Have you ever considered how exhausting it must have been to follow Jesus? Everywhere they went, Jesus and His disciples either walked or traveled by boat. In this specific account of their travels, they had just grieved the murder of John the Baptist by Herod, healed a multitude, and fed more than 5,000 people.
Even though it was late in the day, it still wasn’t “quitting time” for Jesus and His disciples.
“Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:22–23)
After a very long day of serving His heavenly Father and tending to a massive gathering of people, Jesus spent several hours in prayer. He had just experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum. The arrival of the crowd had prevented Him from properly grieving John’s murder, yet the feeding of the multitude in the wilderness was a joyous accomplishment.
Jesus’ response offers a profound lesson for us. When we encounter the depths of grief and despair, it is time to pray. Likewise, when we experience abundant success, it is time to pray. Prayer lifts us up in our lowest moments, but it also grounds us in the reality that every victory is a product of God’s gracious power.
A Long Day for the Disciples
We can safely assume the disciples played a major role in distributing food for that banquet of 5,000 people. I recently asked Rudy Ross, a long-time restaurant professional, what it takes to serve that many people. God has blessed Rudy with a strong body, yet he still gets exhausted after a long shift—and he has never had to serve a multitude in the wilderness quite like Jesus’ followers did!
Imagine how tired the disciples must have been. But their day wasn’t over. The wind and waves on the sea ensured their long day stretched even longer.
“By this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.” (Matthew 14:24)
Flip through the Rolodex of your memories and recall the most tiring, stressful day of your life. Now, imagine it is the middle of the night, and you are rowing a boat against fierce winds and crashing waves. There is no doubt these followers of Jesus were willing to give Him their absolute best.
Training the Twelve
One helpful way to read the Gospels is to observe exactly how Jesus trained His followers. While they were rowing against the wind, He came walking toward them.
“And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’” (Matthew 14:25–27)
Don’t miss that little phrase: “It is I.” When Moses asked God to reveal His name, God responded with similar words. How could Jesus walk on water? Because He is the great “I AM” of God’s self-revelation.
The disciples learned a crucial truth about Jesus’ divine nature that night. Later, they would worship Him and declare Him to be the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). However, there was a highly personal lesson in store for Peter when he saw Jesus walking on the water.
“Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:28–31)
The lesson for Peter—and for the rest of the disciples—was that unbelief and doubt would cause them to sink. Yet, at the exact same time, Jesus would always be there to offer a saving hand.
As we learn from the disciples’ experience, let’s be encouraged to keep serving the Lord, no matter how tired we might be. Let’s also remember that our failings are not fatal. When we start to sink and call out to Jesus, He is right there to pull us up.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 