Eyes on Jesus

Every Sunday School student has learned of Jesus walking on the water, and of Peter, too.  But, of course, the point of the story is that Peter failed – he began sinking just a few steps from the boat.

Is that supposed to be an encouragement for us?  Jesus invited him out on the water and Peter sank!  What if I sink when Jesus asks me to step out in faith?

Click here to read Matthew’s telling of this event.

It’s really more of a cautionary tale, isn’t it?  When did Peter begin to sink?  When he took his focus off Jesus and started worrying about the wind and the waves.  We’ll never know how the story might have played out if he had kept his focus and attention on Jesus.  But just imagine!  What a faith-boosting story they’d all have had to tell!

Don’t hear this as a simplistic, “Keep your eyes on Jesus and everything will work out great!”  It’s more like, “Take your focus off Jesus and you’re going to run into problems.”  Notice that the wind blew until they were back in the boat.

Jesus doesn’t promise to take away the wind or the waves.  Keeping your eyes on Jesus doesn’t guarantee smooth walking.  It guarantees that you’ll end with Him.

And that is a better promise because it is a real promise, not just wishful thinking!  Where in your life do you need more consistent focus on Jesus and how might the promise play out?

This column appeared in the August 13, 2023 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.

If you are reading this at a different time, you may click here for the current eNews.