Friday, April 23, 2004

4:01 pm

After Jesus had fed the crowd - with just those five loaves and two fish, he sent us out on the boat ahead of him, and told the crowd it was time to go home. John's death had hit him hard I think, and he was feeling strongly the need to spend time alone with his father.

While we were watching from the boat, the people gradually left for home, all talking about his teaching, and the miracle of the food - until they had all gone, and Jesus headed up away from us into the hills. When it got too dark to see, he still hadn't joined us and we settled down to sleep, tired from a long day.

The lake at night, with strong winds and waves can be a spooky place, especially after being with such a large crowd 24/7 for so many days. So when in the forth watch I saw something coming towards us, at first I wasn't sure what it was, and woke up Andrew. As it got closer, someone shouted - it's a ghost'- after all Jesus had taught us about demons, we all began to be scared and jittery - what could be coming for us?

Then He spoke - 'Take Heart, it's me - don't be afraid.' Seeing it was Jesus - something came over me, after the miracle of the bread I was full of faith and wonder, or so I thought, and I jumped out of the boat to meet him.

I made it about 15 steps before the wind caught my sleeve, and as I thought about it, I felt my feet sink beneath me - and then I was falling, sinking into the lake - 'Lord', I shouted in panic.

Immediately Jesus was beside me, grasping my forearm and pulling me back up beside him. Holding his arm I felt knew no fear, hand to hand and so close, and I wondered at my sinking.

'Peter, So little faith. Why did you doubt?'

We walked hand in hand to the boat and climbed in, and we all worshipped him - after all we had seen, how could we not say - 'Truly, you are the Son of God.'

That next morning we arrived at Gennesarat - and as he met the crowds, and people flooded to see him again, we realized we had only begun to scratch the full extent of who Jesus was, and what we would see him do.


DJEV (Diurnal Jesus Embellished Version)

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