Get Out of the Boat

 the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

                                                                                                                    Matthew 14:24-32  

At bedtime tonight we read the story of Jesus walking on the water.  I was reminded of time I spent working in a small church in a rural community.  One Sunday I preached on this same passage.  I talked about Jesus’ faithful presence in times of storms, and His power over the storms we face.  At one point I chastised Peter for his lack of trust in Jesus when he looked away.  I found it difficult to understand how he could have spent so much time with Jesus and yet could still doubt.  I don’t remember much more of the sermon, but I do remember a very patient man in the congregation who spoke to me after the service.  He had occasionally worked with his son in law as a lobster fisherman.  He had experienced the Atlantic Ocean, and probably the occasional storm.  As far as “life’s storms”, he had experienced much more than I had at 25.  He had raised a family, and had grandchildren, and had probably faced more than I could understand. 

“I appreciated your sermon today,” he said, “You had a lot of good points.   I’m a fisherman, though, and I understand the story as a fisherman.  These men were always on the water, they knew what to expect, they also had respect for the water, and they knew how deadly it could be.  They understood the potential, the strength, and what the water was capable of.  That is why they were terrified, they understood the water.”   Often people say “ignorance is bliss”, and in this case it was.  I had no idea of the dangers associated with stormy seas.  My only experience was with large ferries that travel to Grand Manan and used to cross to P.E.I., not the small fishing boats used by lobster fisherman.  The big boats were bad enough in bad weather, growing up I had spent more than one crossing lying on a bench trying to forget about the awful nauseous feeling I had.  He helped me look at the passage in a whole new light. 

These men had struggled and strained against the waves until dawn.   They had been up all night and were exhausted.  Enter Jesus, walking on the water.  This is when I realize Peter’s incredible faith.  He was exhausted, scared, probably frustrated from rowing all night and going nowhere, and still he got out of that boat.  He understood the danger, he knew the deadly power of the waves, and still he walked toward Jesus.  He did get distracted by the wind, but immediately his eyes went back to Jesus. 

This is when I have to ask myself a hard question; “Would I get out of the boat?”   Honestly, I don’t know.  I’m sure in life’s difficult situations I have missed more than one opportunity to “get out of the boat”.  I haven’t always been a shining example of incredible faith.  The beauty of this story is that while Peter is demonstrating his amazing faith, the rest of the disciples sit in the boat too dumbfounded to speak.  Jesus rescues Peter and then returns with him to the boat to join the others. 

Each of us faces our struggles differently.  Some very gracefully take the giant step of faith, falter, focus on Jesus and carry on.  Others, paralyzed by fear can’t move. Still, Jesus is there riding out the storm with us.  He remains the one in control.  I love it that He didn’t say to them “What’s wrong? Why didn’t you get out and walk out to meet me too?  He seemed to save the gentle rebuke for the disciple with the greater faith.   He comforted them with His presence and quieted the storm.  He allows us to experience difficulties according to our faith to help us grow. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. “  James 1:2,3 

Here and there I have felt a little beat up from being tossed around in the boat.  I’m still working on considering it “pure joy”, but I am learning that again and again He is the one that quiets the storm; it is completely out of my hands.  My prayer is that when Jesus says “Come”, He gives me the faith to get out of the boat.