Matthew 14:22-33 tells the story of Christ walking on the water and Peter asking to be allowed to walk out on the water to meet Jesus. I have heard this story told and re-told, over and over, for most of my life. But, the thing that has always bothered me is how those who tell this story seem to look down their nose at Peter's lack of faith.
But, I will be the first to admit that I doubt if I would have done any better than Peter. Oh, when I was younger, I used to kid myself into believing that: "If it had been me......I would have believed.......blah, blah, blah...."
However, age has brought some sense to the over-inflated ego that I once had, and has show me that, under the same circumstances, I would have sank into the sea just like Peter.
What I find strange is how people who tell this story never seem to give Peter the credit he deserves for just stepping out of the boat. Personally, I doubt if I myself would have even gotten that far. I see Peter stepping out of the boat as no small feat in itself. Just that act alone took a lot of guts and even more faith.
In the religious context of the Gospels, Jesus saying, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?" seems to make perfect sense. But, in the real-life world of stepping out of a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, during wind storm, and trying to walk on top of the water, Christ's question almost sounds absurd.
"Why did I doubt, Jesus?? Because, in my personal life experience, people don't go around walking on water. I was caught up in the moment of seeing You walking towards me on the sea and just sort of momentarily lost my mind, I guess."
"But, when I looked around and realized what I was doing and began remembering the laws of physics and gravity and stuff like that, I said to myself, "Wait a minute, this is crazy. People don't go for strolls on top of the water in the middle of the sea." What else was I supposed to believe??"
That is why I personally believe that none of us would have faired any better than Peter did. Oh, I'm not saying that a few wouldn't have been caught up in the moment just like Peter and stepped out of the boat. But, as soon as our senses and the "rational" part of our brains kicked in, I believe every one of us would have been treading water right along with Peter.
Because so many of us want the story to go in a different direction, we mentally shout at Peter: "What's wrong with you, boy?? Why didn't you believe??" But, personally, I am glad that the story ends the way it does.
Because, it shows that even when we set out half-cocked and unprepared and get ourselves deep in trouble, Christ is there to lift us up out of the mess we have gotten ourselves into. Just when we think we're going under for the third time and all is lost, we reach out one last time and find our hand holding on to His. And, frankly, that is a lesson I would rather learn.............
But, I will be the first to admit that I doubt if I would have done any better than Peter. Oh, when I was younger, I used to kid myself into believing that: "If it had been me......I would have believed.......blah, blah, blah...."
However, age has brought some sense to the over-inflated ego that I once had, and has show me that, under the same circumstances, I would have sank into the sea just like Peter.
What I find strange is how people who tell this story never seem to give Peter the credit he deserves for just stepping out of the boat. Personally, I doubt if I myself would have even gotten that far. I see Peter stepping out of the boat as no small feat in itself. Just that act alone took a lot of guts and even more faith.
In the religious context of the Gospels, Jesus saying, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?" seems to make perfect sense. But, in the real-life world of stepping out of a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, during wind storm, and trying to walk on top of the water, Christ's question almost sounds absurd.
"Why did I doubt, Jesus?? Because, in my personal life experience, people don't go around walking on water. I was caught up in the moment of seeing You walking towards me on the sea and just sort of momentarily lost my mind, I guess."
"But, when I looked around and realized what I was doing and began remembering the laws of physics and gravity and stuff like that, I said to myself, "Wait a minute, this is crazy. People don't go for strolls on top of the water in the middle of the sea." What else was I supposed to believe??"
That is why I personally believe that none of us would have faired any better than Peter did. Oh, I'm not saying that a few wouldn't have been caught up in the moment just like Peter and stepped out of the boat. But, as soon as our senses and the "rational" part of our brains kicked in, I believe every one of us would have been treading water right along with Peter.
Because so many of us want the story to go in a different direction, we mentally shout at Peter: "What's wrong with you, boy?? Why didn't you believe??" But, personally, I am glad that the story ends the way it does.
Because, it shows that even when we set out half-cocked and unprepared and get ourselves deep in trouble, Christ is there to lift us up out of the mess we have gotten ourselves into. Just when we think we're going under for the third time and all is lost, we reach out one last time and find our hand holding on to His. And, frankly, that is a lesson I would rather learn.............
