… holding on to faith …
Summary: The story of Peter walking on water takes on a whole new meaning as we step back and take a look at the bigger narrative in the Gospel accounts.
Looking back on our last meditation, “Trusting God (Part I),” there are a few unanswered questions that it might be helpful to consider. For example:
Why was Jesus walking on the water?
Whose idea was it to walk on water?
What was the point?
If we look back through the Gospels, we see a pattern and progression in what Jesus is doing with his disciples. First, he calls them, then he teaches them. He teaches by showing them how to have faith.
How we understand what happens next depends on how we see Jesus. Is Jesus teaching the disciples to have faith in him, or in the Father?
After showing the disciples what miracles look like and explaining that “…the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19), Jesus sends the twelve disciples out in pairs to preach about the kingdom of heaven (Mark 6:7–13). This is when the disciples first start to take “baby steps” and do miracles on their own (Mark 6:13).
When the disciples regroup with Jesus, they hear the news about Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, having been beheaded (Mark 6:14–29).
With all this going on, Jesus calls for a retreat.
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)
They go to a remote place near the shore of the Sea of Galilee, but they are followed by five thousand people.† At this point, Jesus turns frustration into a teaching opportunity. He tells his disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37).
What happens?
Jesus gives thanks for the five loaves and two fish that they have, divides the food between his disciples, who then distribute the food to the people (Mark 6:41). It appears from the story that the disciples participated in the miracle with Jesus.
Do you see the pattern? The disciples are learning to do what Jesus does. Jesus does what he sees the Father doing, so if we do what Jesus does, we are doing what the Father is doing.
Next lesson: Jesus sends the twelve disciples off on their own again while he goes up on the mountain to pray. Keep in mind all that has happened. They are tired, and they didn’t get the “retreat” they had hoped for. Instead, they got a lesson on learning to trust God. Now they get to practice.
The disciples are out in the middle of the lake heading for Bethsaida on the north shore. The wind is against them, which means they are fighting the waves, too. The Bible says they were “straining at the oars,” apparently all night.
Meanwhile, Jesus has been talking with his Father (Mark 6:46). We don’t know what was said, but what happened next tells us a lot. Jesus stood near the water, looked out, and in the twilight before dawn could see the boat and his disciples struggling against the wind.
There are so many things Jesus could have done, but only one would meet the requirement of doing his Father’s will and teaching his disciples faith. He stepped down to the beach, out onto the sand, and started walking toward the boat.
As he approaches the boat, he can see the panic on his disciples’ faces. He calls out to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Peter calls out back to him, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28).
Jesus says, “Come” (Matthew 14:29).
And that is what he says to you and me, too. “Come — follow me follow the Father.”
Amen.
Application: Follow in faith.
Food for Thought: How do we follow Jesus as he follows the Father today?
*Matthew’s sequence of events is slightly different than Mark’s.
†Most likely it was a lot more than 5,000 if you include the women and children who would also have been present.
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Continue reading “1 Timothy 1:19a – Trusting God (Part II)”