Peter’s experience of perfect theology
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Matthew 14:22-33 NLT
Have you ever wondered what Easter looked like through the eyes of the disciples? They had no chocolate. No bunnies. Their shops weren’t full of fondant creme eggs as soon as the Christmas decorations came down. But what did they see, as the very first scenes of what we now call ‘Easter’ unfolded into their experience?
This is our opportunity to revisit Easter through the eyes of Simon Peter—that most awkward of disciples! Hot and cold, happy, sad, keen then denial. How many of us can relate to Peter? Yet our focus is not on Peter—it’s on Jesus. He is revealing who he is—who God TRULY is—to Peter, to the disciples and to us. And he says, to them, to us: Come, take sides with me!
Let’s start on a lake. A place very familiar to fisherman Peter, and to Jesus. Let’s start in a storm. In fear, terror, and tiredness. And it’s into this chaos and confusion that Jesus breaks with a demonstration of who God truly is. Out he steps into the darkness. Across the unrest he calmly charts a course. Right up to, and as if he would, past the struggling disciples (cf. Mark 6:48).
What is the significance of this small detail? Peter would have been familiar with Old Testament (i.e. the only scripture in his context) accounts of Moses (Exodus 33) and Elijah (1 Kings 19) who saw the glory and goodness pass by them. And as we read (what many believe to be) Peter’s gospel account though the pen of Mark, this reference is very possibly creating a parallel to these previous encounters.
Moses only saw the back of God’s goodness passing by from the protection of a rocky crevice. Elijah then felt God’s presence in a still small whisper. Peter and the disciples see a fuller revelation of God’s goodness coming towards them in the dead of night!
They did not see a ghost. Not an alien. Not an AI-powered drone display, or beamed projection. He was real flesh and blood, 100% man. And he was walking on the waves! He was conquering the chaos! He was striding through the very same sort of storm he’d previously slept through!
What did this man have inside him? Where did he get his power? Why was he not afraid as well?
We know, as Peter eventually knew, that Jesus had perfect trust in his Heavenly Father. He only did what he saw his father doing (John 5:19) so he, his Father, and his Spirit where walking out together on those waves.
And what did he / they do? Offer peace and invite participation.
Will we accept his peace in the storms and striving of lives? Will we receive his calm into the chaos and confusion that surrounds us? And will we step out the boat to participate? More about that later this week.
They might not have eaten chocolate eggs, but Peter and the disciples had something much better! Jesus was perfectly revealing his family and his love to his friends. He was teaching them to not only KNOW but participate and EXPERIENCE the life of God. It’s more than Moses or Elijah ever saw in their lifetimes, and we are privileged to even more. Post resurrection and Pentecost he is with us, in us, and living through us. Hallelujah!
