As told in Genesis, Joseph served Pharaoh faithfully. Even after being wrongly accused and imprisoned, he served while in prison and eventually rose again to prominence in Pharaoh’s kingdom. When Pharaoh dreamed of famine, Joseph interpreted the dream, and under God’s direction, came up with a plan to survive it. “And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” – Genesis 41:38
In the gospels, Peter and John began as uneducated fishermen, yet they were personally discipled by Jesus for 3 years. In Acts chapter 4, these former fishermen forcefully proclaim the gospel, and about five thousand people came to faith in Christ. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13
Pharoah recognized the Spirit in Joseph and people noticed Peter and John were different – do people notice the Spirit in you? Can they tell you’ve been with Jesus?
“A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ.” – Charles Spurgeon
Intimidator 305 at King’s Dominion. The first hill at the top, with the following airtime hill in the middle.
My teenage son is a roller coaster enthusiast. He memorizes how tall they all are, how many inversions they each have, who the manufacturers are, how they work, and anything else he can find out. He takes lots of pictures of roller coasters, including the one I used for this post. Fortunately, I like them too. We’ve been on well over 100 different coasters together and will ride anything, but we do have slightly different tastes. Usually, he likes airtime more than I do, and I like intensity more than he does. As an enthusiast, he’s the one who told me what a greyout is: “a transient loss of vision characterized by a perceived dimming of light and color, sometimes accompanied by a loss of peripheral vision.”[1] Caused by low brain oxygen levels, a greyout can happen on roller coasters and can be a precursor to fainting.
Intimidator 305 at King’s Dominion in Virginia was my first greyout. The ride, with a 90-mph top speed on the 300-foot first drop, is themed after NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, whose nickname was “The Intimidator.” At the bottom of that first drop, the track banks into a 270-degree turn to the right, and the first time on it, the edges of my vision began to fade as blood rushed to my legs and feet. I felt the intensity rising, and my field of vision gradually narrowed into a small pinpoint, and I nervously tensed up. However, before I knew it, I was fine and back to enjoying the ride.
After we got off, I mentioned my greyout and my enthusiast son explained why I recovered so quickly. It was no accident. Intimidator 305 was designed by people who knew what the ride would do to people, so after the 270-degree turn, there is a 150-foot airtime hill. As the train comes up this hill, the track bends down at a lower angle than the train would go on its own momentum, which not only gives riders “airtime” as they feel weightless, but also gives a rush of blood to the brain. So, by design, I experienced greyout, followed by an amazingly quick return to normal, without fainting.
What’s the spiritual lesson in this? There are times where our lives feel like we’re in that disorienting 270-degree turn at 90 mph. Our awareness narrows to where we can only see the problems in front of us and our body begins to feel stress. In some cases, the stress itself might become the only thing we can see, having forgotten what caused it. That intense turn can seem like it will never end, and we can’t see the relief ahead of us. Sometimes it comes after a great success, perhaps right after the thrill of dropping down a hill at high speed…Or perhaps after experiencing a miracle. Peter had such faith that he walked on water, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’”[2] Even Apostles felt hopeless sometimes.
Like Peter, when we cry out “Lord, save me” we may need a reminder of 1 Corinthians 10:13, where Paul wrote: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
We may need a reminder from a Christian enthusiast, or maybe from our Father Himself, that we have a way of escape by design. After every sharp turn we think will never end is a refreshing moment where we feel weightless, held by our Lord in His loving embrace. In Peter’s case, “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”[3] In the Father’s wisdom, relief will not always be immediate – it may take longer than we expect, but it is inevitable because He promises it.
That day, we rode Intimidator 305 three more times and every time I wasn’t as worried about the greyout because I knew that airtime hill was coming. It’s now one of my favorites. Thankfully, our lives also are in the hands of a Designer who knows how to teach us to trust Him, and also how to heal us when life’s troubles feel like they’re going to knock us out.
After a frantic period where Jesus learned of John the Baptist’s death, then was crowded by over 5,000 hungry people in the wilderness who wanted to make Him king after He miraculously fed them, He sought some time alone. Jesus told his disciples to get on a boat without Him and begin heading across the sea so He could spend time on the mountain that evening. Jesus always found time to be with His Father. This is the background for a small group study of the apostle Peter I recently led focused on Matthew 14:22-36, the story of Jesus, and then Peter, walking on water.
At night, probably shortly before dawn, the disciples were still rowing against the wind, being “beaten by the waves.” They should have been across by this time. In an earlier storm, recorded in Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus had been with the disciples on a boat in a storm, and He woke from a nap to quiet the storm that was terrifying them. This time, they were exactly where He had sent them: in the boat to cross ahead of Him. Even though Jesus was not with them, He knew they would be fighting a storm again, and He had taught them He is the Lord of the storms.
