Matthew 14:22–32 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night 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 wind, 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?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

Sometimes it seems like Peter has more guts than sense. He was the brash one, the one willing to jump in with both feet as it were, the one who made bold claims. We see him place his trust in Jesus, question his decision, trust again, doubt, lash out to protect Jesus, and then deny even knowing Him. The life of Simon, the Rock, was full of ups and downs. When I look at him and then at my life, I see a lot of similarities.

I have made bold statements of how I would serve my Lord, saying I would suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from Him. And yet there have been times when I did not speak up for Him when I had the opportunity to do so. And then I hear my Lord speak the same words to me that He spoke above to Peter: “Why did you doubt?” Jesus deals with me the same way He did with Simon Peter, patiently, lovingly, and with an abundant amount of His grace.

A question that occurred to me as I read through the passage above is one you may have wondered as well: Why didn’t Jesus calm the storm before He got into the boat and before He invited Peter to join him strolling across the surface of the Sea of Galilee?

I think He did that on purpose, in order to show His disciples (including us) that He is with us through the storms and difficult times in our lives. Jesus went through His own difficult times while accomplishing our forgiveness. He was tempted, not just in the wilderness, but throughout His entire life among us on earth. He faced opposition from His own people, a vote of no confidence from His family, rejection by most of the people He encountered. Then there were the events of what we call “Holy Week.”  Adulation as He entered Jerusalem, followed by plots and betrayal and beatings and trials and mocking and finally, crucifixion. He went through it all for me. And for you. And for all people, offering Himself as the Sacrifice for sin, once for all.

His victory over death assures us of life forever with Him.

Why did you doubt?