Matthew 14

²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. ²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. ²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” ²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”   ²⁹ “Come,” he said.   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 I've read this Bible story many times before, and as a child I was totally captured by the fact that Jesus was walking on water...I have yet to meet anyone else that has, although, I think Christians could.  Anyways, I realize that I still understand some parts of the Bible through what I learned as a child.  That I have just accepted these stories for what they are and never re-read or studied them thoroughly.  But this story amazes me in so many different aspects.  When I was struggling with trusting Jesus, I thought of asking Jesus to bring me out onto the water...to step out of the boat of certainty into the waves of uncertainty.  Yet again, I am able to revisit the same idea of trust in the same story, in a different perspective.  I was so attracted to this idea of leaving the boat behind and walking towards Jesus.  But so many times in my life, I have fallen down and felt too heavy to be picked up again.  I have doubted the power of God to hold me up.  And I look at this story....


1. Peter is my favorite...he's so adventurous and zealous compared to the rest...


2. What would it feel like to have your friend, your Godly friend, walk out to you on the water?  What would it feel like to see him doing the impossible?  I would certainly be afraid.  


3. I have never really looked at this aspect before...but, the weather wasn't perfect.  It was "windy."  Verse 24 says the ship "buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it."  Is this at night?  If it is...how could they see Jesus?  
So, I just watched Master and Commander today...Russel Crowe is an awesome actor and it wasn't a very big movie.  Great film.  If you have never seen the movie, let me fill you in.  It's about a British ship during Napoleon's reign in France and revolves around the French-British conflict.  The whole movie takes place on the ship (except when the Doctor explores the Galapagos).  What I noticed most about the movie is the cinematography.  Awesome.  Nonetheless, they filmed a scene where the ship is completely drenched by the waves.  The wind is so strong and the waves so huge, the crew is knocked down at times. 


IS THIS HOW STRONG THE WIND WAS?

I have no idea.....I don't have the courtesy of knowing, but it doesn't matter.  The point is that whenever Jesus calls us to do something, confess sins, or pack up and move to another state for example, there is wind.  The disciples weren't floating on calm waters during a bright sunny day and all of a sudden here comes Jesus, walking on the water.  No, there was considerable winds and "buffeting" against the boat.  The waves were large, and the wind was strong.  Can you then imagine walking out onto water like that?  When I was struggling with trust, I never thought this far into the story.  Yes, walking on water would take some trust, that would be hard, but can you imagine adding on all of the wind and waves along with darkness?  Can you imagine what that would look like?  The waves are raging on as your friend walks towards you mysteriously on the water, and you are shouting to him because the waves are so strong, but you trust him enough to walk onto the water.  That's the first step (hah punny).  It says Peter SAW the waves (not from the boat, but actually on the water) and he realized the impossibility of it all.  He could never walk on water, how insane.  Yet the whole time during this interaction, Jesus is right there.  He pulls him up out of the water and rescues him.  The point is that whenever we are asked to do something, whenever we are "called" to something, Jesus doesn't promise smooth sailing.  He promises security and trust, but he never said there was no wind.  And my prayer for us all, is that we would trust Jesus, despite the wind and waves in our lives, because that kind of trust cannot be broken.  And it's okay if we fall, because He's right there waiting to lift us up.