“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:31

Questions are great when asked by the right person at the right time!  I’ve heard people teach and preach on this verse and story that surrounds it many times.  Most often I’ve heard them focus on the fact that so many of us have such ‘little faith and so much doubt.’  But I want you to think about it differently today.

You see, this is a story about some of Jesus’ disciples who were on a boat alone while Jesus was on a mountainside by himself.  Now, sometime between 3 and 6 a.m. the boat was being tossed about due to the strong winds that had arisen.  Jesus noticed this and came down from the mountain – forget about him walking on water – focus on the fact that in the middle of his quiet time he came to the aid of people in distress.  This is definitely someone who cares deeply for those who follow him.

More than likely the disciples were a bit tired, they may have thought they were seeing things, the bible says they thought perhaps they saw a ghost.  Jesus spoke and told them not to be afraid and then Peter says something just rather odd – “Lord, if it’s you, …tell me to come to you on the water.”

There is that big little word – do you see it?   IF – IF – IF    The same word that Satan used in the wilderness.  What’s the difference between Satan asking or saying IF and Peter saying IF?  There is a huge difference!.  Satan was in competition with Jesus – trying to thwart him from believing in himself, from believing Jesus was,is the Son of God and becoming all that he was to be and from accomplishing all that he was supposed to in this world.  Peter, on the other hand, loved Jesus and desired to follow Jesus.  And Jesus had good plans and purpose for Peter.  Satan did not want to follow Jesus – he wanted Jesus to follow him and forsake God and God’s people.

So, where are you in that line of thinking?  Do you want Jesus to follow you around or would you prefer to follow Jesus?  I prefer to follow Jesus.

Peter asked Jesus to tell him to come to Jesus on the water.  What happens next is interesting.  Jesus did not rebuke Peter in the way he had rebuked Satan.  Instead, Jesus said, “Come”

When is the last time you asked Jesus to ask you to come to him, to help you meet him halfway through a storm?  This isn’t something we do very often.  Now, we aren’t going to see Jesus coming toward us with our eyes, like Peter did.  But, can we see ‘the Jesus in other people’ who desire to help us during our storms?  Are there any people who are on their way to you to help?  Do you move toward them?  Or do you send them away or run away from them.

Jesus said ‘come’ and Peter stepped toward him, began to sink and what did Jesus do?  He immediately reached out and caught Peter.  Jesus isn’t going to let you sink.  Oh, some people will.  Some might even laugh at you while it looks like you’re going to sink or fail.  But not Jesus, not those who are like Jesus – the ones who are like Jesus, whether they realize they are like him or not, or whether you realize they are like him or not – those people are going to immediately reach out in an effort to catch you and help you through the storm.

Jesus asked Peter why he doubted – perhaps he wasn’t talking about why did you think you couldn’t walk on water – perhaps Jesus was asking Peter why he doubted it was Jesus coming to them.    I’m thinking it was pretty smart of Peter to ask the ‘ghost’ to speak to him.   I’m sure he recognized the voice as being that of his friend, his Lord, his Savior.

We who did not live at the exact time of Jesus walking this earth have to use a different kind of hearing and listening skill.  One that requires discernment of the spirits.  Getting familiar with Jesus through Scripture and gatherings of Christians and Godly people today is a smart thing to do.  The Apostle Paul, said we should not forsake gathering together.   And so, we should gather in whatever way we are best able to gather, so that we may be of help to one another through the storms of our lives.  We should neglect to reach out and help a brother, sister, mother, father, neighbor, friends or stranger in need, especially one who asks.  You see, God has created us in a godly image and has good plans and purposes for each and every one of us. Through Jesus, we have learned and come to believe that all people have the right to become and be considered children of God, to be loved and cherished in this world. There are people who need help in overcoming the truth of this.

Let us pray,

Lord God, thank you for this story in Matthew’s Gospel and the lessons it contains for us in our generation.  Help us to recognize and discern your Holy Spirit Filled People in the world today.  Cast the evil spirited people far away from us and call them into repentance so that your people on earth may live together in peace and harmony as you have planned and to the glory of your Holy Name.  Help us to reach out to other people in their time of need.  Help us to reach out in our own times of need.  Flood the earth with your love and kindness. AMEN