Open to the Call

Jesus Sends

What are the insights from this passage? I think it really depends on where you are in your walk. Are you Peter? Who is bold in seeing his master off in the water. Did Peter want to be like Jesus? Did he want to explore the mystery of this faith that Jesus spoke of? I hope that we can all be excited about the mystery of faith. I believe Peter realized that his faith was wavering. I think he admired someone who exemplified faith. Jesus was leading by example; He was growing disciples. Let us explore this passage and as we go try and identify where you are in the story. Also, try to imagine how you could grow into different roles.

Jesus, immediately, sent them out. Matthew 14:22 (NRSV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

(Mk 6:45–52; Jn 6:15–21)

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. Doesn’t this seem like a teaching moment? I need you to go over there and I am going to stay here for a time. If you remember, Jesus has done this at other times with His Disciples, or he will do this again. This moment required that the disciples spend some time alone, and that Jesus spend time with the Father. Jesus dismisses the crowds and then He goes to pray alone. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what He and the Father talked about? Matthew 14:23 (NRSV)

23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Lets look at the scripture from our point of view. Are you one of the people of the crowd that was sent home? This is perhaps the least likely place you might be, but realize that if you are, Jesus thinks enough of you to spend time with you before you leave. Perhaps as you were there on the shores listening to Jesus and watching the disciples leave the shores, you wished for an instance that you too were aboard that ship.

Lets say that you made it on the ship but as soon as it leaves the shore you begin to wonder and perhaps regret your decision to go. Then your fears are fed first of all, by the inability to see the teacher. As you sail away his image fades into the night. This is a common fear that overtakes the young believer. Then something even worse happens, a storm arrives. You begin to wish you had stayed behind. You could have been home safe in your bed, perhaps. When we are believers without substance we begin to fall away when the storms of our lives rage.

Jesus then comes to you in the water. What do you see? Let me tell you we often see what we imagine things to be. You heard the others in the boat claim that it was a ghost. Well you have never seen anything walk on water, so maybe it is a ghost. Peter then notices that is Jesus. Doe you suppose this was because he wanted it to be Jesus?

Peter then, while you are still trying to understand how a man could possibly be walking on water speaks to the figure in the sea, and then Peter does the unimaginable, he steps into the water. You want to shout to Peter to stop but no words form in your mouth. You are paralyzed by the moment. This is a common reaction when we begin our adventures of ministry. We meet the opportunity head on but in the moment we are frozen. Peter’s desire is stronger than his fear and so he plows forward into the storm, desiring to be with Jesus.

Finding Jesus requires that we meet Him where He is. I know that Jesus meets us where we are that is most likely why he sent the others home. Perhaps they were not ready to get into the boat. For others willing to begin the journey they got into the boat with fear and trembling, then they found that when Jesu calls to them they were not ready to answer the call to come.

So, today, as we prepare to go into the world, where do you find yourself? Going home and preparing for bedtime? Reluctantly boarding a ship? Or perhaps, walking on water? Don’t feel bad if you are not like Peter, remember that he began to sink. Jesus will pull you from the depths of our fears.