Walking With Christ

Matthew 14:30-33 (30)But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” (31)Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (32)And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. (33)And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”(ESV)

Even a lot of non-Christians know of the story where Jesus walked on water. Still, there are tidbits in this story that even seasoned Christians might have missed.

In Mark 6:48 we see that “He meant to pass by them”. I’ve covered this before. It’s also not the point today. The wind was strong and threatening the boat. When Jesus walks on water, He was going to pass them and keep on going to the spot He told them to meet Him at. When they saw Him and called out to Him, it was then that He turned. He spoke to them and told them not to be afraid. Peter challenged Him and walked on water as well in response to Jesus’ command.

This whole time…the storm was still blowing. The boat was still being rocked by horrible waves. Peter walked on water in the middle of the storm.

Jesus told them not to be afraid first. Then He supported Peter as he walked on water through the storm. When Peter realized that the storm was still blowing all around him, he lost focus on what mattered in that moment and began to sink.

Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”(ESV)

Mark 6:51a And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased.(ESV)

Jesus started by telling them to calm down because He was there. He didn’t tell the storm to stop. He didn’t transport them to the shore until after He got in the boat and calmed the storm (John 6:21). Let me connect the dots and add some shading.

The storm on the sea did not change the last command that Jesus had given the disciples. The storm did not change their destination. Even when Jesus came to them on the water, the storm raged on. The winds blew while Peter was walking on the water. It was only when Peter took his eyes off of what mattered (Jesus) and began to fear the storm that he sank. When Jesus got into the boat and calmed the storm, it was after calming the disciples. It was the middle of the night during a raging storm that all of this took place.

In our lives there will be storms. These nasty storms may threaten to throw us off course or even destroy us. When we are in the middle of the storm is when we need most to focus on our faith in the one who saves. It’s while we are in the storm that our training and preparation is tested the most. The storms of life are the ultimate proving ground for our faith and endurance. Peter had a huge amount of faith but it had no staying power. It had no endurance. The moment Peter realized he was still in the middle of the storm he began to sink. He cried out to be saved and Jesus did what Jesus does. He took Peter by the hand and guided him back to the boat. Then and only then did He get in the boat and calm the storm.

The lesson to be learned here is that the storm doesn’t change your destination or the commands you’ve been given. If you keep your faith focused on what matters keep moving towards the completion of the last command you received, then God will make a way. Who you have in your boat also matters. If you have Jonah or Paul in your boat then you might be in for a rough time, but if you have Jesus in your boat then you are unsinkable.