Our scripture this week is Matthew 14:22-33.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Jesus had already performed many miracles that the disciples had seen, healing people of a variety of illnesses and recently feeding a huge crowd with a couple of fish and some bread. Now He comes to the boat walking on the water. What is He teaching them this time?
Some scholars indicate it was to show that He was not just the healer and provider they had seen, but the master of all creation. The hymn Beautiful Savior says “Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son” and this is indeed what Jesus shows the disciples by walking to them on the water through the storm. This miracle is just for them that they might see the power of God displayed in Jesus.
Jesus wasn’t just showing off, this was a lesson about who He was and how through their faith and witness the disciples could tell the world who He was. Our faith can bring us to the same connection with Him and we are called to the same task of discipleship. May we say with them “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Amazing Lord, we see the wonderful things You do for us but we are still slow to acknowledge You. Help us to learn and grow that we may share our faith with the whole world. Amen.