16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Oftentimes, when we read the Scriptures we have a tendency to make the characters a bit superhuman if you will. Now is the time for us to put some flesh and bones on the disciples – putting ourselves in their shoes. We are told in both the gospels of Matthew and Mark that Jesus compelled His guys - as by authoritative command - to get into the boat and go on ahead of Him as He dismissed the crowds and retreated to the mountainside alone to pray. Once again our Lord was setting the stage for the miraculous. From His vantage point on the mountaintop, He had His boys in clear sight. Matter of fact, comfortingly, like a mother hen, Jesus always has His chicks in full view.
9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Psalms 94:9 (NIV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
He intently looked down upon His struggling disciples - sweat pouring from their brows - as they battled the wind and the waves. Isn’t it always windy and aren’t the waters terribly rough in the absence of our Jesus? We struggle in our own power at the oars, right into the wind, while the troubles of this world - like waves - come crashing into our boats, simply getting us nowhere fast. I am reminded of the wonderful promise of our Lord:
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)
Peace comes not with the absence of trouble but with the presence of Jesus. Seeing their need, Jesus avails Himself albeit in a very unusual way. Our Lord was, once again, about to do the miraculous – He sets out on foot yet not on land. Walking upon the water, He approaches the weary rowers sending shudders up their spines and fleshing out the words found in Job:
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. Job 9:8 (NIV)
Can you even imagine the disciples fear as they faintly see an approaching figure walking on the water towards them? They cannot run because they would sink; there was no escaping as the winds and waves had them stuck and now this ghostlike appearance was heading straight for them to do who knows what! I am pretty confident their hearts were in their throats! Whenever a strong likelihood of something very unwelcomed or unpleasant over which I have no control (do I ever?) occurs in my circumstances, I often go into a state of frozen fear! Always wonderful, particularly at a time like this, to have Philippians 4:6-7 stored in our hearts. When we need it the most, we either a) don’t have our Bibles or b) perhaps have them but could not immediately find the verses much less see to read them anyway!
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 (NIV)
Let me just tell you that that “anything” found in verse six includes being stranded in the center of a windy and wavy lake in the middle of the night being approached by a ghostlike figure! In fact, it includes “anything” you want to put in there. “Anything” is, quite frankly, any and every thing. The glorious remainder of the verses teaches us how to effectively deal with our states of frozen fears when our circumstances become anything but welcomed – pray and petition with thanksgiving, presenting our requests. As we approach God, requesting an answer for a specific need, with a thankful attitude in our hearts, the peace of God will flood our troubled souls. Our Lord Jesus is our peace:
14 For he himself is our peace Eph 2:14 (NIV)
For the child of the King, all of our circumstances are allowed for our good – even the most frightful and trying ones. As we lean into Him, He will always show Himself faithful. I am reminded of a wonderful example found in the book A Chance to Die on the life of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot. The situation was dire. The enemy struck the little company of Dohnavur where Amy was ministering in an orphanage. It was a triple attack. Amy became severely ill and had to retreat for respite in a more civilized environment leaving one worker, Ponnammal, alone with sixteen babies. A particular viral form of dysentery swept through the nursery in Amy’s absence. One baby with dysentery was a full time job and now Ponnammal found herself with sixteen. The following is what she wrote to Amy:
“All is windy about us now, but the wind will not last always. The waves beat into our boat; but when the Lord says, Peace, be still, they will lie down. Let all your prayer for us be that we may rest in the will of God while the wind lasts.”
“Jesus stays with me” wrote Ponnammal.