You're More Than Enough

There are some stories of Jesus that we tell so often, they can become familiar in a way that’s comfortable but not always helpful.

Take that story about Jesus walking on water, for example. It’s so familiar that we even started using the expression “walks on water” to mean someone who’s super holy or super human. It’s unfortunate that we use that to single someone out - often sarcastically, too - because we’re all super holy and we’re all super humans. Yes, yes you are. I think it’s actually the point of the story. Well, one of them at least. Depending on your perspective, there’s sure more than one.

Matthew, Mark and John all tell their version of the story. Matthew’s my favourite. It goes like this. After the famous potluck meal where five thousand people are fed by loaves and fish, Jesus sends the disciples across the lake in a boat while he takes some “me” time and prays. A storm comes up and the disciples’ boat’s in trouble. They’re afraid, although they’re fishermen so they might not have been that scared until they see this spectre walking across the water towards them. It’s Jesus and he shouts to them over the storm "take heart, it's me, don't be afraid." Then Peter says "if it's really you, then tell me to walk on the water towards you." Jesus tells him to, and Peter steps out of the boat and walks on the water. But he starts to be more aware of the storm around him and he starts to sink. He calls out to Jesus who pulls him back into the boat and says “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt.14:31)

Couple of things I think are critical to this story. First, Jesus isn’t the only one who walks on the water. Peter does, too. But then he becomes afraid of the storm and the water, appears to become aware of the seeming impossibility of what he’s doing and sinks. Jesus saves him. Although, again, Peter’s a fisherman, you’d think he’d be more secure in the water, even in a storm. Still, remember that part about Peter taking a few steps on the water.

Second, when Jesus helps him and says the famous line “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” there is no indication of tone. Determining it to be criticism, disappointment or compassion is entirely up to interpretation. Historically, I think we’ve landed quite heavily on the side of how important it is to have faith in Jesus. I know I’ve sure heard it preached is we all have to have faith in Jesus. Jesus saves. And, after all, it’s a miracle story: Jesus walks on water and Peter can’t.

But he did. Very briefly, but he did. So what if we could hear the tone of Jesus' voice and see what’s in his eyes when he looks at Peter.

What if Jesus meant to congratulate him? What if Jesus really meant "wow, Peter, that was amazing! You’re awesome! Look what you did with just a little faith: you got out of the safety of the boat, took the risk, and came to me. And look what happened when you began to doubt yourself. It didn't turn out the way you thought it would, but I was there with you. The whole time, I was there with you."

What if this story is about reminding us that faith is about risk, not safety? Everyone else stayed in the boat - the place of safety - and Peter was the one with faith enough to step out. What if the story is reminding us that faith isn't about the successful completion of a task, but about making the effort in the first place. Maybe it wasn't enough faith to defeat the laws of physics, but it was enough to bring Peter closer to Jesus. What if faith isn't about blindly believing something because you were told to, but about thinking, discerning, risking, questioning, even doubting, because it brings you closer to God?

What if we’re all amazing, too? What if there's "a little faith" in each of us? A little faith that won't grow if we protect it and keep it safe. A little faith that will grow when we bring it out and use it, risk it, test it, question it and offer it because Jesus calls us to do so and offers his hand to us, no matter the outcome.