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"The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" have been two of my favorite books for years. I've probably read them at least a dozen times. In the movie "The Fellowship of the Ring," Frodo and his companions enter the woods of Lothlorien. There they meet the Lady Galadriel who tells them many things. Galadriel leads Frodo into a glade and offers him the opportunity to look into the Mirror of Galadriel. Frodo asks "What shall I see?" Galadriel answers "What you will see, I cannot tell. The mirror shows things that were, things that are, and things that yet may be. But what you will see, even the wisest cannot tell."
The scene above came to mind as I was reading in Matthew 14. Jesus has fed the five thousand and has gone "up on a mountainside by himself to pray." (Vs. 22) He sent the disciples on across the lake. "Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves." (Vs. 23) You probably remember the story. "About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, 'It's a ghost!' But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don't be afraid,' he said. 'Take courage. I am here!'" (Vs. 25-27)
There are many lessons that we can get from this story. We see that Jesus has authority over creation. We see that the disciples believed in ghosts. But the part that struck me, this time, was the story of Peter. Peter must have been quite a character. At times he showed tremendous courage-"Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" (Matthew 26:35) And, at other times he showed great fear-"Peter swore, 'A curse on me if I'm lying-I don't know the man!'" (Matthew 26:74) At times Peter was slow to understand. God showed him the same vision three times to prepare him for Cornelius. (Acts 10)
In the story in Matthew 14, Peter sees Jesus walking on the water. He hears Jesus tell them that it is really him. Then Peter says "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." (Vs. 28) In other words, Peter needed proof. He wasn't satisfied with the word of Jesus. I wonder how many times we are the same way. How often do we hear the words that Jesus says and still need proof that it is really him?
But the part that made me think of Frodo and the Mirror of Galadriel was after Peter stepped out onto the water. "So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus." (Vs. 29) Can you imagine what that must have been like? Jesus said "Come on," and Peter jumped out of the boat. What a show of faith on Peter's part and what a show of power on Jesus part. It makes me think about how Jesus promises to be with us as we take on our life in him. He has the power to overcome the storms and the wind and the waves and anything else that comes against us.
And, yet, Peter began to sink. Why? "But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted." (Vs. 30) Wasn't Jesus already in control? If Peter had just kept his eyes on Jesus, he never would have seen the waves or felt the wind. Isn't that what happens to us? When we take our eyes off of Jesus and forget who is in control, we see all the obstacles and become terrified. If only we would keep our eyes fastened on the one who overcomes it all!
How do I know it would have been different? "Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 'You have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?' When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped." (Vs. 31-32) Jesus is the center of our faith. He is the corner stone and the perfecter. We see it time and again, in the scriptures and in our walk here on earth, as people accomplish what seems to be impossible by faith in Jesus. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
If I look into the face of Jesus, "what shall I see?" I will see love. I will see the strength and the power to overcome anything. I will see the hope of heaven and the assurance of God's kingdom on earth. But if I look away, "what shall I see?" I will see the wind and the waves. I will see all the trials and the obstacles. I will be terrified by all the things that stand between me and God's purpose.
Where will I choose to look and "what shall I see?"
Live by Faith
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.