What’s your favorite Bible story?
Jon Swanson asked that question last week. It’s a bit like choosing your favorite ice cream.
I chose the story of Jesus walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-32) because Jesus makes two enormously encouraging statements.
He’d just performed a miracle, feeding five thousand men—plus women and kids—with a couple of fish and five loaves of bread. Then He sent the disciples off in a boat so He could be alone to pray.
Late at night, when the boat had travel a long distance from the shore, the disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the lake. The Bible says they were “terrified” and believed they saw a ghost. And Jesus said an amazing thing.
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
My first reaction is, “Don’t be afraid? Who are you kidding? It’s dark and windy and cold and we’ve been fighting the waves all night and this apparition comes strolling across the lake—and we’re not supposed to feel any fear?”
But look at the first two words—take courage. Courage means facing fear—if no fear exists, no courage is required.
“Take courage. It is I.”
Jesus isn’t telling them they shouldn’t feel fear. He’s telling them that, because He’s with them, they need not react to their fear.
Then good old impulsive Peter jumps in and asks Jesus to tell him to join Him. Jesus does, and suddenly Peter’s walking across waves. It’s all good until Peter looks around and begins to be afraid. He immediately flounders and cries out to Jesus, who catches Peters hand and saves him. Then Jesus says a second powerful word of encouragement.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
One gets the impression that Peter’s rash request wasn’t the problem, since Jesus granted it immediately. Peter accomplished the “impossible” for a few moments when he acted purely on faith. He started sinking only when his logical brain told him he couldn’t do what he was doing.
Jesus tells Peter that he’s free to set his own limitations—if he wishes. But he’s also free to act on faith and watch the impossible happen before his eyes.
If I may paraphrase Jesus’ words:
“I’m in your heart. It’s okay to confront those fears and do what’s right.”
“Don’t live just by what you see. Live by faith, and you’ll see amazing things.”
I think He saying those things to you and me today.
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