Welcome to Day 14 of Journey to the Cross, a 40-day devotional leading to Easter Sunday. Today we look at a famous passage in which Peter steps out in faith. Our passage is Matthew 14:22—33.

“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33 | CSB

I remember for my grandfather’s birthday one year, our family paid for him to go sky-diving. It is always somewhat mind-blowing for me to think of someone willingly jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, but even more so to think of it being my grandpa. Yet it wasn’t all that surprising! My grandfather is quite adventurous. After he and my grandmother retired, they regularly pulled their camper all over the United States and visited many amazing places. Some of us fully embrace new adventures when we find ourselves in new places with new people, and my grandparents exemplify that spirit.

Our passage today falls immediately after Jesus fed five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples picked up twelve bushels full of leftovers. Jesus sent them ahead to the boats while he dispersed the crowd and went to pray on the mountain. In the early morning, Jesus went to his disciples, walking across turbulent waters. Remember that four of these men were fishermen and likely used to be out in the rough waters in the wee hours of the morning. Yet they saw something they had never seen before – a man walking toward them over the dark waters. They believed they saw a ghost, but when Jesus’s voice came across the wind and waves, Peter courageously challenged him. Upon Jesus’s command, Peter stepped out of the boat, probably anticipating being swept into the water. Yet as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on the water. It was only when his focus changed to his surroundings that he began to sink. There is much there we could unpack but think about this for today.

Jesus has invited you on an adventure. He has called you to take a leap, step out in faith, and follow him. You may find yourself serving in ways you never expected. You might find yourself praying with other people. You might have opportunities to share the gospel with a neighbor or to speak a word of forgiveness to a family member. It may be new, maybe even scary for you, but Jesus is inviting you to step out and follow Him.

Today as you pray, say something like: “Inviting Savior, give me the courage to fully embrace new opportunities to serve you as a journey with you.”

Thank you for joining me for day 14. Come back tomorrow as we talk about unexpected friends.