempt believers from trials. God often leads His people into storms to grow their faith. Jesus, up on that mountain, was not unaware of their predicament. The disciples probably thought He had forgotten all about them. However, He knew exactly where they were and what they were experiencing. Jesus saw them even when they could not see Him. No darkness can hide us, and no trial can obscure His vision.
Jesus came to His disciples during the fourth watch of the night, which would be between 3 - 6 am, which is the darkest part of the night. As we read, He walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee (vs. 25-27). This is not merely a miracle, it is a divine act. As we read in Scripture, only God can walk upon the waves (Job 9:8). Through the darkness, wind, and waves, the disciples saw a figure walking across the water and feared it was a ghost. Their fear blinded them to His presence. However, Jesus called out, giving them encouragement. He told them it was Him. He literally said I AM, echoing God’s covenant name, and told them not to fear.
Peter, realizing that it was Jesus, called out to Him, and asked if it really was Him, that he might be able to walk on water towards Him (vs. 28-30). That was a remarkable request, but he didn’t act presumptuously. He waited for Jesus’ command, which He gave. Peter then stepped out of the boat and took some steps on the water. This was an impossible act, but made possible by faith in Jesus. Peter was the only one willing to step out of the boat. Taking that first step requires courage, faith, and risk.
However, Peter made one mistake, and that was to take his eyes off of Jesus (vs. 30). Peter looked towards the wind and waves, he looked at the problem, and fear quickly replaced faith, causing him to sink. Faith looks to Jesus, while fear looks at circumstances. We begin to sink the moment we shift our focus. Peter froze in his tracks and didn’t know what to do, so he did the only thing he could think of, and that was to call on Jesus. “Lord, save me!” A short prayer, but a powerful one. Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter (vs. 31). Jesus was there to lift him up, and He’ll be there for us, too. His rescue is swift.
Jesus then gave a gentle rebuke. He didn’t say that Peter had no faith, only little faith. The issue is not the amount of faith, but the object of faith. Doubt is not intellectual uncertainty, but spiritual distraction, taking our eyes off of Jesus. Doubt says “I wonder if it could be.” Unbelief says “I know it is not.” Doubt offers God the opportunity to prove Himself to you, and He will.
When Jesus entered the boat, the wind immediately ceased (vs. 32-33). The disciples then worshiped Him, saying that He was the Son of God. This is the first recorded instance of the disciples openly confessing Jesus’ deity. This miracle led to worship. True faith recognizes that Jesus is the divine Son of God.
Looking back at this Scripture we see that obedience may lead into storms, but Jesus will never abandon us. He sees us, even when we feel alone in the dark. Look to Him, not at the waves. What we focus on determines whether we walk or sink. Trust in the Lord. He hears our prayers and will help us. The best thing is for us to not ever take our eyes off of Jesus.
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