For many of us, merely surviving the natural world is enough. The supernatural is more than we desire to handle. This is not strictly a 21st Century reaction. The same could be said of people in Jesus’ day as the following story illustrates.
A Ghost Story
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It's a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.” (Matthew 14:25, 26 NIV)
They were scared! But why? They had walked with Jesus for nearly two years and miracles had become a part of their everyday lives. Just hours before, for example, Jesus turned a few pieces of bread and some fish into enough food for over 5,000 people and they participated by drawing out this miracle of multiplication from the baskets held within their own hands.
Furthermore, the disciples had just returned from a ministry trip where, without Jesus being present, they administered acts of healing and deliverance by their own hands, bringing freedom to many in Jesus' name (Mark 6:6-12). All this, however, was not enough to prepare Jesus' disciples for the encounter before them.
The Cure is Worse than the Disease
Obedient to Jesus’ command, the disciples had been doing all within their power to row to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but having made little progress over many hours, they were coming to the end of themselves.
“… the boat was in the middle of the lake, and… the disciples [were] straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn… A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough… they had rowed about three or four miles…” (Mark 6:47, 48, John 6:19 NIV)
They were not merely overwhelmed, they were tremendously frightened as suddenly, they saw a figure walking towards them on the water.
“When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear… They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.” (Matthew 14:26, Mark 6:49, 50 NIV)
Those who lived and walked with Jesus were likely never underwhelmed by his presence, but here and amidst their struggle, Jesus actually terrified them as he made an unexpected appearance as... "a ghost." The names translated as either "Holy Ghost," or "Holy Spirit" are translated from the word Pneuma, which means wind, breath, or spirit. However, in these passages, the word Ghost comes from the word Phantasma, meaning ghost, phantom, or apparition and that's what they believed they had experienced.
If those who walked with him so intimately were this shocked by this manifestation of Jesus' presence, it is no mystery why we today shy away from expressions of God's presence in our midst. Like his early disciples, we too can become uncomfortable, disoriented, and even scared when Jesus surpasses both our expectations and our comfort zones.
Mistaken Identity
“But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat…” (John 6:20, 21 NIV)
While this instance had been unprecedented up until this time, it would not be the last time that the disciples would need such reassurance to both recognize and accept Jesus' presence among them. Many post-resurrection appearances required that Jesus both revealed himself and proved his identity. The following is one such occurrence which nearly mirrors his appearance to them upon the Sea of Galilee.
“Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost… 'Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'” (Luke 24:26, 27, 29 NIV)
I find it interesting that in both instances, Jesus needed to reassure the disciples that he was not a ghost. How many times have we been leery of encounters with Jesus we either skeptically witnessed online, or encounters as they had been reported to us — because to us, they seem more like ghost stories than Jesus sightings? Perhaps by applying our faith amidst those circumstances will give Jesus a better opportunity to reveal himself to us.
Insult to Injury
Finally, while the eleven came to realize that Jesus had come not to scare them but to save them from their toil, merely being saved from his plight was not enough for one of Jesus' disciples. Peter just couldn’t leave things alone. Now that Jesus had demonstrated to Peter what was possible, he desired to stand up and walk the walk of a disciple — in the footsteps of Jesus himself.
“'Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said.’ Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (Matthew 14:28, 29 NIV)
Peter walked on water! Jesus didn't have to beg him to test his faith; as it was Peter who actually begged Jesus.
Why?
Why did Jesus walk across the Sea of Galilee and why did he empower Peter to do the same? Why these extravagant demonstrations, especially since it is not recorded that Jesus or Peter ever did so again? What real gain did this miracle produce? I suspect that the disciples secretly asked the very same question each time that Peter failed miserably, speaking under their breath, “How’s that trip out on the lake helping you now?”
I think we miss the point, however. Consider that in this miracle, Jesus never rebuked Peter for stepping out or for over-reaching — although we today might and often do bring that charge. Instead, Jesus rebuked Peter for sabotaging his own faith by doubting what God was doing through him.
The fact is that God has a long track record of doing things in very dramatic ways which most relegate as "ghost stories," fit only for Sunday school classes instead of as an invitation to participate in the Gospel.
Mysterious Miracles
Actually, Scripture contains an abundance of strange manifestations which tend to generate more questions than they do answers. In these, it is not often clear why God manifested these miracles as he did, or what he intended through their performance. Here’s a few which meet that criteria:
Old Testament
- Moses hit a rock and water flowed out
- Naaman was cured of leprosy by washing seven times in the Jordan River
- Elisha’s bones were used to resurrect the dead
- Balaam’s donkey spoke
- The walls of Jericho fell by walking around it and shouting
New Testament
- Jesus produced wine from water for a crowd that was already drunk
- Jesus enabled a supernatural catch of fish for Simon, only to have Simon immediately walk away from his fishing business
- Jesus brought healing by spitting in the dirt and wiping the mud into a blind man’s eyes
- Peter caught a fish with a coin in its mouth to pay taxes
- Peter was delivered out of prison by an angel
- Rag’s from Paul’s clothing healed many
- Peter's shadow healed the sick
Luxurious
While some view these ancient as well as any modern-day expressions of God’s power as overly extravagant, is difficult to explain, and impossible to defend, God does not seem to be embarrassed by them… even if we are.
Somehow, those acts and circumstances which strike us as scary, risky, or uncomfortable—these are the very things which tend to advance the kingdom (Matthew 12:28). Each seem so incongruent with our daily lives and maybe that is an indication that we're somehow missing an important aspect of God’s character and nature. Perhaps God is more "out there" than we like to admit.
“He’s wild you know. Not like a tame lion.” ― C.S. Lewis - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Our Focus
We all know that while Peter walked upon the water, it is his failure to stay upright that has become the focus of most who read the story.
“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.” (Matthew 14:29-32 NIV)
Peter seems doomed to be remembered as the guy with so little faith that he needed Jesus to rescue him. But how often do we consider how the other disciples fared? Remember that it takes absolutely no faith at all to sit in a boat and wait for someone else to succeed or fail. This is especially true concerning those who dare to step out on the water based upon the words of Jesus — words like, "...whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these..." (John 14:12 NIV)
Peter’s “little faith,” which was as small as a mustard seed, enabled him to walk on water. But it was the size of his doubt that allowed him to begin to sink. That's why Jesus commended him for his “little” faith, while at the same time, asked him why he doubted. The Church has often taken more comfort in identifying with Peter's doubt than we have identifying with the power of his faith. Odd, isn't it?
The End of a Ghost Story
To this day, ghost stories continue to illicit fear; even though the pages of the Bible from front to back encourage us to “Fear not” as many times as there are days in the year—365. Consider that while the disciples were as troubled as the waters under their boat during this event on Galilee Lake, at Pentecost, God enabled them to leave those ghosts behind as they too began to step out in boldness.
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly…With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus… The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.” (Acts 4:29, 30, 33, 5:12 NIV)
God answered their bold prayers and by the Spirit, the resurrected and ascended Jesus stretched out his hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through each of them. Pentecost allowed them, and all who believe, the boldness to leave the boat and walk on the waters before us.
... For more on Peter's walk on the water, see Peter Tested Both Jesus and His Own Faith
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