Walking on Water

Matthew 14:22-32

They were all in the boat together.
Jesus had sent them out while he went to pray.
Jesus had wanted to be alone,
And now they all were alone.

The full moon shown down,
Bright enough to illuminate the faces around Peter,
His brother, his friends.
They all showed the fear that he felt.
He was a fisherman by trade,
Because he was, he had a fisherman’s fear of storms.
As the boat rocked back and forth,
He wished he didn’t know what he did,
How a boat can capsize.
How a man can drown,
Swallowed by the water.

He held on to the wood of the boat,
And looked out over the water.
Was that a man?
Men can’t walk on water.
Was that a ghost?
His fear magnified itself
Multiplying.
Trapped in his throat as if it would choke him.

A voice came across the water,
Familiar to them all,
“Don’t be afraid. It is I.”
Could it really be Jesus?
How could that be possible?

Peter called to him,
“Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come out.
Tell me to come out on the water with you.”

“Come!” answered Jesus.

So Peter stepped out of the boat,
And onto the water.
Fear forgotten for the moment
As he kept his eyes on Jesus.

One step in front of the next,
The water felt cold, but almost solid.

The moon was bright enough to illuminate
The face of Jesus.
Peter saw his eyes,
His face,
His whole body -- willing his disciple to come to him.

Peter remembered all that he had seen.
A sermon delivered from a mountaintop,
When Jesus spoke about happiness,
Salt and light.
He gave words against judgment,
And encouragement to ask God for help.
He healed a Roman officer’s servant.
He had even healed Peter’s mother-in-law
With just a touch.
As if it were easy.

And then today, just that evening,
He had taken five loaves of bread,
Two fish,
And fed 5000 men.
If this man told Peter to walk on water,
Then Peter would walk on water.
His strength; his confidence
Poured from the man
Who could perform miracles.

The wind blew hair into Peter’s eyes,
The water splashed against his legs.
He took his eyes off Jesus,
And looked at the sky.
Saw the rain.
Was shoved by the wind.
And began to sink
Once it started, he couldn’t stop it,
The water was taking him,
Consuming him.
He reached out, and cried, “Save me!”

Jesus grabbed hold of him.
and pulled him close, whispering to him,
“Why did you doubt?
What happened?”

Both men made it into the boat,
The storm quieted,
The disciples, knowing all that had happened,
Worshiped Jesus.
“You are truly the Son of God!”

Later that morning,
As the sun began to rise,
Peter lay on the deck of the ship.
And thought of Jesus’ question.
He knew why he doubted.
When he was focused on Jesus,
He could ignore his fear.
When he looked away,
He sank.

Photo credit: Sea of Galilee from this site
To Standing in the Presence