Matthew: Healing in His PresenceSample

Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus

Picture this. The disciples are out on a small fishing boat, far away from shore in the darkness of night shortly before dawn. The winds are whipping around them and the boat is rocking. There's no storm this time, but they don't have the luxury of Jesus being on the boat. He had stayed back on a mountainside to be by himself and pray. Just the day before, He had performed the miracle of feeding more than 5,000.

So in the wee hours of the night, the disciples see a shadowy figure coming toward them. But something is strange. The figure is walking on the water. Could this be a ghost, they thought? They are TERRIFIED! You would be too if you thought you saw a ghost! But lo and behold, that figure is Jesus! "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." (v. 27)

Relieved that it's Jesus, Peter calls to Him and says, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” That’s bold! And when Jesus told him to come, he stepped out onto the water into the miraculous!

But here’s the lesson for any of us that are healing or in a turbulent part of life; Peter walked on water when he fixed his eyes on Jesus. When he looked at his circumstances and saw the strong winds, he lost faith and began to sink. And who was there to catch him but Jesus?

If we focus on our illness, pain, or bad diagnosis and not the all-powerful Great Physician, our emotions and outlook will sink. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, who is there to catch you, no matter how scary your situation.

Questions:

1. When life’s storms rage around you, where do you tend to fix your eyes - on the problem or on Jesus - and how does that choice affect your faith?

2. How can you cultivate the boldness to “step out on the water” and trust Jesus, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or scary?

3. When you begin to sink under fear or doubt, how have you experienced Jesus reaching out to catch and steady you?