Mere Mortals Walking on Water

Three Gospel writers tell about Jesus walking on water in the midst of a wild storm, but only Matthew tells us about Peter’s wild response. “Jesus, if it really is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” says Jesus.

'Come' is one of Jesus’ favorite words – part invitation, part summons – and always a call to do something that feels risky, to step out of our comfort zone and our places of pseudo-security and to trust him.

Walking on water is counter-intuitive. 'Terra firma' is home for us. A boat is a constructed extension of home, canoes and kayaks give us both buoyancy and adventure, but stepping out alone onto the deep at the invitation of Jesus is an act of daring faith.

So imagine the drama as Peter vaulted the gunwales to join Jesus out on the lake. Imagine the warnings of his friends – “Pete, you’re an idiot!” “Don’t be so reckless!” Imagine the shaking heads, the held breath, and then cheers as he stepped forward on solid water.

Peter mirrors us in our finest moments of courage and faith when we throw caution to the wind, when we take the plunge towards God, mere mortals attempting the impossible.

John Ortberg says in his fine book If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat,”

“there is more to life than sitting in the boat. You were made for something more than merely avoiding failure. There is something inside you that wants to walk on water – to leave the comfort of routine existence and abandon yourself to the high adventure of following God.” (page 17) 

He reminds us that discerning water-walkers are not reckless, they respond to the summons of Jesus. He also reminds us how our fears often master our feeble faith. When Peter saw the wind, he froze in fear and began to sink. He was over-whelmed.  He cried out to Jesus who immediately grasped his hand and lifted him up. “Why did you doubt?” Jesus asked.

The beautiful truth is that Jesus does not turn his back on us when our faith falters. His purpose is to grow our capacity to trust him. And that involves us in a continual adventure of risk.

I also love the incident in William Young's novel The Shack, where Jesus invites Mack to walk across the lake with him. Jesus takes off his shoes and steps out onto the water. Mack hesitantly follows and finds the water quite solid under his feet.

Mack, of course, is drowning under a rip-tide of anger and doubt over the death of his daughter. But through his visit with Jesus and two others who reveal the nature of God to him, the chaos in his heart gradually calms, and he begins to trust the mystery of God’s purposes, to walk with Jesus on the terra firma of faith.

Are you hearing Jesus call you to get your feet wet? Don’t let the comfort of the boat or the fears within deprive you of the high adventure that awaits you.

Painting Credit: Walking on Water by Brian Jekel