Isn’t it marvelous to know we’ve received The Touch that means so much? A touch offering salvation, grace, comfort, love, healing, transformation, and anointing as needed. Having experienced this Touch, we need to share with others, eh.
“At once, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?” When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down.” Matthew 14:31-32 CEV
Getting back in the Boat
Given that they returned *to* the boat, and not towards shore, a colleague argued that he should never have left the boat. I agree that Jesus would simply have saved every disciple together and all would be well.
But there’s another point that I think our Matthean writers wanted us to see.
In this messianic tale, Jesus doesn’t command the water. Rather His presence manages the water. So He neither says, ‘Peace be still’, nor does anything directly with the water; Jesus simply got in the boat. I include this aside to underscore Jesus’ authority as the Son of God, and to affirm that dominion isn’t always about physical power and domination. How do we manage the power and authority vested on us?
It’s also worth noting that the storm had not subsided when Peter took the steps towards Jesus. And did you realize that he probably hadn’t gone very far from the boat, despite panicking? Perhaps because the storm was not abating on the outside.
I suspect that Peter thought that safety was wherever Jesus was. Since Jesus was not in the boat; Peter knew that he needed to be outside the boat. And though he’d voiced the group’s concern, Peter also followed through with his request to Jesus. The others could have gone, but they chose to remain in the boat. That could have been a challenge.
If they had not returned to the boat, the others could be left floundering. Of course we realize that as immediately as He appeared on the water, Jesus could have teleported everyone back to safety. But He didn’t (actually, there’s not much teleportation stories in the Bible, is there?). Not for Himself and Peter, who were already outside the boat and atop the waves; nor for the other disciples who were still in the boat. Since Jesus was leaving no one behind (no, the UN didn’t originate the concept!), and Peter could not walk on the water by himself, then back in the boat it was.
Interestingly, the storm abated when they were all in the boat! Not before. That’s a lesson right there. Considering the needs of those around us when we’re all in a crisis may transform our common situation. We ought to verify (test) the spirit behind the help offered by others for sure; but we also remember those in need of relief. Whether in the boat or atop the water, we are in this together and we leave no one behind.
Who do we need Jesus to get?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
