Walking on the Waves

Background Story: Jesus has been teaching and preaching. He just fed 5,000 people with a couple loaves of bread and a few fish. He goes away to pray and the disciples go ahead of Him on a boat to cross the water.

Read Matthew 14:22-33

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Big Idea: Jesus is the constant.

Maybe today in your life, you find yourself full of faith like Peter walking on top of the waves. Or maybe you are surrounded by life’s storms and feel like you’re barely keeping your head above the water. The good news is… no matter if you feel like Peter on the water or Peter in the water, there is one constant in this story that doesn’t change.

In science, the “constant” is the variable or item that remains the same in the experiment. It remains unchangeable no matter what happens around it. What is the constant here? The constant is Jesus. Whether Peter was walking in faith or Peter was sinking in doubt, Jesus was ALWAYS walking towards him. Jesus never left him, moved, or gave up. Jesus continued to reach towards Peter inviting him to Himself.

The longer we live, the more we all realize that life never stays the same. Life includes times of triumphs where it might seem easy to praise God, but also moments of weakness where we might feel like giving up. Even though we feel the rollercoaster of life, thankfully Jesus is not like us. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He remains unmovable, unshakable and unchangeable in His constant pursuit of you no matter your past or present.

Jesus sees you. Instead of pretending you’re fine while the waves roar around you, call out to Him like Peter, “Lord, save me.” When we do, we will realize that Jesus has never left our side and is right there with His hand extended out towards us ready to draw us close to Himself. And as we see His faithfulness time and time again, we too will worship with a greater faith saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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