Anchor My Faith

A Bold Step of Faith

Scripture: Matthew 14:27-30

We ended the previous lesson with the disciples in a very stressful, terrifying situation. Striving against a rough sea, they now think they see a glost walking on the water toward them. ^{Mt 14:27} “Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”’

“It is I” is literally “It is I am” and reminds us of Exodus 3:14 when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush: “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”’ Moses was aware that God was present, and he was afraid. Here the disciples first see God as a ghost and are afraid, but then when God speaks he doesn’t identify himself as Jesus but the “I am who I am.” that spoke from the burning bush. As the disciples realized it was Jesus speaking, they were relieved.

Peter then calls out, ^{Mt 14:28} ““Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” To see Jesus walking on the water in such turbulent conditions, demonstrates that he Lord over all creation and the disciples have no reason to be afraid or to doubt. Peter then makes a bold statement, requesting the Lord to command him to come to Jesus on the water. I wonder what the other disciples were thinking.

^{Mt 14:29} “[Jesus] said, “Come.”’ Up to this point it was an exchange of words, but now action is required, and that action is radical. What was Peter thinking and feeling now? Were the other disciples urging him on or telling him he was crazy to try?

As time ticks by, the wind roars, the waves toss the boat around, and suspense fills the night. What will Peter do? Mt 14:29 “So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.” That detail seems way too simple; rather anticlimactic. It is reasonable to assume that Peter did more than just walk on the water to Jesus.

^{Mt 14 30} “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”’ As expected, there was a “but” that fills in what happened as Peter attempted to go from the boat to Jesus. Peter’s focus and concentration on Jesus was interrupted when he again became aware of the dangerous conditions and where he was. He was beyond the relative safety of the boat and out of reach of Jesus and he realized that he was sinking into the water, cry’s out in fear to Jesus, saying, “Lord, save me.”

Peter’s request is what every person should make in their lifetime. We must realize that all have sinned and as a result we are all destined to an eternity of suffering in hell. But Jesus died in our place and provided the way of salvation. As we fear the wrath of God because of our sin, we cry out, saying, “Lord, save me.” If you haven’t done that, do it now and see the parallel with the next verse that we will start the next lesson with.

Conclusion

Again, Peter stood out from among the other disciples and took a step of faith when Jesus commanded him to come to him from the boat. Each of us must take that step of faith and go to Jesus, and as we go we see death from our sin standing before us and we cry out, “Lord, save me.” Saying “Yes” to the request of Jesus to come is the most important decision you will ever make because it has eternal consequences.