Peter Walked On Water

 I have to start this off by saying that I need some hope. I need some faith right now. Sometimes we all do. 

I came across this picture recently. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It's just a depiction of Christ pulling Peter from the water. Pulling his apostle back up to safety as the waves pulsed and rocked around them. Looking at the scene I was struck by a simple phrase. And it's now one I can't get out of my head.

"Peter walked on water."

I can't stop thinking about that single point. I've seen multiple depictions of the story, read the scriptures, looked at the art. Almost always it's focused on the point where Peter fails. It focuses on the fall. That's important thing to remember. But it loses it's poignancy if we forget to focus on what preceded that very moment. Peter asked to join his Savior. The Savior invited him. And he walked on water.

The conditions were better, the eye was focused. That made all the difference. Because the incredible happened. The impossible. Peter walked on water. We can't forget that. Yes he fell, he sank, and he cried out for aid. Doubt sank in, fear of the waves, I can imagine how he shifted his gaze and focus. But as he sank he cried out for his Savior. Christ reached out his hand. Pulled him up. And something incredible happened. Peter walked on water again. By the Savior's side he walked back to the boat.

Too often we forget that it was twice. It happened two times. Once was solo, to get to the Savior. Trials arose and he sank. But Peter walked on water. But we, or at least I, often forget that when the Savior got to him, Peter walked with Christ on that water for a second time. 

I can't help but see some parallels to some of my favorite stories of Christ when I think about that. In Mark 8, we learn of a blind man brought to Christ, and those with him sought our Savior to have them touch this man. Christ took him out of town, spit on the man's eyes, and asked him if he saw ought. The man replied that he saw man as tree's walking. Christ then put his hands upon his eyes, the man was then restored and saw clearly.

The next encounter involves the father who brings his son to Christ. That son had a devil, and unclean spirit who thrashed and harmed his son. In Mark 9 we see the exchange between Christ and the father. 

Christ said to the father, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

The Father replied to him in verse 24. "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

Christ then cast out the spirit.

When we look at all three of these examples something becomes apparent. Our faith does not end just in the seeking of Christ. That action enables the miracles that he and our Heavenly Father have for us. By taking the simplest of action to go to him, we can continue to seek the aid we need to accomplish the miracle. He enables, nurtures, and amplifies our faith. Whether it was the invitation to Peter to walk, then walking back with him that illustrates this progression of faith. Or the man healed by degrees, or addressing a father's doubt to heal his son, we see it again. Scripture is replete with these examples.

For those of us who believe in Christ there are times when we will struggle. The initial faith, that originating bright hope, they may fail us. Life is hard. The seas get rough. When they do our focus will shift. Sometimes it's rightfully so. Regardless we fall. We need help. We need faith.

At those moment's Christ is there. He can enable more faith. He can pull us out of the sea. He can show us the next step we need. He can heal us by degrees. He can help our unbelief. When he bids us to come unto him, he will be there when we stumble. When we fall. He will literally raise us up to where we need to be. He will walk with us. He will carry us if needed. Because he loves us.

A large part of me writing this is a self affirmation. Because some days, especially lately I've felt like I'm sinking. I need someone there to pick me back up. But I've had those days where he has done that. Where he's helped me to figuratively walk on water. Where he's helped my unbelief. So I have to keep moving forward. I have to keep what faith I have, and know that with Christ it will be enough. For those that ask why? Or wonder how I know. It's because of simple fact. Peter walked on water.

Matthew 14

Mark 8

Mark 9