22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
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?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Disciples of Jesus were in desperate condition as their boat was opposed by the strong waves and winds on the lake. Jesus' appearance as He walked on the water further added their fear as well. Nevertheless, once Peter had identified Jesus, his strong desire to be with Jesus caused him to have an immediate request to ask for walking on the water, like Jesus was doing. Jesus was quite willing to grant his request and Peter then jumped out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. Peter, unlike the other disciples, desired to have a great leap of his faith. His faith was stretched to the point that he wanted to be like Jesus. He started to walk on the water and came closer and closer to Jesus. But stretching our faith is also risky at the same time. Waves and winds became stronger and stronger, and even surrounding around Peter. Peter suddenly lost his confidence and faith in Jesus and began to sink. He cried for help to Jesus as a matter of instinct. Jesus at the same time never ignored his immediate help and reached out His hand to bring him out of the water. Peter was tested to be a man of little faith and of doubt of Jesus as danger arose. It seemed that Peter had apparently failed the test but in fact he had stepped out of his comfort zone, stretching his faith one big step further and encountering the delivery of Jesus while he was in danger.
Dear Master Jesus, I am like Peter as well. I desire to stretch my faith as to follow Your way but at the same time, I am a man of little faith. I question about Your protection and guidance while waves and storms keep on pounding upon me. I lose my joy and patience as You allow the trials to persist without seeing the ending. But I know that You are still my ultimate help as I cry out for Your delivery. Stretching my faith and stepping out of my comfort zone is indeed risky and I may fail very often, but this is also the way to experience further Your reality and power in transforming my life.
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