Matthew 14:22-33
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Confidence in Sport
I don’t know about you, but one of the things I’ve noticed in sport—and professional athletes and sports people in particular—is that whenever one of them is interviewed on TV—even before the game or event—is that they seem to exude confidence.
Now, obviously, not all of them believe that they are going to win. But with all the time and effort in practicing for their particular events, and with the psychology of winning firmly in their minds, they have persuaded (or tied to persuade) themselves about their own abilities. As a consequence, they come across as being confident that they will do their best; that their minds are focussed on the job in hand.
Of course, that doesn’t mean, necessarily, that they won’t get a bit nervous before their event (that’s only natural). But it’s just that they have rehearsed what they have to do—they are focussed—and so any (natural) nervousness becomes secondary to the whole experience.
2. Confidence in Life
And that snapshot of athletes and sports people, that we see with a regular occurrence, has made me think about life, and people in general.
Because, similarly, in ordinary life, there are those who appear to be confident. They know what they’re doing; they know where they are going. And it takes a lot to rock them—to make them waiver in their self-confidence. And they are people who are well equipped to solve a problem when faced with a dilemma.
However, there are also some who don’t seem to be confident at all—about anything. And when a new situation occurs, or something comes up, some don’t know how to cope at all.
And, then, in the middle, there are perhaps the majority: those who have moments in both camps—sometimes full of confidence and other times not very confident at all.
Of course, we can’t all be confident about everything in life. And sometimes the appearance of confidence can be misleading. But it does seem that we are mixed bunch when it comes to having confidence in our abilities. But then there’s nothing new about that, as this passage from Matthew’s gospel attests.
B. JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER
1. The Background to the story (Matthew 14:22-23)
Now the story follows on from the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Indeed, Jesus had not only fed five thousand men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish, but he’d healed many who were sick as well.
However, Jesus was concerned that, as a consequence to what he had just done, the crowd were about to do something silly—like trying to force him into being a political leader (and particularly at a time when his life was being threatened).
As a consequence, this section of his story begins with Jesus, firstly, compelling the disciples to leave the crowd. In other words, the disciples were given no choice. Jesus couldn’t risk the disciples being caught up with any popular enthusiasm of people wanting him to be their king. And then, secondly, after his disciples had gone, Jesus dismisses the crowd. And after that, he was finally able to get away and spend some time alone. The day had been wearing, and Jesus needed to spent time with his Father.
2. The Confident Disciples (Matthew 14:24-27)
Now that’s the background to the story. However, the real action begins with the disciples.
Because the disciples had left the crowd by boat sometime after tea. And it was now sometime between three and six in the morning. And they were making slow progress crossing the lake.
Now in that boat would have been the owners of the boat, possibly a few passengers, plus the disciples themselves. So a fair proportion of the boat’s occupants would have been used to being on the lake, including many of the disciples. And most would have been confident of their ability to survive, even in a storm.
However, between three and six in the morning they were far from shore, and they encountered a storm like they had never encountered before. A strong wind was blowing; they were being tossed by the waves; and they were facing a head wind to boot. And having been battling the elements for most of the night they were very tired.
Now, even among some of the more experienced sailors the storm was particularly rough. And torrid enough for even them to lose confidence in their ability to survive. The disciples themselves (many of whom were fisherman) were also agitated and scared.
So, when they saw Jesus coming towards them, walking on the lake, yes, in one sense, they recognised him. But in another sense, what they saw was a physical impossibility. And after a mind stretching evening and a gruelling and sleepless night, is it any wonder they thought he was a ‘ghost’.
However, as Jesus approached, he recognised that they were scared and took immediate steps to calm them. ‘Take courage,’ he said—words of assurance for those who have good reason to fear. Jesus recognised that the crisis for those in the boat was very real; that the disciples and other occupants of the boat (excuse the pun) were out their depth. However, words also to bring great comfort, that now he was there they had nothing to fear.
The once confident sailors had been well and truly shaken out of their comfort zones. They’d had reason to fear. Jesus words, then, were words of assurance. But his presence was also a guarantee of their survival.
3. The Impetuous Peter (Matthew 14:28-30)
Now remember at this stage Jesus was not in the boat; he was still some distance off, and the storm was still raging. And now in contrast with what would normally have been some very confident sailors who were out of their depth, despite their sailing experience, we have a very impetuous Peter.
Because Peter was impulsive; he didn’t think things through before he either said or did things. And when he saw Jesus—even though Jesus was walking on water—he was intent on getting out of the boat and going to meet him. Which was fine, except that he wasn’t sure it was Jesus in the first place. ‘Lord, if it’s you’ he called out ‘command me to come to you on the water.’
Peter then confidently got out of the boat and began to walk across the lake.
Unfortunately, at this point, his confidence quickly began to wane. The fact of the storm began to weigh more heavily on the mind than the power and presence of Jesus. And Peter’s attention moved from Jesus to the storm.
