The message is actually not the sign.It’s what it reminded me of.
The story is told in Matthew, Chapter 14, verses 22-33:
“Immediately after this, Jesus made his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake while He sent the people home. Afterward He went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
“About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they screamed in terror, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once. ‘It is all right,’ He said, ‘I am here. Do not be afraid.'”
‘Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to you by walking on water.’
“’All right, come,’ Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
“Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and grabbed him. ‘You do not have much faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’ And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped…
“After they had crossed the lake, they landed.
Maybe if the Disciples had had a sign warning them that Jesus was about to walk on water they would not have been so startled.
I see two pretty simple messages here:
- Don’t be afraid and
- Step out in faith. Sometimes you have to get out of the boat.
This photograph was shot by Diane Meyer in St. Louis near the Arch. She writes Respublica, a blog that has lots of photos.