Narrative Themes: The Love Of God Lesson 8

                                      The love of God lifts us up

Matthew 14: 24-32 but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the forth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the water. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I! Be not afraid!" And Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." And Jesus said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat the wind ceased. 

In Matthew 14 we see Peter gets out of the boat in the midst of the storm and walks on the water. 

We need to recognize that Jesus is revealing something in this: this is a true reflection of the Christian life. The Christian life isn't meant to stay in the boat where human strength feels comfortable and secure. It is meant to be walked in the supernatural strength and power of God in places where human strength cannot stand. You see, water can represent strengthless places. In other words, in the natural it does not matter how many times you try to walk on the water, you will sink every time. And this is what water can represent, places where human strength just cannot stand or walk no matter how many times you try. 

And notice in verse 28 Peter tells Jesus, "If this is you, tell me to come to you on the water."

And how did Jesus respond? He said, "Come." In other words, He spoke His Word.

Often when I am teaching this story to my students, I tell them, "Peter didn't walk on the water, he walked upon the Word of God. Jesus spoke His Word, Peter stepped upon the power of that Word, and walked on the water." 

So going back to my point, the Christian life isn't meant to be lived in the boat where human strength feels comfortable and safe, it is meant to to be walked in the supernatural power of God's Word in places where human strength can never stand. 

But going back to Peter, we know the rest of the story: suddenly he heard the crashing of the violent waves, got scared, took his eyes off of Jesus, and he sank. Jesus rescued him, and said to him, "Why did you doubt?"

Now there are so many truths we can gleam from this, but here is the one on my heart for this blog:

when Jesus said to Peter, "Why did you doubt?" this is a call to continue to trust God's Word and finish what you started. 

I strongly believe when Jesus said to Peter, "Why did you doubt?" one of the truths He was conveying to Peter is, "Peter, you didn't finish. You could have walked all the way to the other side with me. You could have went all the way, doing those things everyone else was telling you is impossible. All those things you told yourself is impossible. Peter, you didn't finish. You could have walked all the way to the other side with me." 

I feel like the Lord is speaking in this to His people: "I know you feel like you are in an impossible place, asked to do something you know your own strength cannot do. I know you hear the roaring of the winds and waves telling you all the reasons why you can't do it. But would you continue to trust me? Would you continue to trust in the power of my Word? Would you continue to trust in all my promises that say 'what you cannot do, I will do through you?' Would you trust me enough to finish the course? Would you trust me enough not to bail out when every voice in your mind is trying to tell you that you cannot do it? Will you trust me and finish what you started?" 

Now going back to our story, Peter did sink in his doubts. However, here is the beauty of this story: the hand of Jesus lifted him up out of all his doubts and fears. Then in the days ahead Peter kept walking with Jesus, the Lord continuing to encourage Him, strengthen him, and fortify his faith. 

And because Jesus deeply loved Peter and continued to be faithful to him, what was the end result? 

Acts 3:1-7 Now Peter and John went to the temple together at the hour of prayer. And a certain lame man from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which was called Beautiful, to ask alms of those entering the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive alms. And Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 

Wow! Do you see what just happened here? Peter has just become Jesus hand extended. 

In other words the same power that once lifted Peter up out of the crashing waves is now operating in Peter's life to lift others out of their strengthless places. Peter, the one who was "lifted up" is now the one who is "lifting up." Why? Because many years ago Jesus, in His wonderful mercy, stretched out His hand and lifted Peter out of his doubts and failures. He continued to walk with Peter, encouraging him, strengthening him, maturing him, until one day Peter was able to give to others what Christ had given to him.   

Friends, because Jesus loves us, failure is not going to have the last Word in our life. God's faithfulness will always have the last Word in our life. Because Jesus faithfulness is unfailing, we are being lifted up in order to lift up others.