Amid the rain and wind and waves, the disciples saw something on the water and cried out in fear: “It is a ghost!” This was the only explanation they could come up with for something traveling over the water without sinking. But Jesus said “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid,” and they knew it was Him, walking on the water. He was still Lord of the storms.
In response, Peter (acting boldly as usual) exercised faith 3 times in this story. First, he believed Jesus was who He said He was. The initial shock and fear of what looked like a ghost passed when Peter heard His voice. Second, he knew Jesus was capable of walking on water, so why couldn’t He enable Peter to do it too? Third, when Peter “saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink,” he kept faith that Jesus could and would save him from drowning.
But why did Peter begin to sink? The text says he was distracted when he “saw the wind.” In that wind, he saw circumstances that he feared were more powerful than Jesus. Peter could believe Jesus could make him walk on water when he was in a boat, but when wind and waves started hitting him it was harder to trust. There’s a conflict here between faith and circumstances, doubt and trust. Faith can raise us above our circumstances, but only when we focus on Jesus to overcome our doubt. When we look away from Him, our circumstances can overwhelm us.
Peter learned that he could walk on water, but also that it was only possible by focusing his gaze on Jesus, not by relying on his own strength and ability. Only by relying on Him can we thrive. When walking by faith, hearing and obeying His Spirit, it can feel like walking on water, because “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23a
Do you sometimes feel like you’re in a stormy sea, and getting across is taking longer than it should? Is there a stormy situation in your life that requires stepping out in faith? Are there circumstances you’re focusing on that make you feel you are sinking?
God sometimes knowingly sends us into storms to test our faith, just like Jesus sent the disciples into this storm to help them learn to trust Him. If you’re in a storm, seek Him and go to Him. Turn your eyes upon Jesus; He can make you walk above your circumstances.
In a small group study of the apostle Peter, we studied Mark 1:29-39, where Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, then “That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.” Jesus was certainly up most of the night ministering to the crowds that showed up. But “rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Simon Peter had to look for Him, since he wasn’t up early enough to see Jesus go to pray. Peter was exhausted. This is one of the subtle ways Jesus discipled Peter – by His example of being in constant contact with God the Father, even when it was hard or inconvenient. Even Jesus needed to report to the Father regularly. He put the Father first. Every day, even when He was up most of the night. Peter didn’t just witness many miracles, but he witnessed the relationship of Son to Father, and the dependence of the Son on the Father. Peter had to learn that we can’t minister to others solely on our own knowledge and strength.
The study then moved on to Luke 5:1-11, which is a story of Peter and other fishermen hauling in a miraculous catch of fish. Jesus finds these fishermen washing their nets, after a long, frustrating night of catching nothing. Jesus tells Simon “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter protests: “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” Imagine how Peter (a professional fisherman) would feel about a rabbi (not a professional fisherman) giving fishing advice! But soon their nets caught so many fish that “their nets were breaking.”
What made the difference? Sometimes what determines whether nothing happens, or something amazing happens is our willingness to listen and to obey. Our ability to keep in constant contact with the Father, through Jesus His Son. Jesus made time for the Father even after a long night of ministry, and Peter saw Him do it. Shortly after, Jesus showed Peter that even small changes in our routines and lives, done in obedience to Him, can make a big difference, but how can we know how to follow Jesus if we aren’t showing up to listen?
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” – Proverbs 3:5-8
In a small group study of the apostle Peter, we brainstormed whatever words and phrases came to mind when thinking of Peter, and the first one that came up for multiple people was “impulsive.” We covered one example of Peter’s impulsiveness in the second part of the study, which comes from the use of the word “immediately” near the end of Matthew 4:18-20:
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
Taken on their own, these verses make it look like Peter dropped everything “immediately” the first time he met Jesus. Very impulsive! However, there is some important background found earlier in John 1:35-41:
“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).”
From this we know that Andrew was Peter’s brother, and that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew began to follow Jesus, partly based on John’s testimony then, believing that Jesus was the Messiah, testified to his brother Simon, who is soon re-named, in John 1:42 –
“[Andrew] brought [Peter] to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).”
Another bit of important context is the verse leading up to Peter’s call in Matthew, chapter 4, verse 17: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Mark also prefaces the story of Peter’s call by Jesus with a call to repentance (Mark 1:15). Both gospel writers are implying that Peter’s response to Jesus is an example of repentance for us to learn from.
But what is repentance and how does Peter’s call illustrate it? The word repent means to think differently about something. I’ve heard repentance defined as “a U-turn on the road of life” which includes both a turning away from sin, and a turning toward God in thankful obedience. Peter, in following Jesus, was thinking differently about the best way to live his life. He turned to Jesus as the best answer to his life’s meaning and purpose.
This decision is not one to be taken lightly, and while Peter followed “immediately,” he was not as impulsive as we might think.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” – Luke 14:28
Driving Toward the Morning Sun 