Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
"Take heart, it is I; don’t be afraid”
As always, Jesus starts and ends His day with a personal, private encounter with the Father, known as prayer.
The disciples are on their boat in the sea. It is night. They are tired and need to sleep after a long and busy day. Suddenly a terrible storm comes upon them. They endeavor to reach their destination in the stormy weather. Waves are growing and wind is blowing against them. Storms in the Sea of Galilee are really rare, but when they happen, they are devastating.
Jesus cares for His disciples, knowing what they are struggling against. He joins them using a shortcut by walking on the water, defying all powers of gravity. The disciples are already experiencing fear from the waves and the winds. Seeing Jesus, they didn't recognize Him, and that added more fear into their hearts. They thought He was a ghost!
Fear from outside in stormy conditions seems to be natural, but when fear captures our hearts, the danger of being lost increases. This why Jesus calls to them saying, "It is I, don't be afraid!" (V. 27). They recognized Him by His voice. He knows His sheep by their names and His sheep listen to His voice (John 10:27).
May we read the text again trying to imagine ourselves among the disciples and bringing our personal storms we have experienced in life—past, present, or even anticipated. Do we see Jesus walking to our aid as a ghost or as a real person next to us to rebuke the waves and the winds that drain our lives?
The verses following in Matthew 14:28-32, narrating Peter's walk on the water, deserve another reflection and meditation.
Becoming calm and peaceful again, the disciples worshiped Jesus saying, “Truly you are the Son of God!"
May we join them, worshiping Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man, reserving a seat for Him on our boat.