Walking Back to the Boat

Everyone knows the story of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water (Matthew 14). It seems like every time I hear someone talk about the story the focus is always on Peter sinking and his lack of faith due to taking his eyes off of Jesus. While that is a completely valid and powerful revelation that we all need to apply… it lacks something. It lacks the redemption in the storm.

Seldom does anyone ask, “How did Peter get back into the boat?”
Ever wonder…?

The options are:

a. Jesus carried him
b. Jesus threw him
c. Peter dog-paddled
d. Jesus left then pulled the boat back around
e. He walked on the water back to the boat.

I’m thinking he walked. There is no way to know for sure but that would be my guess.

Peter did what he saw his Rabbi do and he failed; but his response in the midst of failure was what brought redemption and restoration. Peter did not turn to his friends for help. He didn’t try and swim back to the boat. He didn’t try to get back up on top of the water by himself. He cried out to Jesus (Psalm 34).

Notice Jesus’ response, “you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

He didn’t scold Peter, tell him he failed and make him swim back to the boat. He didn’t let him drown to teach him a lesson then raise him from the dead. The question was not to crush Peter, but to raise a valid question of who Jesus was in light of the storm. It was another way of Jesus asking, “who do you say that I am?” The confession that came from Peter’s mouth came in the form of a prayer, “Lord save me!” It did not look consistent with his current self induced predicament of sinking due to lack of faith in Jesus. Jesus had authority over the elements because he created them and he was making a point.

In the Jewish culture at that time the students of the rabbi’s were not only expected to do what they saw their rabbi’s do, but were expected to be able to do what they did as well… even if it meant walking on water. So when Jesus said, “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” He was empowering Peter. If the rabbi walks on water you can too. If the rabbi tells the storm to die down, then you can too.

Remember the voice of Redemption when your sinking.

Next time you fall, you blow it, you feel overcome by doubt, lack of faith and anxiety that you are drowning and there is know way out… call upon your Savior, your Redemption, your Rabbi, and remember that if he walks on the water then you can too