WALKING ON WATER
We come across an interesting story in the gospels of both Jesus and Peter walking on water.
—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 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. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”(Matthew 14:24-33)
Walking on water is a physically impossible feat to accomplish. And as we see this miracle working out, we learn many lessons.
In Christ, we see the One who controls the visible and the invisible universe.For Jesus to perform this miracle and also facilitate Peter doing the same, there would have to be a play of the unseen elements and a mastery over it. Time and again, we see Jesus effortlessly accomplishing what would be impossible even in today’s world of advancement. While the physical laws of this world mandate that miracles would necessarily be exceptional, they do occur and need to be appreciated.
Proximity to and faith in Jesus is the secret to a miraculous life.Jesus’ assent and encouragement is what led Peter to replicate what Jesus did. When Peter fixed his gaze upon Christ, he was able to walk on water. However, when he set his eyes upon the wind and the waves, his faith faltered. He began to sink, but again proximity to Jesus saved him. When Jesus came into the boat, the wind and the waves calmed down and the boat was no longer straining against the waves.
Worshipping Jesus is the ultimate goal of all creation. If a skeptic were to ask, “What was the goal of all this? Did any good come out of this?”the only answer would be to say that this incident facilitated a worship of Christ. There is a place for all the endeavors man undertakes during his life here on earth; however nothing comes even close to the goal of worshipping Jesus. That is the purpose of all mankind and the goal of the entire universe.
If anything in our lives facilitates worship, it is worth it; if everything in our lives is directed to worshipping Christ, no greater perfection exists.
