After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the win, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" - Matthew 14:23b-31
The world in which we live is full of perils and pitfalls. Satan is quite busy. He keeps throwing missiles in our path and tripping us up. Consequently, in disillusionment, we often become frustrated and give up.
Even Christians find themselves in such predicaments. In fact, Christians are more inclined to be tempted by Satan.
The situations in which we often find ourselves make us feel desperate and without hope. In such situations, some run to God, while others run away, seeking their own solution.
Even though the dilemmas of life touch all of us, there is hope. Our text tells us that the disciples were in the middle of a furious lake, struggling to keep their boat afloat and headed in the right direction. They were in a difficult situation. Death seemed imminent.
This was a moment that they needed Jesus. Out there in the middle of the ocean, they were in total darkness. The only thing visible was the opaque night and the huge waves crashing against the side of their boat.
Unfortunately, Jesus was not in the boat with them. To the best of their knowledge, he was ashore, and they were about to perish.
So often, we are placed in situations in which we feel like those disciples. There are times when we find ourselves in similar situations. Probably not on stormy seas, but the vicissitudes of life are like being on rough seas.
The disciples were in an unusual situation which made them desperate. The only one who could save them, in their minds, was far away. Yet, he was so close to them.
Jesus came to them walking on the water. In seeing his silhouette, their imagination played tricks on them. They took him for a ghost and were mortally afraid of presumed destiny.
Even though their salvation was at hand, they could only conjure up destruction and death. They did not understand what they saw on the water that night, so their imagination betrayed them.
No one expected that Jesus would come walking on the water. But then, that is what he does when our needs are greatest. He comes to our rescue and brings comfort.
When Peter realized that it was Jesus, he requested that Jesus bid him to join him in the water. Jesus told him to come, and he did go into the water and began to walk toward Jesus.
However, when he saw the huge billows, and he, for a moment, took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. He, therefore, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus reached out and saved him.
When we are in trouble and having a bad experience, we, too, need to cry out, "Lord save me." Like he did for Peter, he will reach out and catch us. Life's situation cannot be too desperate that Jesus cannot help.
He came into this world to bring us salvation and to deliver us from the power of Satan. Therefore, do not lose hope. Jesus is the answer to your complications in life. Amen.
• Reverend Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Dr can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone 426-9084; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.
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