Mtr Margaret Babcock
Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
(Jesus) said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”
—Matthew 14:28-31, The Message
Dear Friends,
It had been a very long, up and down day for Jesus and his disciples.
They received news: Herod had beheaded John the Baptist. Dealing with horror and sorrow, Jesus directed his disciples to find a quiet place to pray and regroup.
They got into a boat to travel to an unpopulated shore, but the word was out. Five thousand people waited there, hungry for Jesus’ wisdom and healing.
Overcome with pity, Jesus taught, healed and then performed the miracle of feeding them supper, also. The disciples ricocheted from despair to elation.
He still hadn’t had a chance to pray, so Jesus announced, “Show’s over, folks.” The disciples took the boat back across the sea, and the crowd dispersed.
Finally, Jesus climbed the mountain to find solitude for his bruised heart and weary spirit. I suspect the disciples were glad for a little down time too, as they sailed away.
But around 4:00am, a storm descended, threatening to overturn the boat of exhausted disciples. Would they never get a rest?!
That’s when they saw Jesus walking towards them across the water. Peter put aside fear of storm and ghosts to boldly join him.
For a moment, the lowly fisherman walked in the truth that Jesus has come to bring all of us. For a moment, fear took a back seat to love.
It didn’t last long. The moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus, noticing the raging waves, he dropped into the world of fear again and began to sink.
And this is the part that moves my heart the most.
Seeing Peter’s fear, Jesus’ love for him did not falter. He uttered the rebuke “Faint-heart” gently, teasing the large-hearted disciple, as his hand shot out to hold Peter up. Then he calmed the storm, and when they landed, began healing and teaching another waiting crowd.
A world of fear VS a world of love. We forget sometimes, when exhausted from days that bounce between despair and elation, that we have the same choice as all Christ’s followers.
Every day there are genuine reasons to fear. But the reality of Love is also present, every day, in each swing of emotion.
I pray we, like Peter, have courage to choose the Way of Love, and when our hearts falter, trust that Jesus is there to guide us back to Him.
Blessings,
—Mtr Margaret