Matthew 14:22-33
2
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him
to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had
dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that
night, he was there alone, 24 and 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?”
Jesus went out to
them, walking on the lake.
Is that you out there Jesus
out there on the waters
on the storm
Is that you Jesus?
We like here in the boat
We feel safe
comfortable
secure here
It looks dangerous out there
How can we just leave the boat
and just go walking out on the sea
How do we know where to step
stand
stop
What if we sink
go under
submerge
Will you be there to rescue us?
“Come,” he said.
You want us to ignore the waves lapping at
our feet
wind blowing in our face
the gathering storm clouds
Why can’t we just stay in the boat
We’re better off right where we are
We’re sailors not water walkers
You want us to leave the boat
walk out where you are
pretend that we can defy gravity and the sea
Why should we risk our lives
get out of the boat
walk on the water like you?
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught
him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Forgive us Jesus
Forgive us that we are afraid
Forgive us that we fear drowning
more than following you
Forgive us that we were scared to walk on
the water
follow you into the waves and wind
storms and seas
Forgive us that we doubted that you would
catch us if we fell
stand beside as we shiver
“Come,” he said.
Here we come Lord
Here we come out on the sea
Here we come into the storm
Here we come Lord
Amen.