Hey, Carpool Crew. I'm Pastor Justin and you're listening to Carpooling with Heroes of the Bible. Today we're back with our friend Peter, and this moment, it's one of the biggest, most unforgettable moments in his life. There's a storm, a boat, and a chance to walk on water with Jesus. So let's dive in. Earlier that day, Jesus had just finished feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. It was a miracle that left the crowds amazed. Then he sent the disciples ahead of him across the Sea of Galilee. 'Get in the boat,' Jesus said. 'I'll meet you on the other side.' Then he went up on a mountain to pray all by himself. Meanwhile, Peter and the other disciples were rowing, and they were rowing hard. The wind was picking up. The waves were getting taller. The boat rocked back and forth. And now here's something you might not know. The Sea of Galilee is surrounded by mountains. I've actually been there in Israel, and it's unbelievable. Sudden windstorms can form without warning. These storms can flip small fishing boats and make even seasoned fishermen nervous. Now, remember, Peter was a pro fisherman. He did it his whole life. If he was scared, it had to be bad. Late into the night, they were battling the storm, soaking wet and exhausted. Suddenly they see something. Someone walking toward them on the water. What? They all freaked out. 'It's a ghost!' Someone yells. But then they hear a familiar voice. 'Have courage. It is I. Don't be afraid.' That's from Matthew chapter 14, verse 27. It was Jesus. Now Peter, always the first to speak, calls out, 'Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water.' Jesus says one word. 'Come.' So Peter climbs over the side of the boat, one foot, then the other. And guess what? He starts walking on water. Not standing on a sandbar, not floating, actually walking on the surface, toward Jesus. Now, that in and of itself is a miracle. It's unbelievable. Imagine that for a second. The wind is blowing in your face, and all around you waves were crashing. The sea beneath your feet. Your friends were in the boat probably losing their minds. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was okay. But then he noticed the wind. He saw the size of the waves. He heard the sound of his friends on the boat. He started to panic. His faith started to wobble. And down he went. Splash. See, in Jewish tradition, the sea wasn't just water. It symbolized chaos and evil. It was unpredictable and dangerous, and people believed it was a place only God had true power over. That's why in Psalm 77 it says God made a path through the sea. So when Jesus walked on water, he wasn't just doing something cool and impressive. He was showing that he had divine authority, God authority, doing something only God could do. Also, fishing boats back then were small, about 25 feet long. They were made of wood and they were low to the water. So in a storm, they were easy to be tossed around. This wasn't a cruise ship or the Titanic (which the Titanic sank, so maybe that's a bad example). It was a floating bucket in a hurricane. So for Peter to step out and walk toward Jesus was more than just brave. It was faith-filled, and it was incredible. So as Peter starts to sink, he cries out, 'Lord, save me.' And immediately Jesus reaches out his hand and grabs him. 'You of little faith,' he says. 'Why did you doubt?' That's from Matthew 14, verse 31. They climb back into the boat and the wind dies down. The disciples were stunned. They fell to their knees and worshiped Jesus, and they were saying, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.' No more guessing, no more wondering, no more maybe or assuming. He was the Son of God. This wasn't just a teacher or a prophet or somebody wise that had good things to say. This was the one who commands the wind and the waves. See, Jesus didn't wait for Peter to completely sink before saving him. He didn't lecture Peter on why he was doubting. He didn't say, 'I told you so. I can't believe you didn't believe me. You are so dumb.' He just reached out, lifted him up, and walked him back to the boat. And when Jesus said, 'you have little faith,' it wasn't an insult. The Greek word there could also be translated as small faith, which means Peter had some faith, just not a lot yet. But it was enough to step out of the boat, enough to walk a few steps, enough to cry out when he was scared. And guess what? That's enough. See, you won't always get it right, friends. You might say yes to Jesus and then feel nervous. You might step out in faith and then get scared halfway through. But Jesus won't let you down. The moment you call out to him, he reaches for you. He grabs you. He doesn't shame you. He rescues you. So don't wait until you feel fearless to obey God. Like Peter, just take the next step. Even wobbly faith like Peter had at that point is better than staying stuck in the boat with no faith at all. Peter walked on water, then sank, but Jesus didn't let him fall alone. He reached out, pulled him up, and walked him back. Next time, Peter makes the biggest declaration of his life and five seconds later totally blows it because, yeah, he's still learning, just like us. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you and he sees your steps. He sees your stumbles, and he's right there with you. I'll see you next time on Carpooling with Heroes of the Bible. See you later.
