It Was Peter's Idea
February 15, 2023
Matthew 14:21-36 | Jonah 2
Many have taken this story of Peter walking on the water as a call to respond to Jesus’ bold challenge to “step out of one’s boat.”
But it wasn’t Jesus’ idea. It was Peter’s.
Jesus had told the disciples to get into the boat, to go across the lake together. When strong winds arose and Jesus came walking on the water toward them, he told them it was him. But Peter didn’t believe.
For some reason, humans gravitate toward bigger and better, the more challenging and noteworthy. God acts like that sometimes. But in all the in betweens, God shows up in the silence, in the mundane, among the ordinary.
Jesus went on a mountain to pray. Peter wanted a spectacle.
Even so, Jesus relented. Peter still messed it up. Jesus picked him up.
No matter our mistake, Jesus is there to pick us up if we have the willingness to accept his hand. Thankfully, Peter did.
Matthew 14:21-36
About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.
Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed.
Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”
And Jesus said, “Come.”
Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.
Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”
When they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people who lived in that place recognized him, they sent word throughout that whole region, and they brought to him everyone who was sick. Then they begged him that they might just touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched him was cured.
Jonah 2
Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish:
“I called out to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me.
From the belly of the underworld I cried out for help;
you have heard my voice.
You had cast me into the depths in the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounds me.
All your strong waves and rushing water passed over me.
So I said, ‘I have been driven away from your sight.
Will I ever again look on your holy temple?
Waters have grasped me to the point of death;
the deep surrounds me.
Seaweed is wrapped around my head
at the base of the undersea mountains.
I have sunk down to the underworld;
its bars held me with no end in sight.
But you brought me out of the pit.’
When my endurance was weakening,
I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
to your holy temple.
Those deceived by worthless things lose their chance for mercy.
But me, I will offer a sacrifice to you with a voice of thanks.
That which I have promised, I will pay.
Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”
Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto the dry land.
Prayer
God,
I’m hearing about a revival at a university in Kentucky. You already know all about it. Because you’re there. God, I’m not even sure I’d know what revival is unless you yourself show me. So please do. Bring your spiritual awakening to where I am.
By your Spirit and in Christ,
Amen.