Walking on Water

Passage: Matthew 14:22-32

Perhaps one of the most famous accounts of Jesus, this passage begins with the disciples taking an evening boat ride. Several of the disciples are fishermen by trade, so their trip across the lake is a familiar exercise. However, darkness sets in, the wind picks up, and the water gets choppy. The disciples get a little jumpy. Even experienced mariners in their day acknowledge the awesome and untamed power of a large body of water. Superstition abounds regarding the supernatural forces that seem to inhabit the deeps. Lakes and seas are a sort of no-man’s land between the realm of the living and the dead. The water represents chaos – the embodiment of the disciples’ worst fears.

Their worst fears seem confirmed as they witness a ghostly figure walking toward them on the surface of the lake. Their shouts of terror, silenced first by the wind and the waves, quickly subside as the figure identifies himself as Jesus, their master and friend. Peter, always impulsive, says, “Jesus, if that’s really you, let me walk out to you.” Jesus says, “Go for it.” And he does.

Now for Peter, stepping out of the boat is like stepping into the jaws of death. It’s like walking out onto the highwire strung between skyscrapers; like jumping out of the plane. Peter is able to do so because he has his eyes fixed upon Jesus. Seeing that Jesus is in the midst of the chaos – above the chaos, really – gives Peter the confidence to step out. Of course, as soon as he’s out on the surface of the water, Peter takes his eyes off of Jesus. He looks around and says, “This is impossible! I’m a goner!” It’s at this point that Peter begins to sink.

Much of our life is spent in the safety of the boat. We create solid, secure spaces to keep the chaos out: homes we’re paying for; families we’ve nurtured; jobs we’ve acquired. Periodically, however, we find ourselves outside the boat. Job loss; divorce; the death of someone we love; forced relocation – any of a number of unexpected events can force us from the safe and familiar into chaos. Sometimes these circumstances are self-imposed: a change of career; leaving a steady job to start a business; choosing to go back to school; pursuing a life of professional ministry. The movement is still from security to chaos.

When we make this move, we look for some reassurance that we’re going to survive the chaos. As Christians, we look to Jesus, who conquered the wind and the waves; who conquered death itself. We believe, like Peter, that if our Lord can do it, so can we. And like Peter, we find ourselves riding safely above the chaos that surrounds us, so long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. It’s not until we look down, and recognize how serious the chaos is that we start to get sucked down. The uncertainty of being self-employed, or unemployed, begins to terrify us. The pain of what we’ve lost begins to overwhelm us. Where we once saw potential for adventure and new life, we now see only impending failure.

If this is where you’re at, look up. Look to Jesus, whose love conquers all things, even the things we fear the most. Look to Jesus, who goes before us, and offers us a hand even as we’re sinking. Be reminded of the promises of Jesus, the Living Word of God:

I will never leave you or forsake you… (Hebrews 13:5)

I am with you always, to the very end of the age… (Matthew 28:20)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)