And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus (Mat 14:29). The typical sermons I’ve heard emphasizes Peter’s failure. However, we shouldn’t overlook the fact he accomplished something no other human (except Jesus) had ever done. Peter. . . walked on the water (14:29). It does not say he stood on the water. Matthew doesn’t tell us how far—a few steps or a hundred yards? We don’t know. But it does not matter. For an unknown distance, Peter walked on water. Then something happened. He took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the fierce wind. The wind hadn’t changed. It wasn’t blowing any stronger or any less than when he stepped out of the boat. What changed? Peter’s focus shifted. At this point, his faith failed; he became frightened, and began to sink (v30).
The Holy Spirit led me to this passage years ago when I was in graduate school. With term papers to write, tests to take, books to read, etc, I became overwhelmed. I was already on a walk of faith just being in a master’s program. I felt inadequate for this level of education. However, the Lord had led me there; I entered the MA program focusing on Him. I did well for three months, but suddenly I was frightened and sinking. The number of assignments hadn’t changed; the number of term papers was the same. Why was I frightened and sinking? The Holy Spirit spoke to me through this scripture, “You’ve taken your focus off Jesus”.
Our journey through life is no different. The Christian must walk by faith in a world full of problems; strong winds are blowing, and storms are always raging around us. All of us at times can become overwhelmed. It seems like the last two years have taken us through a hurricane. If we are struggling to stay afloat, we need to do a personal reality check and ask ourselves, “ Where’s my focus?” The Book of Hebrews tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus (12:2). The Greek word translated fix means to gaze or to stare with undivided attention by looking away from every other object and see nothing thing else. The context in this verse concerns Jesus enduring the cross, despising the shame. How did Jesus do that, because of the joy set before Him? The word set before means to lie before one’s eyes. Jesus endured the cross and shame because His focus was on the joy He could see beyond the cross. Thankfully, He didn’t lose His focus.
The encouraging lesson for us comes after Peter lost his focus and began sinking. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him (v31). The Book of Hebrews tells us one reason Jesus came, For in that which He suffered, having Himself been tempted, He is able to run to the cry of those who are being tempted and bring them aid (2:18 Wuest). The phrase run to the cry, which KJV translates ‘able to succour’ means provide immediate assistance to even the faintest cry. We may feel like it is all over, but Jesus never abandons us. If you are sinking, cry out to Jesus, He will not let you perish, but return you to the boat.
If someone dropped you into the eye of the strongest hurricane and you walked at the same speed it was moving, you would remain in perfect calm while the storm raged around you. When we focus on Jesus in this stormy world, it’s like walking in the eye of His calm and peace. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Is 26:3 ESV).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Where’s your focus today? You may feel like it’s too late. You’re frightened and sinking. Cry out to Him and you’ll find Him reaching out and taking hold of you. And then refocus on Jesus.