A Night on the Lake

It's the end of a beautiful spring day. The sun is melting into a sparkling golden puddle on the watery horizon. There's a warm breeze, and evening birds are singing. You're sitting on a hillside with extra soft green grass and wildflowers. 

AND you just got a free meal and watched thousands of others healed and inspired by the words of Jesus.

And you know…it’s time. Finally.

You and the other followers of Jesus have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and the setting sun only increases the urgency. Now is the time. You know that Jesus is too humble to make Himself king. He just talked about being last instead of first and all of that. So He needs some help. Everyone agrees that they are ready to “help” make Jesus king by force. You know he would get used to the idea. I mean, after all, this is what He was born for, right? To be king and make the nation what it was supposed to be. To make everyone comfortable and happy, and kick out their enemies and their hunger and pain.

But as the sky’s colors change to deep hues of pink and red, you see Jesus coming toward your group, just as you’re getting your plan together. Before you or anyone can say a word, He says four:

“Get in the boat.”

You look at your friends. Is he talking to us?

“Yes, I’m talking to you. Peter, John, Matthew—and all the rest of you. Get in the boat. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

There is no arguing. That tone, that look in Jesus’ eyes—you have never seen or felt that before. In shock, you and the other disciples slowly make your way down the hillside to the boat, glancing back to see how his conversation was going with some of those big guys who were so sure of the plan, and ready to make Jesus king. Maybe they could talk him into it…or still take him by force…but you see the same shock and disappointment on their faces. By the time you make it to the boat, you watch thousands of people picking up their belongings and turning toward the village.

You were so close. So close. Why can’t Jesus just do what He is supposed to do? Why can’t he just embrace the king that He is, and finally fix everyone’s problems? Why couldn’t He just silence those Pharisees, and end their corrupt power and twisted teachings?

And also…why isn’t He coming with us? Did He really say to go without Him? Your group argues about this for awhile, but finally, in the twilight, everyone gets in the boat, and you set off into the calm waters.

The rowing seems to be doing everyone good at working off some steam as you all try to wrap your minds around what just happened. So many questions are thrown out into the evening air. Questions about who this Jesus really is? Is He really the one we thought He was? Or are the doubters right, and He’s just fooling us all? Where is God in all of this? Does He see us suffer? Why would He send us someone to heal and teach and comfort but then take it all away?

In your anger and hurt, you start to feel drops of rain washing the tears from your face. Suddenly you’re aware of what is going on around you—it got dark. Really dark. It’s windy—really windy. Now it’s pouring, the waves are rising, and lightening is flashing.

Conversation quickly dies, and the goal is getting to shore alive. This effort now takes up all your thoughts, all your energy, and icy fear has replaced your anger. You and your friends are fighting for your lives…for hours. Until…you realize it’s hopeless. You’ve rowed, you’ve bailed, you’ve prayed, you’ve wiped the sweat out of your eyes and kept working…until you just can’t any more. The boat is filling, everyone is exhausted, and you know…it must be the end.

And then you see it. You wipe your eyes again to try to see more clearly…but someone else spots it too. Gliding over the water toward you is a human figure, surrounded by a soft glow. The waves seem to have no affect on this figure, it just keeps moving gracefully..and creepily… above the lake.

Giving up is one thing, facing a spirit of death is another. Fear grips you and the rest in the boat like you’ve never felt before…until you hear a familiar voice you had completely forgotten about in the last several hours…

“Don’t be afraid! Have courage! I AM here.” 

Later you would realize what He had really said. THE I AM is here. The name of Yahweh, the Creator of life, the God of the Universe. He was there. In the middle of the storm. Not the enemy, not the end, but your Rescuer in the dark stormy night. And what you didn’t know then that you know now is that He had spent all that time while you were fighting for your life, praying for you, for your heart to understand His heart and His purposes and His kingdom, for your heart to understand the depths of His love for the world, and how that would lead Him—and you—to a very different place than what you expected. But He was always there.

“Don’t be afraid! Have courage! I AM here.”

In that moment you realize that this is Jesus, and you’ve never been so glad to see Him! You realize that this man-made boat is falling apart in the storm anyway, and the safest place to be is as close to Jesus as possible. All you can think about is getting to Him as soon as possible.

So you cry out, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water!”

“Yes,” you hear through the wind, “Come!”

As the others tell you that you’re crazy and not to do it, you launch yourself out of the creaking boat, unconsciously expecting a cold splash. But there’s no splash. You find yourself on top of the waves, able to easily keep your balance, and somehow gliding over the surface, one shaky step at a time. 

You lock your eyes on Jesus—your only hope in this storm. The safest place you can be in this storm is next to Him. But as your steps come more easily, the thought hits you…I’m walking on water! No one has ever done this before! You look back at the disciples who are still desperately holding on to the boat but eyes wide as they watch you do what they would have never dared to do. And you realize…I’m walking on water…no one has ever done this before…

You turn back to see Jesus again but a huge wave has come up between you. Where is Jesus?” You panic. “I can’t do this! I’m not supposed to be out here! What was I thinking? Did He really call me out here?”

Faster than words can capture, you feel that icy splash. You barely have time to shout out “Lord save..” Before you sink below the waves. Instantly you feel the strong hand of Jesus pulling you up, drawing you out of the water, back on top of the waves, and into His strong embrace. You hear His whisper, “Where is your faith? Why did you doubt Me?”

You hold on to Jesus for dear life as you walk the last few yards together through the wind and the waves and the lightning and thunder. Jesus helps you into the sagging and swaying boat, one foot and then the other. And then Jesus steps His foot into the boat and…

All is still. The wind stops. The clouds lift and drift gently away, exposing a host of bright early morning stars.

Only the sound of water dripping off of the sail and everyone’s clothes is heard. The silence is deep and awesome. Finally you speak the words on the hearts of everyone else in the boat, “You really are the Son of God!”

Let’s come back to this moment we share right now. What is your agenda for what God should be doing? Are you open to finding the plans and purposes on His heart for you and for the world, and how do you find that? 

What is your storm? What are you afraid of that is stealing your peace and your hope?

When Jesus comes to rescue you in a way you aren’t expecting, are you listening for His voice? Will you let Him into your boat? Are you willing to leave your boat of your own ways of trying to make things work or make things ok in a stormy world? Will you trust Him out on the waves, where you could only walk if He’s with you, and yet the place you will find Him the closest?

A lot of questions. My hope and prayer for you as you consider this story and what it means to you, is especially that you will hear Jesus saying to your heart, “Don’t be afraid! Take courage! I AM here!” 

(Based on Matt. 14:22-36)

Sea of Galilee