22Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." 28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
I was listening to John Lennox, a Christian Physicist who argues God’s existence in very intresting ways. He establishes scientific truths like, “When you die, you cease to be livingl; if you drop a cricket ball from shoulder hight, it falls to the ground; etc. So in instances when this does not happen eg. Lazarus , the resurrection, or me catching the ball before it lands, one does not throw out the underlying established truths. One is then left to recognise that something must have intervened. In the case of the ball, I intervened. The truth of the ball falling to the ground is not shaken. Lennox argues the same applies to Lazurus and Jesus’ resurrections. He feels there is enough historical evidence for both events happening. And since these make no sense according to science, then there had to be some form of intervention. The inclusion of Peter in the story seems to suggest that intervention is withdrawn if your faith is shakey. There is the hint that if you have unwavering faith, God will intervene.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Matthew 14:22-33, paired with John Lennox's perspective, is a compelling way to frame the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter's moment of doubt. Lennox’s argument highlights the interplay between natural laws and divine intervention, which aligns with the miraculous nature of the events in this passage. You’re right to see the story as a vivid illustration of the potential of faith and the consequences of wavering in it.
DeleteHere’s how I interpret your insights alongside the Gospel passage:
Faith and Intervention: The narrative shows that Peter could walk on water as long as his focus remained on Jesus. This suggests that faith acts as the channel through which divine power operates. When Peter’s faith faltered, and he became distracted by the wind and waves, the intervention was "withdrawn," not because Jesus abandoned him but because Peter allowed doubt to take hold.
Intervention vs. Natural Laws: Lennox's analogy of intervention doesn't invalidate natural laws but instead highlights moments when something—or someone—outside those laws actively intervenes. Similarly, the miracle of Jesus walking on water and enabling Peter to do so doesn't negate the laws of physics but shows that God's power can supersede them.
Faith as a Trusting Relationship: This passage also underscores the relational aspect of faith. Peter’s ability to walk on water wasn’t about personal strength but about his trust in Jesus. When fear overtook him, his trust wavered, and he began to sink. Yet even then, Jesus immediately reached out and saved him, which shows that divine intervention is not conditional upon perfect faith but rather our willingness to turn back to God when we falter.
The Takeaway: Your point about unwavering faith inviting God’s intervention is well-grounded, but the story also reminds us that even when we struggle with doubt, God remains present and ready to lift us up. This is both a challenge and a comfort: strive for steadfast faith, but know that grace is always available in moments of weakness.
Your reflection inspires trust in God’s presence and power while acknowledging the reality of human doubt. It's a beautiful interplay of reason and faith, grounded in the Gospel.