Today's Scripture
Looking up to Jesus: Matthew 14:22-33
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Matthew 14 Mark 6 Luke 9:1-17 (CEB)
22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25 Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake.26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed.
27 Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”
29 And Jesus said, “Come.”
Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.
33 Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”
What does this passage mean to me/us
Jesus walking on the water is nothing to be surprised, Peter asking Jesus if he can walk on the water is surprising.
Even though Peter asked for something completely out-of-bounds, Jesus says, “Come.”
It shows that we can ask Jesus anything, but it also shows that through the moment Jesus can turn the event into a teaching moment.
Peter, who now is walking on water, who was living out his request being answered instantly, sees the ‘strong winds’ and sinks.
He lost sight of the one, who made it all possible. In the same way, we can lose sight of the source of the ‘Amazing Grace,’ in time of ‘strong wind,’ and even answered prayers.
We are called to fix our eyes onto our Lord, in all circumstances.
Same prayer that the Psalmist prays in Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Prayer
Lord, we lift our eyes onto you. We fix our eyes onto you. Help us in your grace and mercy, and help us to walk on this world with you. In Christ name, we pray, AMEN.
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