Oh Peter… do you take the step, or do you sit still?
There is a story in the Bible that I used to look at differently in the past, than I do now… Let’s start with that story (in short) and then dive (yes, yes, he’s making the dad joke!) into it a little bit deeper.
To give you an idea, Jesus’ disciples were on their way in a boat to the other side of a lake, but along the way the weather started to change. “Buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it”, it says.
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. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:25-33
When I heard that story at Sunday school in my past, the message was something like “Don’t be like that doubting Peter, but believe in Jesus.” So for me, Peter was anything but(!) an example of how it should be done, because he had doubts and therefore he sank into the water. Bad Peter!
And now?…. That idea has changed. Let me try to explain: Jesus had more disciples than just Peter. The Bible lists 12 of them, so let’s assume there were 12 of them in that boat. And all 12 could have said, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” but that didn’t happen. It was Peter who did that, not the rest.
It was Peter who stepped out of the boat, trusted Jesus and took the step! The rest… stayed “safe” in that boat. And yes, “he was afraid, and began to sink” because he had doubts. But to be fair, the other 11 stayed in that boat and didn’t take that step. Peter did!
And when things went wrong, Peter also knew what to do: “Lord, save me!” he cried out. And to whom did he do that? To Jesus. To no one else. Peter knew where to go and who was the answer to his problems.
And yes, one lesson is certainly that we must trust Christ, or otherwise we will sink, but there is another lesson: would you have dared to take that step, just like Peter? If you want progress (in your faith) you must (!) dare to take a step in a world with strong headwinds and high waves. And that requires quite a bit of faith and perseverance. And yes, sometimes we do falter… and we almost fall flat on our noses or really threaten to sink… but that won’t happen. Because, just like in this story, Jesus is there to catch you when you are in danger of stumbling. This means you don’t fall, you don’t drown. Do you understand the difference? It is explained more clearly in the verse below:
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.
Jude 24
And yes, staying in that boat is also possible, but whose faith was ultimately greater? Peter’s or the other 11 who remained seated? Yes, Peter doubted, but Jesus did not “let him drown” as punishment for that doubt. No! Jesus saved Peter from drowning, and He was there at the right time to reach out and draw Peter to Him. Peter took the step, in faith, and came to Jesus. And when despair struck, Jesus was there so that there was a beautiful lesson for all of us, and no one drowned.
And now to myself. I used to think that Peter was the loser in this story. But now… I hope and pray that I trust Jesus, as much as Peter did, to take that step every day, even when it is dark, when there are waves, and to know that I can trust Jesus when I falter. He is always there. Brave Peter, would I have done the same? Really?
And what do you do? Do you have your opinion ready when you see a Peter, like I did when I was a kid? Or do you sit still in your boat? Sitting still won’t get you anywhere… Are you taking steps?