Matt 14:25-32
It had been a long, stressful and eventful day – a day filled with the activity and demands of a growing crowds. It was an eventful day – a day of great teachings, and of the miraculous feeding of the crowd. And in a very different way it had been a long and difficult night. Making their way to the other side of the lake, as directed by Jesus, a storm of furious intensity arises. They struggle against the storm, but by the small hours of the next day, they discover they have been unable to make any head-way in the storm. They are afraid, not only because of the ferocity of the storm and their inability to make head-way through it, but because in the collective subconscious of all Jews was the belief that evil was always symbolised in raging, deep waters, in storm and in darkness. The evil that was symbolised in darkness, and in the chaos and destructiveness of storm and the dark cold hour of the dark manifest itself and pitted itself against them. They are afraid in a raging storm facing waves that threaten the boat in which they are unsuccessfully attempting to get to the safety of the shore. And amidst this struggle of unbearable intensity they are alone in the storm, without Jesus. Afraid, and alone they struggle, fighting against the elements and primordial fears to get to a safe place.
In the early hours of the morning Jesus “passed them by” which is the Biblical word used here.
It is the verb parerchomai which is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament as a technical term to refer to those defining moments when God made “striking and temporary appearances in the earthly realm to a select individual or group for the purpose of communicating a message.” (Ortberg IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER YOU’VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT : 14)
It is the same word used when God told Elijah to stand on the mountain “for the Lord is about to pass by.” And that is a significant aspect of the story often neglected – that Jesus did not simply walk out to them on the water. Jesus “passed them by” on the water to reveal Himself to them in a very special way, in a way that will change them forever and to communicate a very important message to them. But, I guess naturally, the disciples are too afraid to realise what is going on.
Their fears and neurosis prevent them from recognising coming to them the one they would have given anything to have in the boat with them. And so their fear turns to abject terror. In fact their fear prevents them from recognising the truth of the moment. Their fear paralyses them from responding to the Jesus calling out to them across the water. heir fear prevents them from hearing Jesus telling them not to be afraid.
Except for Peter. Peter who realises there is something different on the go here. But not sure he calls out to Jesus for confirmation, “Lord, if it you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Matt 14:25- Peter wants to make sure he is not reading the situation wrong – he wants to make sure he is not deluding himself, that he is not seeing things that are not really there. Jesus calls him with a single word, “Come.”
And with that single word, Peter has to make a decision. He has this sudden insight into what the Lord is doing – He is passing by, inviting him onto the adventure of his life. But at the same time Peter is scared to death. The boat is safe, secure and reasonably comfortable. On the hand there is the water – rough water, with high waves and a strong wind. There is a storm out there. And if he gets out the boat the chances are that he will sink. But he knows in his heart if he does not get out he boat, there is a guaranteed certainty he will never walk on water.
At that moment Peter discovers a universal truth of life – If you want to walk on water, you have to get out the boat. Listen to what I have just said – If you want to walk on water, you have to get out the boat. Peter takes the decision. He chooses against all logic and rational thought.
He chooses against all experience and training. He chooses against all wisdom and common sense. He takes the risk and chooses to get out of the boat. And with just one step Peter does what the eleven others who chose to stay in the boat did not do. With just one step Peter does what the other eleven who allowed their fear, and logic, their failure of courage or whatever to influence their decision, would never experience. With just one step Peter, albeit for a few moments, walks on the water.
And those moments would last a life time in his own memories. And those few moments would remain a life-time in the memory of those other eleven who chose to stay in the boat. And those few moments would be remembered for thousands upon thousands of generations to come as one of those who remained in the boat retold the lesson to the one who recorded the Gospel of Matthew.
In some ways, I think all of us can typify our lives to being in that boat, alone and afraid, rocked by waves and the winds of storm. But something deep inside us tells us there is more to life than what we are experiencing just sitting in the boat. Something deep inside us tells us we were made for something far more than just surviving storms and trying to avoid dismal and abject failure. Something deep inside us tells that we want to walk on water. Something deep inside tells us that we need leave the comfort of routine existence and abandon ourselves to the adventure of following God.
Now, I don’t know what your boat may be. What I do know is that your fear will tell you what your boat is, especially when life gets a bit stormy. And it will most likely be that which keeps you so comfortable that you don’t want to join Jesus in the stormy sea. And I do know that can never walk on water if you do not get out that boat. And I do know that if you do not get out your boat you will never experience those defining experiences with God Peter experienced.
And the question is – Are you prepared to get out your boat so that you too can experience Jesus in a very special way.
philip howarth 