Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
— Matthew 14:28–31
One of the most amazing things in the Bible is that Jesus didn't give up on Peter.
Peter the zealot. Ramrodding his way into every possible situation, flying half-cocked and untested, governed by primarily his passions and what looks like very little wisdom.
But there is Jesus, next to him the whole time. He doesn't leave him or forsake him.
The Most Exhausting Disciple
"No Jesus! You won't die!" "Let's make three tents for you and Moses and Elijah!" "Call ME out on the water!" "Then wash ALL OF ME!" "I will NEVER deny you!"
I mean this genuinely, Peter must have been an exhausting person to be around.
Couple that with his two buddies James and John — "Lord shall we call down fire from heaven?!" — It's hard for me to not imagine Jesus with his hand resting on his forehead, "No guys… just… no."
But the amazing part is that isn't his disposition at all. He rebukes when he needs to, he encourages them when they need it, and he catches them when they slip.
Come On
In the moment when Peter shouts from the boat for Jesus to call him out on the water too — Jesus doesn't roll his eyes, he doesn't groan, he just says "come on."
He's a good teacher. He's ready to bring his students along, no matter how over-bearing they are.
Then, Peter jumps out of the boat, starts walking on the water towards Jesus, but then sees the waves… doubt creeps in, and he starts to sink.
Right There to Catch Him
And where is Jesus?
Right there — to catch him.
And not just to catch him, but to teach him exactly why he sank.
That is an excellent teacher. An excellent leader.
One who rebukes when needed, teaches when needed, catches when needed, and bears with his people patiently all the while.
