ONLY ONE WORD
Opening Prayer
Listen to Jesus calling you now.
Read Matthew 14:22–36
Jesus Walks on the Water
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.”
29 “Come,” he said.
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 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
There’s an old hymn which says that “Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea…” (Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818–1895).There are many strange things about this story. Maybe its oddest feature is Jesus’ decision to leave the seclusion of his retreat at night to walk on the water towards his sailing disciples. He knows that they are in trouble due to the inclement weather and once again he is motivated by a desire to help them. It seems that Jesus’ “quiet times” are easily disturbed.
Maybe the strangeness is due to the atmosphere created. It reads like a ghost story, a tale of a frightening night phantom. Or maybe it’s the power of a word. Full of bravado, Peter asks Jesus to call him out to join him on the waves. In response, Jesus’ only utterance is “Come,” and that is enough. It gives Peter the courage and faith to do the impossible for a few seconds at least.
One word that is both an invitation and a command at the same time. It’s the same authority which causes the disciples to leave everything and follow Jesus in the first place. It’s the same word that he spoke over your life when you decided to follow him.
Apply
In the clutter and clamor of life, once again hear the call of Jesus to come and follow him today. Take time now to listen for his voice.
Closing prayer
Father, here I am. I come before You, not to ask or complain, but to listen for what You would say to me.
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