I Think That’s Mike Tyson
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 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.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“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. 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. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33
Insight
A few years ago, my family was vacationing in Disney World. My husband, son, and brother rode The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom while we took my daughter and nieces to visit Rapunzel. When we finished that princess encounter, we walked toward the exterior of the Seven Dwarfs ride right as the guys were slowly rounding a corner on the ride. They were waving and acting like they wanted our attention for something. We were too far away but knew something exciting was happening. We found out later that when the guys were about to board the ride, a hidden side door opened with a cast member escorting a father and daughter to the same train car the three of them were boarding. At first, all they saw was a father and daughter. Upon second glance, my brother thought, “Is that who I think it is?” At a third glance, the guy definitely fit the description. He had that signature tattoo around his left eye.
My brother leaned over and said quietly to my husband, “Hey, that’s Mike Tyson.” Next thing they know, they are riding a mine train car in Magic Kingdom with Mike Tyson. My husband and son were in the first seat ahead of my brother, a seat ahead of Mike Tyson and his daughter when my husband pulled out his phone. What else do you do in 2018 but take a selfie? Picture or it didn’t happen, right? When they got off the ride, the excitement of that roller coaster, in particular, paled in comparison to their real-life encounter with Mike Tyson. They laughed over the picture and shared it with the rest of us. They posted it on Instagram and Facebook. They wanted to tell the world about this encounter. Years later, they still talk about it.
In today’s passage, the disciples had a life and faith-altering encounter that caused a collision of their perception with reality. When they saw Jesus walking, they were afraid and thought they saw a ghost. Could this be real? Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing? Peter challenged what he saw when he asked, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” How often do we say, God, if this is from you, give me a sign? We are unsure that what we are encountering is genuine or our best next step. Jesus invited Peter after he challenged Him, telling Peter to “Come.” Come and see. Peter then briefly joins Jesus on the water.
This encounter leaves us with numerous things to consider. We could think about Peter’s faith or lack of confidence. We could deliberate Jesus’s invitation to join him in the miracle. But today, I want us to consider the other disciples on the boat. First, they thought they saw a ghost that was Jesus walking on water. Then, they witnessed Peter join Jesus on the water. It’s maybe, almost, possibly acceptable to think God in human form could walk on water after they had just seen Him take a little boy’s lunch and feed thousands of people. But to see someone, who was in every sense just like them, also walk on water amid a storm? That indeed wrecked their reality.
What else did they see? What else did they consider at that moment? Did they think, “Hey, I wonder if I could do that?” If they did, why did they stay on the boat? Were they afraid? Were they in awe? Did they think they weren’t good enough to step out in faith? What did this encounter with Jesus cause to form in their hearts? Did their faith expand because of what they witnessed that night? Did they think about Peter doubting and how his lack of faith caused him to sink the next time their faith felt rocky?
What we do know from Matthew 14 is that this particular encounter caused them to worship. Verse 33 says that when Peter and Jesus returned to the boat, those still in the boat worshipped. While Peter and Jesus had this exchange that we usually focus on when digesting this passage, the disciples witnessed it all happen and what they saw caused them to worship.
Throughout scripture, we know the disciples were present for much of Jesus’ miracles and ministry. The only other time we're told that they worshipped was at the ascension of Jesus to heaven after His death and resurrection. What was different about both of those encounters that caused them to express their faith through worship? What was so important about these two events, that the authors of both passages included that in their depictions? They encountered something that defies science and human thought and the natural order of our lives. They encountered our supernatural God; it changed their lives and caused them to praise Him.
An encounter with the God of the universe should cause us to worship too. It should cause us to want to record it down, take a picture of that moment in nature, share our encounters with Him with others and remember what He has done for us as we walk out our faith as the disciples did.
Reflection
What encounters with Jesus have you experienced? You can list them or maybe write about one that truly stands out. How has this encounter shaped your faith?
Who can you tell of a time God did something miraculous in your life?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for being both the God of the universe and the one who meets me in my everyday life to make the ordinary extraordinary. I pray for a new encounter with You that takes my breath away and causes me to do nothing else but worship You. I’m grateful for Your presence in my life. Help me to look for You in my daily encounters and to tell others what You have done. Amen.
Ashley Sarvis, Welcome Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.
