Peter the disciple, was a man who stumbled many time in his life, but never failed to follow Jesus. His life was filled with many lessons that can encourage us today and give us hope for our our own walk with Jesus.

Let’s take a look at the story of Peter walking on the water.

BIBLE READING

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to the disciples, 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 really 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?”    Matthew 14 25-31

SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER

Although many of the other disciples were afraid, Peter listened to Jesus when he said, ‘take courage, it is I, don’t be afraid’ . Peter replied, 'Lord if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water'.

For Peter the answer to the thought 'should I trust him', was a definite 'yes'. He called out to Jesus, then got straight out of the boat. Why? Because he knew who Jesus was. One time when Jesus had asked the disciples who they thought he was, it was Peter who had replied ‘you are the Messiah’. The things that Jesus had done and shown had proved to Peter and the disciples that he loved people and that he could be trusted, and not just as a friend but as their Saviour.

Peter stepped out as Jesus called to him, and although the passage doesn’t directly say it, it is pretty certain that he must have been looking at Jesus. It wasn’t until Peter looked at the wind and the waves, that he began to sink.

What we look to in our lives is very important because it will take us in a certain direction. When Peter was looking at Jesus, he was safe but as soon as he took his eyes off him and looked to things around him, he began to sink.

There's a lesson there isn't there!

FINAL THOUGHT

Peter dared to move towards Jesus, he didn’t choose to just stay in the boat where it was comfortable and safe. Trusting Jesus means moving towards him. Sometimes in our lives this may be uncomfortable, it may feel like we are alone (the other disciples stayed in the boat didn’t they!) But if we keep our eyes on him, we will always be safe. And even if we do make mistakes and take our eyes of Jesus, he is always there waiting to help us up again.