The Sweetest Rebuke

Matthew 14:22-34

If awards were given, Peter would mostly get an award for having the worst impulse control, and the best ability to open his mouth and insert his foot. Let's see he suggests building shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the transfiguration(Luke even says Peter didn't even know what he was saying), he rebukes Jesus (that's really a bad idea) and gets told "get behind me Satan", he promises undying loyalty and delivers betrayal, and he whacks the ear off the high priest servant during Jesus arrest.

It's not a pretty picture. Peter had problems and one of his problems is made clear in this next story in Matthew. It's the story of Jesus walking on water.

The disciples were alone on the lake since Jesus had stayed behind to pray. It was a difficult night on the lake; the wind was blowing hard and the waves were strong. Around 3 am the disciples saw movement--something was coming toward them--it must be a ghost. It was Jesus, and he immediately identified himself to them. Peter responded by saying, "Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water" (Matthew 14:28). Jesus told him to come and Peter did. He jumped out of the water, and he walked on it. He was doing a great job until, well, until he realized how big the waves were. He looked at the waves and away from Christ, and he started to sink. Luckily, he knew how to cry for help. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" And Jesus saved him with a rebuke, "You of little faith....why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31).

Peter looked away. Actually, this is the heart of Peter's problem. Peter always did his thing when he should have been doing Christ thing. When Peter told Christ that he should not talk about death, Peter was doing his thing. When Peter drew a sword to help Jesus out, he was doing his thing. At this moment I want to go to Peter and say "Peter you are walking on water and that's great, but you have to keep looking at Christ not just in this moment but from now on in every crisis or emergency."
But then it's not Peter I need to really say that to--it is myself that needs that message. In everything, I need to look to Christ.

But coming back to Peter, it is true that Peter got frequently rebuked. But Peter did something that no one else did. He got out of the boat. He jumped out of safety and into the waved tossed lake. Sometimes the people who get rebuked are not the worst off. It's the rest of the crowd still sitting in the boat that might have a bigger problem. Even in Peter's betrayal he was doing something that no one else but John was doing, he was following Christ. Doubting Christ and betraying him are two very big problems, but they grow out of an interaction with Christ--and I'd rather be where Peter is sticking my foot in my mouth then refusing to say anything at all.