Today’s scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Ben Lamb):
I used to think, “Now, why in the world did Jesus go and scare his poor little disciples like that? Anybody would know they’d be frightened half to death to see someone strolling along on top of the water during a raging sea storm.”
But after reading it more recently, some things have dawned on me. [Aside: It’s also amazing what seems to “dawn” on me more and more often when I preface my reading of Scripture with a prayer asking for God’s blessing for the purpose of bringing glory to the Holy Trinity. In earlier times, my reading was sincere enough, but I used to leave out the prayer beforehand.]
An Internet search turned up some facts about the Sea of Galilee, which lies in a basin below sea level. The body of water is 13 miles long, 7 miles wide, and only 150 feet deep at its lowest point. This usually peaceful place can rapidly become violently stormy. Winds can batter the waters from several directions, creating dangerous conditions that become deadly. The resulting waves (as high as 10 feet) literally overcome fishing vessels. Hmmm… I’m seeing some allegorical parallels between the Sea of Galilee and Everyday Life. It sounds as though today’s reading is fitting for both the first and twenty-first centuries!
Reconstruction of a first century vessel, based on a 1986 discovery from the Sea of Galilee’s northwestern shore. Measurements: 26 x 7 feet, and considered large enough for 15 men. Source
Jesus knew exactly what the occupants of the boat needed: the type of peace which only he could bring. How best could Jesus do that in physical form? There was more than one way, of course. Materialize out of nowhere? That might really have scared them! Calling out to them from the sky? Since it was storming, Jesus would had to have yelled quite loudly; hardly a way to comfort anyone, I think.
Calmly walking toward the disciples as a familiar person whom they’d seen hundreds of times already was perfectly logical. When you yourself are feeling stressed, isn’t it a pleasure to see a friend if you’re at the shopping mall or standing on a sidewalk? Since Jesus was capable of being anywhere, why shouldn’t he have walked on over to where his troubled friends were? Some H2O was no insurmountable problem for him.
I can be like Peter sometimes. God makes something perfectly clear to me, but I still doubtingly say, “Is it really you?” or “You want me to do what?” Yet, God never gives up on me, thank… um… God. What a comfort that is. It’s not surprising that another name for the Holy Spirit (the one Jesus sent to earth following his ascension back to heaven) is the Great Comforter.
Thought for the day: What a creative God we have! When comforting us, God uses a cornucopia of ways. It’s exciting to be open to all sorts of wonderful possibilities!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.