Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” Matt 14:28 (MSG)
PART 1 – Water Call
There’s a spot at my local beach, on the point, right at the bottom of the short cliff, where the rocks form these amazing jumping ledges and natural benches. This is where I was, on a rocky bench seat formed over years of its collision with the ocean, deep in thought and prayer. As the ocean swirled and raged and swallowed, I could sense God deep in the water receiving my questions about the road ahead and my doubts and sending me wave upon wave of peace in return…
After a time, I looked up to my right towards “Jump Rock”, which is about 4 metres above the water at mid-tide. At that same moment, a group of ten twelve-year-old boys arrived at its summit. They peered over the edge and into the sandy hole of water below. I couldn’t hear them, but I could see them encouraging each other to jump. They started exploring the ledge, climbing up and down the formations, checking the swell, timing it. You can see them in the photo behind the text, “Leap of Faith”. And then one by one, they took the leap. They flew into the air, arms like wings, eyes on the water below, and plunged safely into the sea – a spontaneous and salty baptism of freedom and adventure. A holy moment.
I was reminded of another time where a man plunged over the edge and into the water, but instead of diving down deep into the waves, he walked upon them…
The Disciples were sailing across the lake overnight when a huge storm arose (story found in Matt 14). Just before dawn at night's darkest hour, in the midst of the crashing waves, they saw a figure walking towards them. On the water. They were terrified and thought a ghost was making a pathway of waves towards them. The figure called out to them, “Don’t worry guys, don’t be afraid… it's me, Jesus…”
Can you imagine that? The Disciples were becoming familiar with the impossible. They had been following Jesus for some time and had seen things they never thought they would. Amazing miracles, hideous attitudes as some rejected Jesus and his ways, incredible gratitude and thankfulness as lives were changed… crazy, confusing, incredible days. I’m not sure I would have coped. I mean, throw a plot twist into a novel I’m reading and my brain is done for days!!
In the middle of a crazy night, a bunch of guys who had had no sleep, little food and were freaking out during a storm, ALL see someone walking on the water. I would have called a therapist.
“If it is really you Jesus, call to me, and I will come to you.”
Peter had answered Jesus call once before. He was fishing from the shores of the lake, as he did day after day after day when Jesus, a Rabbi, approached him and said, “Follow me?”
This was the first surprise. As all Jewish boys did, Peter had started Rabbi training at a young age. And the fact that he was now a fisherman meant that he had not made the Rabbi cut. He was sent from school back to his family to learn his father's trade. Only the best of the best of the best were permitted to continue their education to become Rabbi’s, the most prestigious career of the time. To complete their education, apprentice Rabbis needed to be taken under another Rabbi’s wing. A Rabbi would pick one, and say to them “follow me.” And their final years of training would commence one on one.
Peter was not one of the best of the best, he had been rejected and sent back. And now a New Rabbi, Jesus, was asking him to follow him?
What an incredible moment! Peter, who had not been smart enough, who had been rejected, not picked, not the best of the best, was somehow now being chosen?
This was Peter’s first leap of faith. At that moment, something happened he never thought was possible and a dream he had buried years ago resurfaced. Hope swelled up from deep within, he dropped his fishing nets, left his boat behind and jumped right in.
Go to PART 2 “Peter's Leap of Faith”
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