From the desk of Pastor Ben
Divine Love: Peter and Jesus – Part 1

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”         (Matthew 14:28-31)

Peter undoubtedly was overjoyed to see that the figure on the stormy waters was actually Jesus. Although Peter knew Jesus could empower him to walk on the water, he did not want to presume such an attempt without Jesus’ permission. Peter’s request that Jesus allow him to walk on the water was an act of affection built on confident faith.

The ever-eager Peter could be faulted for everything from brashness to being a coward, but he also did many things out of love, courage, and faith. At the Transfiguration, this statement was not prudent, but prompted by Peter’s sincere devotion: “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4). He truly loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him to the fullest. In this episode on the stormy lake, Peter sensed the comfort and relief of Jesus’ presence, and he wanted to be as close as possible.

Peter’s love for Jesus was imperfect, but it was genuine. Later on, Jesus would not contradict Peter’s three-time affirmation of love for Him, but simply charge him to shepherd the sheep of God and warn him of the cost of discipleship (John 21:15-18). According to tradition, Peter requested to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus had.

Ask Yourself:
Can you tell that God is calling you to risk the safety of your comfort zone, perhaps in a business decision, or the possibility of a leadership position, or the resolution of a family matter? What might your next bold move need to look like, and how are you partying about it?