I’ve known of some people doing some pretty incredible things:
- I watched Robbie Madison ride a dirt bike up a ramp, land it on top of the Arc de Triomphe in Las Vegas, then ride it back down in a 100 ft. freefall.
- I saw Nik Wallenda tight-rope walk across Niagara Falls.
- I got to be there live for Darren Taylor – aka, Professor Splash – dive from 35 feet into 12″ of water.
- My own father once went cage diving with great white sharks over 15 feet long!
Why do people do this stuff? The stuntmen, death-defiers, adventurers, thrill-seeker, adrenaline junkies that makes us all go, “What are you thinking?!” There is a significant amount of scientific data describing the brain’s reactions to experiencing such thrills, and the craving for that rush of adrenaline. But I’m convinced there’s more to it than that.
The disciples likely thought the same thing of Peter in Matthew 14. While crossing the Sea of Galilee on a boat in the middle of a ridiculous storm, the disciples are already fearing for their lives. Plus, Jesus is not with them, so their one sure thing in unsure times is unavailable, per their perception. Then He comes to them. In the middle of the sea. Walking on top of the water. At first they believe Him to be a ghost. I mean, why not? How much more absurd could this story get?! To any rational mind, if your only two options are – a) a man is walking on top of the water, or b) it’s a ghost – you’re probably telling your friends about a crazy ghost story later, if you survive to tell it.
And even still, as Jesus calls out to them to calm their fears and reassure them of his presence, Peter ups the ante by calling back out to Jesus. “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
For real?! Wasn’t it enough for you, Peter, to survive this storm? Didn’t this trip already give you a whole new appreciation for your Master? Wasn’t being in a boat on the borderline of capsizing close enough to cheating death for one day?!?
No. Because Peter was still on the boat while his Master was out on the water. Jesus promised in John 14, that they would do the same things as Him – even greater things. So if Jesus was walking to Peter on the water then, in the name of Jesus, Peter was going to walk on the water to Him.
And walk on the water he did! Sure, he may have begun to fall in around the half-way point as he took his eyes off Jesus. But even then Christ’s words to him were not of rebuke, but of reminder, that it takes reckless faith in Him to experience the impossible.
I doubt that any of the other disciples were mocking Peter for falling in. As far as we can tell, none of the rest of them ever got to experience what Peter – a Risk Taker – did.
There is no faith where there is no risk. You can’t find an example in the Bible otherwise. If you and I are going to see God do the impossible in our lives, families, church, community, business, and world at large we must be willing to take some risks in God to come through.
One of my favorite quotes has been, “Faith is trusting God to do something so great, that if God is not in it, it’s doomed to fail.”
I think walking on water qualifies. So does raising a family counter-culturally. So does being generous with your resources. And starting that business that God put in your heart years ago. Or leaving it all to pursue a God-given dream. Whatever it is, don’t hold back. Take a risk. Get out of the boat. Risk getting wet. And watch Jesus come through!
Blessings,
Pastor John