Walking On Water

I was reading from Mark 6 and from Matthew 14 this morning - the account of Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm and inviting Peter to walk on the water with Him while the rest of the disciples looked on from the boat. 

Mark 6:45-50; Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Matthew 14:28-33; "Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” "Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Notice here that Jesus was about to pass by. He was walking on the water, in the midst of a storm, in the middle of the night, and He was about to pass by. Even after they saw Him, even after they called out in fear - in complete terror - He was about to pass by. It wasn't until Peter called out to Him - when He asked Jesus for a personal invitation - that Jesus stops and calls Peter out. 

As I read this passage it occurred to me, Jesus passes by every day. Every day each of us have the opportunity to encounter Him. Everyday He passed right by each of us - sometimes multiple times. 

Jesus is about to pass by and it is not enough to see Him in fear and terror. Jesus is about to pass by and His desire is for us to call out to Him and ask for the otherwise impossible. Jesus is about to pass by and His desire is for us to ask Him for a personal invitation. 

Then Jesus stops and invites us out. 

I've heard others share accounts of Jesus moving in their lives - doing the miraculous - the otherwise impossible - in their lives. And sometimes I feel like I'm sitting in the boat while others are being moved - walking on the water with Jesus. But I don't want to sit in the boat and watch Jesus move. I want to get out of the boat and be the one that Jesus moves. 

Will you call out to Jesus - asking for a personal invitation? Will you get out of the boat and walk with - be moved by - Jesus?