Indeed, Peter began more and more to focus on the effects of the wind, the movement of the waves and the boat, the spray and the feel of the wind. And it came home to him that to be on the water in a storm like he was experiencing—and to be outside the boat—was to have put himself in a position of grave danger.
So Peter became afraid once more; his concentration shifted away from Jesus and he began to sink. And then he did what anyone else would have done in his position—he cried for help. The impetuous Peter—no longer having any confidence in either his own abilities or in those of Jesus—began to be swallowed up by the storm.
4. The Climax to the Story (Matthew 14: 31-33)
But then Jesus came to his aid. He stretched out his hand, took hold of Peter, and amazingly—while the storm continued to rage around them—they both walked on the water back to the boat, while Jesus asked him why he had doubted. And it was only when they got back to the boat that the storm subsided.
Now, the whole experience obviously left quite a mark on everyone in the boat. They worshipped Jesus with the kind of worship that should be offered only to a deity. And, there and then, they acknowledged that indeed Jesus was the Son of God.
5. Summary
Now, Jesus’s walking on the water, and calming of the storm, is one of those dramatic stories that tends to leave a lasting impression. Not least of which is because it’s a story of a group of people who would normally have been confident because of their experiences on the lake. But because of the nature of the storm, even they found that they were desperate for help.
In contrast though, is the story of an impetuous Peter who didn’t really think. He began confidently, he had the courage to get out of the boat and walk some distance, but his confidence was only fleeting. So, in no time at all his confidence failed.
All, in the end, needed to rely on the one person for their rescue: Jesus himself.
C. IMPLICATIONS
It’s a dramatic story, and one that can bring a smile to the face as it’s read. But is that all it is: a dramatic story? Or are there things that we can learn from it too? Well, I’m going to suggest that there are a number of things that come out from this story of which we would do well to note:
1. Being Out of Our Depth
And the first is, that no matter what preparation or how confident we are in life, there will always be situations that are beyond our control.
The experience of the sailors in the boat (and the disciples, included) gives us a vivid demonstration that, no matter how confident we are about things in life, we will all face situations that are not only beyond our control but will be ones where we will be out of our depth as well.
The disciples were not exempt from the stresses of life, as our story graphically shows. Indeed, Jesus acknowledged that they genuinely did indeed have reason to fear. And for us it will be no different.
2. God Wants to be With Us
Secondly, that despite what the world throws at us, God not only wants to be with us but he wants to help us too.
In terms of what nature has to offer (or indeed what other people have to offer), this story illustrates that Jesus wanted (and still wants) to be with his people. And although we do not see him in person—in the same way that the disciples did—in times of difficulty (as well as in times of comfort) we should be assured of his presence and help.
Indeed, Jesus made the following promises to his disciples. Before his crucifixion he said: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.’ (John 14:1). After his resurrection he said: ‘Remember, I will be with you every day until the end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:20b). And regarding the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: ‘And I will ask the Father to give you another helper to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth’ (John 14:16-17a).
Jesus wasn’t about to abandon his disciples when he sent them away in a boat, or at any other time. And he has promised not to abandon us either.
3. The Need for Faith
And, thirdly, the example of the impetuous Peter demonstrates the importance of having a good solid grounding to our faith. Indeed, so solid that even if we lose confidence in ourselves, our confidence in our Lord and Saviour remains the same.
Impetuosity is one thing—and Peter has to be admired for the courage it took to get out of the boat—but without depth to his faith Peter quickly faltered. So, Peter’s example for us illustrates our need not to just have a casual acquaintance with our Saviour—where when things gets tough our faith falters—but rather to have a relationship built on strong foundations; a relationship based on really knowing our Saviour and being confident in him.
And that depth of faith can easily be made possible through, among other things, regular prayer, through the study of the bible, through public and private worship, and through meeting together and encouraging one other on a regular basis.
D. CONCLUSION
Athletes and sports people may exude confidence—and some of us may exude confidence too—but none of us can be confident all of the time. And some of us may not be confident much of the time at all.
Yes, there may be some who seem very confident, and there may be others who are far from confident, and there may be the majority trying hard not swing from one extreme to the other. But the experience of the seasoned sailors (including the disciples) illustrates that Jesus accepted that there would be situations that everyone faces which will give even the most confident person to fear.
Despite that, however, the words and the presence of Jesus in the story, illustrates for us that those with a sound faith in Jesus, have no longer any need to fear. Because despite what we do, and will go through, he will be there with us..
As a consequence, we may have good reason not to be confident about our own abilities in every circumstance, but we should be able to live life confident that Jesus will be with us, walking with us—side by side—even through the most harrowing of experiences.
Posted: 1st October 2022
© 2022, Brian A Curtis
www.brianacurtis.com.au
