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Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
- Matthew 14:22-36
Yesterday, we read that when Jesus heard that Herod the tetrarch had heard a report of Him, and suspected that He was John the Baptist returned, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." He said, "Bring them here to Me." Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Jesus has already made one attempt to withdraw by Himself into a deserted country. This we read in yesterday's reading, after He heard the report that Herod had taken notice of Him. But in yesterday's reading, the crowds followed Him, and moved by compassion, Jesus ministered to them, feeding them with a spectacular miracle of the loaves and fish. Today again, we read that Jesus seeks to withdraw by Himself to pray, going up on a mountain, alone. But in the middle of the night, in the very early morning hours, the disciples whom He's sent across the Sea of Galilee are in trouble. The fourth watch of the night is about three o'clock in the morning. This miracle of Jesus' walk on the water always has a kind of dreamlike quality to it. We think of the early hours, and the nightmarish experience here of the disciples, sent off on their own without Him. The windy stormy sea is yet again enough to frighten these experienced fishermen. It's another dreamlike image of emotional turmoil and uncertainty, mirroring perhaps their own struggles in discipleship. But wherever they are, He is, no matter what the circumstances. "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid" can sum up His entire ministry. My study bible elaborates on the fact that this is the second time Jesus has allowed the disciples to be caught in a storm (see this earlier reading), only this time He's without them. In the way their faith is strengthened that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms of life. It is I is literally translated "I am," my study bible reminds us, which is the divine Name of God. The entire episode illustrates His authority over their lives, and all things.
And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." Again, there's an illustration here in the boisterous sea, and Peter's tentative steps to Christ as "first among equals" and spokesman for the apostles are accompanied with his own fears. He cries out, "Lord, save me!" which is a cry for everyone, for all time. But Peter's faith, my study bible points out, allows him to walk on the water. It also notes that Peter doesn't ask to walk on water per se, but rather to come to Jesus. He doesn't want to perform miracles but rather to be with the Lord. As long as he keeps his focus on Christ, he walks. When he's distracted, he begins to sink. But, the Gospels teach us, and it won't be the last time Peter needs such a lesson, we always need Christ's help for our faith. Here, the term that Jesus uses for doubt is a word that indicates a "double-side" quite literally. It means to waver, or hesitate. But really it indicates Peter's mind is in two places at once, conflicted. Jesus' question, "Why did you doubt?" then, with this understanding, becomes more a call to focus on faith! My study bible teaches here also that this is the first time the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God. The boat is a symbol of the Church.
When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. Once again, Jesus reaches land, a place where people recognize Him, and so "all who are sick" are brought to Him, begging that they might only touch the edge of His clothing. My study bible says that Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life, and that contact with His flesh is life-creating. This place on the edge of the Sea of Galilee was known as a one of great abundance, both for fishing and for agriculture. It was known as "the paradise of Galilee."
Jesus seems to go from one extreme to another: seeking time to be alone for prayer and withdrawal, but unable to escape the crowds who are so in need of Him. Peter's cry, "Lord, save me!" is a cry, as we've said above, for all of us, everywhere, for all time. But it's also the cry of the many who are brought to Jesus for healing, and His response is the true abundance of His ministry and mission. Like the great fertility of the sea and the plain at Gennesaret, those who come to Him for healing of all kinds are the harvest of the ministry, the abundance that results from His ministry to the world, the Incarnation, so fully symbolized in the healing by touch made possible through His human life. A Savior has many meanings in the context of Scripture and in the context of the spiritual history of Israel. The earlier judges were also called "deliverers" as well. Heroes of Jewish spiritual history are "saviors" -- time and again appearing to uphold the Law, to deliver the people from bondage to foreign gods and customs. This title of Savior for Christ does not come in a vacuum, but rather comes with a long history. But no one "wears" or fulfills this title in the way that Christ does. We once again have to turn to the words He taught about Himself, that God is seeking those who can worship in spirit and in truth. And it's in this context that we come to understand Savior. He is the one who can save fully and deeply, from the depths inside of us to the fullness of the life we live as human beings, and as children of God. When Peter asks Jesus to save him, Jesus responds with a teaching about faith, a kind of rebuke telling Peter that he must focus. This is where the healing starts. The fullness of His ministry is in His presence for us, that place where we can focus and gain strength and courage: "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
