Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
Jesus had gone up the mountain by himself to pray. Thus he was not present in the boat, apparently aloof from the disciples' struggle against the waves and the wind. We sometimes have a similar feeling, that Jesus is aloof from our pressing concerns, off somewhere doing something more spiritual and not concerned for us. For the disciples this potential feeling of abandonment would only have deepened along with the night until the fourth watch arrived.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
Jesus, it seems, had not been unaware of the storm. He had intentionally let things play out until they reached this point of desperation. What else can we imagine of one making a beeline across the waters to the boat at that very moment? He indifferent, else he would not have come at all. It must have been, therefore, that he had a purpose that he could only fully achieve in this moment, in this storm, amidst the turbulence of his disciples' hearts.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
The disciples did not immediately assume it was Jesus. It was not wishful thinking that made them see a figure on the horizon. What they saw at first only added to their terror. But it was precisely in this context that Jesus was able to achieve his end: self-revelation.
At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Jesus spoke to them assuring that that he was the familiar figure they knew, but also and at the same time God himself, the great "I AM" that had spoken from the burning bush to Moses. He knew that within the storm and at their limits the disciples would be more open to this revelation than had they been standing calmly on the shore or even sailing smoothly to the other side. We would prefer it were otherwise, but the Lord sometimes permits storms precisely so he can reveal his divinity, his power as the one whom even the winds and the waves obey.
Peter said to him in reply,
"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
Peter desired further confirmation and sought it by participation. His senses could perhaps still deceive him while he was sitting in the boat. And since Jesus seemed securely atop the waters perhaps that was a safer place to be than in the storm-tossed vessel. And it seems that his impulse was good since Jesus responded, "Come". But the faith the inspired that impulse could not yet sustain the full movement.
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Jesus wanted Peter to grow to a sufficient level of faith that he would trust in him more than in what his senses told him about the strong wind. But Jesus was not going to make him suffer for his lack of perfect faith. He knew Peter was still in development, his faith still in the process of growth, and so he saved him without hesitation.
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him
The disciples were led by what they had experienced to make a confession that might not have been possible without the storm, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God". We see in this God allowing evil that a greater good might come. Is it possible that the storms within our own lives are similar, totally within the providence of God, waiting to reveal him to us in ever deeper ways? Is it even possible that he is calling us to trust him enough to leave the safety of the boat and come to him directly, walking on the water, whatever that might mean for us?
The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen (see Psalm 77:18-19).
If we can take to heart a deeper revelation of the divinity of Our Lord we will be less at risk for taking him too lightly and giving offense in the way that Miriam and Aaron did not hold Moses in sufficient esteem. After all, one greater than Moses is here. Even if we have to learn the difficult lessons stemming from our weakness of faith we can nevertheless still hope for the saving hand of Jesus. He will not tarry in savings us.
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