Matthew 14 Keep Your Eyes on the Supernatural!



28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
This is a great interaction between Peter and Jesus.  One of many classic scenes between the two.  We often only remember Peter for this three fold denial of Jesus in the garden.  But there are many great scenes with Peter being the first to jump in, in this case literally.  We see Peter's eagerness when he says, "If it is you, tell me to come to you".  Jesus seeing an opportunity to teach Peter tells him to come. 
Now think about it.  Peter steps out of the boat not knowing what is going to happen.  As a fisherman, he has been in and out of boats his whole life, but this is different.  Jesus calls Peter to step out of the boat not on land, but in the middle of the lake.  And sure enough Peter walks toward Jesus, and the laws of gravity are suspended.  Peter experiences the supernatural as he trusts in Jesus' word.  Can you imagine how Peter felt?  
But no sooner then Peter walks on water, he takes his eyes off Jesus begins to sink. He takes his eyes off of the supernatural and looks to the natural.  As he begins to sink he cries out to Jesus, "Save me!"    Jesus grabs his hand and pulls him back up.  And he says to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
We might be tempted to think that Jesus is rebuking Peter for his lack of faith. And while that could be true, I see Jesus being so excited for Peter that when he sunk, he was upset for Peter's sake. He might have said, "Oh Peter, you were really doing it! You were experiencing the lfie I want for you and the others!"  Peter was operating in the supernatural by keeping his eyes on Jesus.  This was a foretaste of what was to come for he and the rest of the disciples.  But at least Peter saw what faith in Jesus could do.  
Where have you taken your eyes off Jesus?  When you were walking on water, with Jesus how did it feel? Do you miss it?  What got you off track? What took your eyes off of Jesus?  If you are sinking right now, cry out to Jesus!  Like he did for Peter, Jesus will reach out his hand to pull you out!        

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