Walking on the Waves

Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Matthew recounts in this passage the events which took place directly after Jesus’ famous miracle of feeding 5 thousand men with only five loaves and two fish. While Jesus takes a moment to be alone with His Father, the disciples row out, far from shore, and a storm comes up suddenly and overtakes them. While the exact timing is not revealed, we know that the disciples were alone at least from nightfall until around 3a - though how much of that was spent in battling the storm is also unclear. What we do know is that late into the night, indeed, early into the next morning, Jesus comes to the disciples in a rather unusual fashion, walking upon the waves through the storm towards them.

This is not the disciples’ first encounter with Jesus’ apparent unconcern about storms; in Matthew 8 they all experienced firsthand that the wind and waves were at His command. But the cynic might call it mere coincidence. Walking on water requires a greater level of belief. This was no average day, even in the life of the apostles, but something out of the ordinary.

Camp is like that for those who attend, be it a Camp-hosted retreat or a guest group attendee. People come from all sorts of storms: trouble with friends, a season of financial trouble, loneliness and depression. One of the goals of Camp is to be out-of-the-ordinary, to be a time where each person, regardless of their storm, has their attention pulled towards something wonderful. A chance to see the Truth and be reminded of the whole point of life. A chance to focus on Jesus.

Note too, Peter’s response. His eagerness to rush forward, and even in a moment of great doubt to cry out, first and foremost, to the Lord. In every chapel session, in every 1 on 1 with a group speaker or cabin leader, in each interaction of staff with campers, we want to remind people to reach out to Jesus boldly, especially when afraid. For He is faithful to do just as He did with Peter: immediately reach out and grab us.

While walking on water at Camp has so far only been achieved through some well-timed photos and would be just as strange to us as it was to the disciples that morning, there is something undeniably out of the ordinary about Camp. It shakes us out of our daily routine in a way that can help us examine our lives. It’s a time to join together in community. For some, to hear about Jesus for the very first time, and for others to be a reminder of the whole point of a life following Him.

If you’re willing, take time today to pray for each and every person who has come to Camp or will be coming soon. Pray they might have an extraordinary moment which will point their focus solely on Jesus. Pray also for staff, that they might help point to Him and be strengthened in their work.

And ask yourself today, what could be your walking on the waves moment this week? Where could you abandon logic a little bit to pursue Him more?