Faith That Doesn't Walk on Water

The Apostle Peter is widely acclaimed for being the disciple to speak up, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You, walking on the water.” I’m not saying that I would have stepped out of the boat, but still I think the story deserves another reading.

The Gospels tell us that after a long day of teaching the crowds, including the miracle of feeding about five thousand families, Jesus went up on the mountainside to pray. The disciples got into a boat and began to row to the other side of the lake. About halfway across, three and a half miles or so from shore, a powerful wind came up, the waves grew threatening, and soon the crew knew they were in trouble. It was very late, between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m., it was very dark, and they were very alone. Just when they were about to give up hope, they saw someone—or something—coming toward them. He—it—seemed to be walking on the water. Impossible! “It’s a ghost!” they cried in terror, now more afraid of the approaching phantom than of drowning.

“Take courage! It is I,” the shadowy figure called. “Don’t be afraid.”

Is it -- ? Could it really be the Lord?

Peter, always ready to speak, called back. “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” And Jesus--because that’s who it really was—told him to come. Peter stepped out of the boat, and sure enough, he too was able to walk on the waves. Never mind that he grew fearful and began to sink, and Jesus had to rescue him. At least he got out of the boat! And so we laud his faith and his outstanding tremendous courage.

But look again at what Peter said, at the question it implied. If. If it’s You . . .

How often we wait for some kind of miraculous proof before we venture our whole-hearted faith in the Lord. If Peter’s faith was as spectacular as we tend to think, why did Jesus mildly rebuke him, saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Did Jesus really expect Peter to become a water-walker and was disappointed because the disciple didn’t have enough faith to do it successfully? I don’t think so. I think He wanted Peter and all the rest of the disciples to believe He was just who He said He was. No “ifs.”

The next time you’re in a storm, don’t wonder, “Lord, if You’re really here . . .” You don’t have to walk on water to prove Jesus is with you. He is here. Don’t be afraid.

That’s faith.

MaryMartha

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