When Jesus walked on the water, approaching the boat full of terrified disciples , he saw their fear and said, “Take heart! It is I!” before he entered the boat himself. ( Mark 6:50,RSV) If they knew it was he, they would not be afraid, simply because they had known and loved Jesus enough to abandon their livelihoods to follow Jesus for his connection to their God.

Much later the Apostle John, who had been in the boat, would write, Perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18) The apostle Peter experienced that love to such an extent that in the midst of the terror of the storm, as well as the appearance of Jesus on the water, Peter responded, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” ( Matthew 14:28) It wasn’t Peter’s love that failed him, for Jesus’ words, ”You of little faith, why did you doubt?” make clear that Peter was afraid of the storm. (Matthew 14:31)

This story appears in all four of the Gospels . It is a window into the intersection between the natural and supernatural of God’s creation. Peter’s actions bridge the gap because of his love for Jesus, and fail because of his fear of the storm. Ultimately Peter would die for his faith and love of Jesus. This incident reveals the necessary love in Peter to become the great apostle that he did.

Love is the beginning, middle, and end of Jesus’ life on earth. From the moment that Mary said to Gabriel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word,” (Luke 1: 38) and nine months later she held the infant Jesus in her arms, faith and love were united, and the world has never been the same. “What greater mercy, than for the creator to be created, the master to serve the redeemer to be sold, the one who exalts to be humbled, the one who raises up to be slain. (St. Augustine, sermon 207). The Psalmist wrote: He does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions, from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)

The fear of God is different from all other fears. It shines with the light of His love. It echoes with the words of Christ: Take heart! It is I!

Love in Him,

Prue