How Does Jesus Love the Disciples: Peter & Walking on Water

In this series we are looking at John 13:34 where Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The question then is, “How did Jesus love the disciples?”

There are two water events in the Gospels. One involves a furious storm that arises on Lake Galilee before Jesus heals the Gadarene demoniac (Mk 4:35). The second, in Matt 14:22-33, occurs after the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus comes to the disciples, who are straining at the oars, walking on the water. At first they are terrified thinking they see a ghost. Jesus tells them not to be afraid. Peter, boldly, requests to come to Him on the water. The first few steps are successful! Peter is literally walking in faith on top of the water. However, Peter takes His focus off Jesus and notices the wind and waves and fear enters his heart and he begins to sink. He cries out, “Lord, save me!” The text says that “Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.” Jesus instantly rescues Peter. Then Jesus utters a question, “You of little faith… why did you doubt?” If you are prone to accusation and shame you will read those feelings into Jesus’ question. But don’t go there so quick. After reading and re-reading many passages about Jesus’ attitude when the disciples fail, I think Jesus is instructing and challenging Peter for his growth. I think Jesus is instructing Peter that he didn’t actually have to doubt. I also think He is challenging Peter to stay more focused on Him next time. You can read that question, “You of little faith… why did you doubt?” many different ways. It all depends on how you see Jesus’s character. Jesus does not use the dysfunctional motivation method of disappointment: “Wow, I am sooooo disappointed in you!” That is an unclean method of motivation. On the other hand, He does not fly off the handle with accusations or fault finding like “Couldn’t you have juuuust kept your eyes on Me!” Lastly, He doesn’t motivate with rejection. “If you don’t walk on water the whole way next time I might not do anything about it!” Jesus doesn’t do any of that. Jesus isn’t dysfunctional, He is healthy! Jesus’ motivation is clean. It is instructional with challenge and it is meant to build us up so that we grow in goodness and strength. Jesus says, in a clean way, “You of little faith… why did you doubt?” He wants Peter to reflect and grow.

Application:

So, if someone in your life fails, love them as Jesus loved the disciples. Refuse the dysfunctional motivation methods of shame and fault finding and choose to motivate them in a clean way that builds them up to be greater!